21,123,000] 10% Convertible Notes Due 2007
EXHIBIT T3C
WICKES INC., as Issuer
and
HSBC BANK USA, as Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of December , 2003
$[21,123,000]
10% Convertible Notes Due 2007
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
TIA Section | Indenture Section | ||
310 (a)(1) |
7.10 |
||
(a)(2) |
7.10 |
||
(a)(3) |
N.A. |
||
(a)(4) |
N.A. |
||
(a)(5) |
7.08; 7.10 |
||
(b) |
7.08; 7.10; 12.02 |
||
(c) |
N.A. |
||
311 (a) |
7.11 |
||
(b) |
7.11 |
||
(c) |
N.A. |
||
312 (a) |
2.05 |
||
(b) |
12.03 |
||
(c) |
12.03 |
||
313 (a) |
7.06 |
||
(b)(1) |
N.A. |
||
(b)(2) |
7.06 |
||
(c) |
7.06; 12.02 |
||
(d) |
7.06 |
||
314 (a) |
4.05; 12.02 |
||
(b) |
N.A. |
||
(c)(1) |
12.04 |
||
(c)(2) |
12.04 |
||
(c)(3) |
N.A. |
||
(d) |
N.A. |
||
(e) |
12.05 |
||
(f) |
N.A. |
||
315 (a) |
7.01(b) |
||
(b) |
7.05; 12.02 |
||
(c) |
7.01(a) |
||
(d) |
7.01(c) |
||
(e) |
6.11 |
||
316 (a) (last
sentence) |
2.09 |
||
(a)(1)(A) |
6.05 |
||
(a)(1)(3) |
6.04 |
||
(a)(2) |
N.A. |
||
(b) |
6.07 |
||
317 (a)(1) |
6.08 |
||
(a)(2) |
6.09 |
||
(b) |
2.04 |
||
318 (a) |
12.01 |
||
(c) |
12.01 |
NOTE:This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||||||
ARTICLE ONE |
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE |
1 | |||||
SECTION 1.01. |
Definitions |
1 | |||||
SECTION 1.02. |
Incorporation by Reference of TIA |
7 | |||||
SECTION 1.03. |
Rules of Construction |
8 | |||||
ARTICLE TWO |
THE SECURITIES |
8 | |||||
SECTION 2.01. |
Form and Dating |
8 | |||||
SECTION 2.02. |
Execution and Authentication |
9 | |||||
SECTION 2.03. |
Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Depositary |
9 | |||||
SECTION 2.04. |
Paying Agent To Hold Assets in Trust |
10 | |||||
SECTION 2.05. |
Securityholder Lists |
10 | |||||
SECTION 2.06. |
Transfer and Exchange |
10 | |||||
SECTION 2.07. |
Replacement Securities |
15 | |||||
SECTION 2.08. |
Outstanding Securities |
15 | |||||
SECTION 2.09. |
Treasury Securities |
15 | |||||
SECTION 2.10. |
Temporary Securities |
16 | |||||
SECTION 2.11. |
Cancellation |
16 | |||||
SECTION 2.12. |
Defaulted Interest |
16 | |||||
SECTION 2.13. |
CUSIP Number |
16 | |||||
SECTION 2.14. |
Deposit of Monies |
17 | |||||
ARTICLE THREE |
REDEMPTION |
17 | |||||
SECTION 3.01. |
Notices to Trustee |
17 | |||||
SECTION 3.02. |
Selection of Securities To Be Redeemed |
17 | |||||
SECTION 3.03. |
Notice of Redemption |
17 | |||||
SECTION 3.04. |
Effect of Notice of Redemption |
18 | |||||
SECTION 3.05. |
Deposit of Redemption Price |
18 | |||||
SECTION 3.06. |
Securities Redeemed in Part |
19 | |||||
SECTION 3.07. |
Conversion Arrangement on Call for Redemption |
19 | |||||
ARTICLE FOUR |
COVENANTS |
20 | |||||
SECTION 4.01. |
Payment of Securities |
20 | |||||
SECTION 4.02. |
Maintenance of Office or Agency |
20 |
-i-
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | |||||||
SECTION 4.03. |
Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default |
20 | |||||
SECTION 4.04. |
Compliance with Laws |
21 | |||||
SECTION 4.05. |
SEC Reports |
21 | |||||
SECTION 4.06. |
Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws |
22 | |||||
SECTION 4.07. |
Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation |
22 | |||||
ARTICLE FIVE |
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION |
22 | |||||
SECTION 5.01. |
When Company May Merge, Etc. |
22 | |||||
SECTION 5.02. |
Successor Corporation Substituted |
22 | |||||
ARTICLE SIX |
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES |
23 | |||||
SECTION 6.01. |
Events of Default |
23 | |||||
SECTION 6.02. |
Acceleration |
23 | |||||
SECTION 6.03. |
Other Remedies |
24 | |||||
SECTION 6.04. |
Waiver of Past Defaults |
24 | |||||
SECTION 6.05. |
Control by Majority |
24 | |||||
SECTION 6.06. |
Limitation on Suits |
25 | |||||
SECTION 6.07. |
Rights of Holders To Receive Payment |
25 | |||||
SECTION 6.08. |
Collection Suit by Trustee |
25 | |||||
SECTION 6.09. |
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
26 | |||||
SECTION 6.10. |
Priorities |
26 | |||||
SECTION 6.11. |
Undertaking for Costs |
26 | |||||
ARTICLE SEVEN |
TRUSTEE |
27 | |||||
SECTION 7.01. |
Duties of Trustee |
27 | |||||
SECTION 7.02. |
Rights of Trustee |
28 | |||||
SECTION 7.03. |
Individual Rights of Trustee |
29 | |||||
SECTION 7.04. |
Trustee's Disclaimer |
29 | |||||
SECTION 7.05. |
Notice of Default |
29 | |||||
SECTION 7.06. |
Reports by Trustee to Holders |
29 | |||||
SECTION 7.07. |
Compensation and Indemnity |
30 | |||||
SECTION 7.08. |
Replacement of Trustee |
30 | |||||
SECTION 7.09. |
Successor Trustee by Xxxxxx, Etc. |
31 |
-ii-
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | |||||||
SECTION 7.10. |
Eligibility; Disqualification |
31 | |||||
SECTION 7.11. |
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company |
32 | |||||
ARTICLE EIGHT |
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED] |
32 | |||||
ARTICLE NINE |
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS |
32 | |||||
SECTION 9.01. |
Without Consent of Holders |
32 | |||||
SECTION 9.02. |
With Consent of Holders |
33 | |||||
SECTION 9.03. |
Compliance with TIA |
34 | |||||
SECTION 9.04. |
Revocation and Effect of Consents |
34 | |||||
SECTION 9.05. |
Notation on or Exchange of Securities |
34 | |||||
SECTION 9.06. |
Trustee To Sign Amendments, Etc. |
35 | |||||
ARTICLE TEN |
SUBORDINATION |
35 | |||||
SECTION 10.01. |
Securities Subordinated to Senior Debt |
35 | |||||
SECTION 10.02. |
No Payment on Securities in Certain Circumstances |
35 | |||||
SECTION 10.03. |
Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc. |
36 | |||||
SECTION 10.04. |
Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution |
38 | |||||
SECTION 10.05. |
Subrogation |
38 | |||||
SECTION 10.06. |
Obligations of the Company Unconditional |
38 | |||||
SECTION 10.07. |
Notice to Trustee |
39 | |||||
SECTION 10.08. |
Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent |
39 | |||||
SECTION 10.09. |
Trustee's Relation to Senior Debt |
39 | |||||
SECTION 10.10. |
Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company |
||||||
or Holders of Senior Debt |
40 | ||||||
SECTION 10.11. |
Securityholders Authorize Trustee To Effectuate Subordination of |
||||||
Securities |
40 | ||||||
SECTION 10.12. |
This Article Ten Not To Prevent Events of Default |
41 | |||||
SECTION 10.13. |
Trustee's Compensation Not Prejudiced |
41 | |||||
ARTICLE ELEVEN |
CONVERSION |
41 | |||||
SECTION 11.01. |
Right to Convert |
41 | |||||
SECTION 11.02. |
Conversion Procedures |
41 | |||||
SECTION 11.03. |
Fractional Shares |
43 |
-iii-
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | |||||||
SECTION 11.04. |
Taxes on Conversion |
44 | |||||
SECTION 11.05. |
Reservation of Shares; Shares to be Fully Paid; Compliance with |
||||||
Governmental Requirements; Listing of Common Stock |
44 | ||||||
SECTION 11.06. |
Adjustment for Change in Capital Stock |
44 | |||||
SECTION 11.07. |
Adjustment for Rights Issue |
45 | |||||
SECTION 11.08. |
Adjustment for Other Distributions |
45 | |||||
SECTION 11.09. |
When Adjustment May be Deferred |
48 | |||||
SECTION 11.10. |
When no Adjustment Required |
48 | |||||
SECTION 11.11. |
Notice of Adjustment |
48 | |||||
SECTION 11.12. |
Voluntary Decrease |
48 | |||||
SECTION 11.13. |
Notice Of Certain Transactions |
49 | |||||
SECTION 11.14. |
Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale |
49 | |||||
SECTION 11.15. |
Company Determination Final |
50 | |||||
SECTION 11.16. |
Trustee's Adjustment Disclaimer |
50 | |||||
SECTION 11.17. |
Simultaneous Adjustment |
50 | |||||
SECTION 11.18. |
Successive Adjustments |
50 | |||||
SECTION 11.19. |
Rights Issued in Respect of Common Stock Issued Upon Conversion |
50 | |||||
SECTION 11.20. |
General Considerations |
51 | |||||
ARTICLE TWELVE |
MISCELLANEOUS |
52 | |||||
SECTION 12.01. |
TIA Controls |
52 | |||||
SECTION 12.02. |
Notices |
52 | |||||
SECTION 12.03. |
Communications by Holders with Other Holders |
53 | |||||
SECTION 12.04. |
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent |
53 | |||||
SECTION 12.05. |
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion |
53 | |||||
SECTION 12.06. |
Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar |
53 | |||||
SECTION 12.07. |
Legal Holidays |
54 | |||||
SECTION 12.08. |
Governing Law |
54 | |||||
SECTION 12.09. |
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements |
54 |
-iv-
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | |||||||
SECTION 12.10. |
No Recourse Against Others |
54 | |||||
SECTION 12.11. |
Successors |
54 | |||||
SECTION 12.12. |
Duplicate Originals |
54 | |||||
SECTION 12.13. |
Severability |
55 |
-v-
INDENTURE, dated as of December , 2003, between Wickes Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and HSBC BANK USA, a New York banking corporation and trust company, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).
Each party hereto agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Company’s 10% Convertible Notes Due 2007:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
“Affiliate” means a Person who, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company. The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-Registrar.
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer or exchange.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Person, the Board of Directors of such Person or any committee of the Board of Directors of such Person duly authorized, with respect to any particular matter, to exercise the power of the Board of Directors of such Person.
“Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Person, a duly adopted resolution of the Board of Directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person.
“Business Day” means a day that is not a Legal Holiday.
“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, as to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease that are required to be classified and accounted for as capital lease obligations under GAAP and, for purposes of this definition, the amount of such obligations at any date shall be the capitalized amount of such obligations at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Capital Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, including each class of common stock and preferred stock, of such Person, and (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership or other equity interests of such Person.
“Cash Equivalents” means (i) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof; (ii) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either Standard & Poor’s Corporation or Xxxxx’x Investors Services, Inc.; (iii) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date of creation thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of at least A-1 from Standard & Poor’s Corporation or at least P-1 from Xxxxx’x Investors Services, Inc.; (iv) certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or any U.S. branch of a foreign bank having at the date of acquisition thereof combined capital and surplus of not less than $200,000,000; (v) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (i) above entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iv) above; and (vi) investments in money market funds which invest substantially all their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (i) through (v) above.
“Common Stock” means the shares of Common Stock of the Company as it exists on the date of this Indenture or any other shares of Capital Stock of the Company into which the Common Stock shall be reclassified or changed or, in the event of a merger, consolidation or other similar transaction involving the Company that is otherwise permitted hereunder in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, the common stock, common equity interests, ordinary shares or depositary shares or other certificates representing common equity interests of such surviving corporation or its direct or indirect parent corporation.
“Company” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Indenture and thereafter means such successor.
“Conversion Agent” means the Trustee or such other office or agency designated by the Company where Securities may be presented for conversion.
“Conversion Date” has the meaning provided in Section 11.02.
“Conversion Notice” has the meaning provided in Section 11.02.
“Conversion Price” has the meaning provided in Section 11.01
“Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement dated February 26, 2003 among the Company, the financial institutions party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Capital, a division of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Business Financial Services Inc., individually as a lender and as agent, collateral agent, book manager and lead arranger, as the same has been or may hereafter be amended from time to time, and any agreement evidencing the refinancing, modification, replacement, renewal, restatement, refunding, deferral, extension, substitution, supplement, reissuance or resale thereof.
2
“Current Market Price” for the purpose of any computation under Article Eleven relating to the current market price per share of Common Stock at a specified date, means the average of the Sale Prices for the ten consecutive Trading Days preceding the day before the record date with respect to any distribution, issuance or other event requiring such computation.
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Default” means an event or condition the occurrence of which is, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.
“Designated Senior Debt” means (i) Indebtedness under or in respect of the Credit Agreement and (ii) any other Indebtedness constituting Senior Debt which, at the time of designation, has an aggregate principal amount of at least $25 million and is specifically designated in the instrument evidencing such Senior Debt as “Designated Senior Debt” by the Company.
“Disqualified Capital Stock” means any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the sole option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the Maturity Date.
“Distributed Securities” has the meaning provided in Section 11.08(a).
“Euroclear” means Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels office, as operator of the Euroclear System.
“Event of Default” has the meaning provided in Section 6.01.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
“Expiration Time” has the meaning provided in Section 11.08(c).
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America as of the date of this Indenture and as later modified or supplemented.
“Global Notes” means individually and collectively each global note in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend issued in accordance with Section 2.01 and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that shall be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes issued in global form.
3
“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(e), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means the Person in whose name a Security is registered on the Registrar’s books.
“Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
“Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, without duplication, (i) all Obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all Obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person, (iv) all Obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all Obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business), (v) all Obligations for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction, (vi) all Indebtedness of others guaranteed by such Person, (vii) all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit or other similar instruments (or reimbursement obligations with respect thereto), (viii) Interest Swap Obligations, and (ix) all Obligations of any other Person of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (viii) which are secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such first referred to Person, the amount of such Obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such property or asset or the amount of the Obligation so secured.
“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Interest Payment Date” means the stated maturity of an installment of interest on the Securities.
“Interest Swap Obligations” means the net Obligations of any Person under any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future, interest rate option, interest rate swap, interest rate cap or other interest rate hedge or arrangement.
“Issue Date” means the date of original issuance of the Securities.
“Legal Holiday” has the meaning provided in Section 12.07.
“Lien” means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof or any agreement to give any security interest).
“Maturity Date” means June 15, 2007.
“Note” or “Notes” shall mean one or more of the Securities issued in either global or registered form.
4
“Obligations” means all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Controller, or the Secretary of such Person, or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors serving in a similar capacity.
“Officers’ Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of such Person and otherwise complying with the requirements of Sections 12.04 and 12.05, as they relate to the making of an Officers’ Certificate, provided, however, that an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.03 shall be signed in the name of the Company by one of the Company’s principal executive, financial or accounting officers.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee complying with the requirements of Sections 12.04 and 12.05, as they relate to the giving of an Opinion of Counsel.
“Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively, and, with respect to the Depository Trust Company, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream.
“Paying Agent” has the meaning provided in Section 2.03.
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, unincorporated organization, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Plan of Liquidation” means, with respect to any Person, a plan that provides for, contemplates or the effectuation of which is preceded or accompanied by (whether or not substantially contemporaneously, in phases or otherwise) (i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Person otherwise than as an entirety or substantially as an entirety and (ii) the distribution of all or substantially all of the proceeds of such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition and all or substantially all of the remaining assets of such Person to holders of Capital Stock of such Person.
“principal” of any Indebtedness (including the Securities) means the principal amount of such Indebtedness plus the premium, if any, on such Indebtedness.
“Purchased Shares” has the meaning provided in Section 11.08(c).
“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to this Indenture and the Securities.
“Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price fixed for such redemption pursuant to this Indenture and the Securities.
5
“Registrar” has the meaning provided in Section 2.03.
“Registered Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.01 hereof, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.
“Representative” means the indenture trustee or other trustee, agent or representative in respect of any Designated Senior Debt; provided that if, and for so long as, any Designated Senior Debt lacks such a representative, then the Representative for such Designated Senior Debt shall at all times constitute the holders of a majority in outstanding principal amount of such Designated Senior Debt in respect of any Designated Senior Debt.
“Rights” has the meaning provided in Section 11.19.
“Rights Agreement” has the meaning provided in Section 11.19.
“Sale Price” with respect to the Company’s common stock on any date means the closing per share sale price (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) as reported in composite transactions for the principal United States securities exchange on which the common stock is traded or, if the common stock is not listed on a United States national or regional securities exchange, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation system or by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated. In the absence of such a quotation, the Board of Directors of the Company will make a good faith determination of the sale price.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” means the Company’s 10% Convertible Notes Due 2007, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, that are issued pursuant to this Indenture. Securities may be issued in the form of Global Notes and/or Registered Notes.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“Senior Debt” means any Indebtedness of the Company (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition of bankruptcy at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, to the extent such interest is an allowed claim under applicable law), whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, unless, in the case of any particular Indebtedness, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such Indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Senior Debt shall not include (i) any Indebtedness of the Company to a Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) except for Indebtedness to Imagine Investments, Inc. under the Credit Agreement, Indebtedness to, or guaranteed on behalf of, any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary (including, without limitation, amounts owed for compensation), (iii) Indebtedness and other amounts incurred in connection with obtaining goods, materials or services owing to trade creditors, (iv) Disqualified Capital Stock, (v) any liability for federal, state, local or other
6
taxes owed or owing by the Company, and (vi) any Indebtedness which is, by its express terms, subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company.
“Subsidiary”, with respect to any Person, means (i) any corporation of which the outstanding Capital Stock having at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors under ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or (ii) any other Person of which at least a majority of the voting interest under ordinary circumstances is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb), as amended, as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.03.
“Trading Day” means (y) if the applicable security is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System, Nasdaq Small Cap Market or OTC Bulletin Board, a day on which trades may be made thereon or (z) if the applicable security is not so listed, admitted for trading or quoted, any Business Day.
“Trigger Event” has the meaning provided in Section 11.19.
“Trustee” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the provisions of this indenture and thereafter means such successor.
“Trust Officer” means any officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer this Indenture or, in the case of a successor trustee, an officer assigned to the department, division or group performing the corporate trust work of such successor.
“U.S. Legal Tender” means such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of TIA.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, such provision is incorporated by reference in, and made a part of, this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC.
“indenture securities” means the Securities.
“indenture security holder,” means a Holder or a Securityholder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company or any other obligor on the Securities.
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All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them therein.
SECTION 1.03. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
a term has the meaning assigned to it;
an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date hereof;
“or” is not exclusive;
words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular; and
“herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import. refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
ARTICLE TWO
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating.
The Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. The Company and the Trustee shall approve the form of the Securities and any notation, legend or endorsement on them. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
The terms and provisions contained in the Securities shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and
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redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.
SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers, or an Officer and an Assistant Secretary, shall sign, or one Officer shall sign and one Officer or an Assistant Secretary (each of whom shall, in each case, have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action) shall attest to, the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer or Assistant Secretary whose signature is on a Security was an Officer or Assistant Secretary at the time of such execution but no longer holds that office or position at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall authenticate Securities for original issue in the aggregate principal amount of up to $[21,123,000] upon receipt of a written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate. The Officers’ Certificate shall specify the amount of Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the Securities are to be authenticated. The aggregate principal amount of Securities outstanding at any time may not exceed $[21,123,000], except as provided in Section 2.07. Upon the written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities in substitution of Securities originally issued to reflect any name change of the Company.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. Unless otherwise provided in the appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company and Affiliates of the Company.
The Securities shall be issuable in fully registered form only, without coupons, in denominations of $250 and any multiple thereof.
SECTION 2.03. Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Depositary.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency (which shall be located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, State of New York), where (a) Securities may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”), (b) Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), (c) Securities may be presented for conversion (“Conversion Agent”) and (d) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Company, upon notice to the Trustee, may have one or more co-Registrars, one or more additional paying agents and one or more additional
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conversion agents reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent and the term “Conversion Agent” includes any additional conversion agent. Neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company may act as Paying Agent.
The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture, which agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee, in advance, of the name and address of any such Agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, the Trustee shall act as such.
The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Conversion Agent and Paying Agent until such time as the Trustee has resigned or a successor has been appointed.
SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent To Hold Assets in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that each Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all assets held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, or interest on, the Securities (whether such assets have been distributed to it by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities), and shall notify the Trustee of any Default by the Company (or any other obligor on the Securities) in making any such payment. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to distribute all assets held by it to the Trustee and account for any assets disbursed and the Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any payment Default, upon request to a Paying Agent, require such Paying Agent to distribute all assets held by it to the Trustee and to account for any assets distributed. Upon distribution to the Trustee of all assets that shall have been delivered by the Company to the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for such assets.
SECTION 2.05. Securityholder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of the Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee before each Record Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list as of such date and in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders, which list may be conclusively relied upon by the Trustee.
SECTION 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.
(a) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Registered Notes upon the Company’s order or at the Registrar’s request.
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(ii) No service charge shall be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Registered Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
(iii) The Registrar or co-Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Security (i) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, (ii) selected for redemption in whole or in part pursuant to Article Three, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part, and (iii) between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.
(iv) All Global Notes and Registered Notes issued upon any registration or transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Registered Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Registered Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(v) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Security, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Security and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(vi) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Registered Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.
(vii) All certifications and certificates required to be submitted by the Registrar, the Company and the Trustee pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Registered Notes if (i) the Depositary (x) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as a depositary for the Registered Global Notes and the Company thereupon fails to appoint a successor Depositary, or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Notes and the Company thereupon fails to appoint a successor Depositary, or (z) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and the Company fails to appoint a successor, and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary, (ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that
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the Global Notes should be exchanged for Registered Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee, or (iii) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, Registered Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.10 and 9.05 hereof, although beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in this Section 2.06.
(c) Transfer and Exchange Involving Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(c)(i).
(ii) Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Different Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in different Global Notes, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s).
(iii) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes to Registered Notes. In addition to the foregoing procedures, Global Notes and beneficial interests therein shall be exchangeable for Registered Notes if (i) the Depositary (x) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Notes, or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and the Company fails to appoint a successor, and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary, (ii) the
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Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the Registered Notes or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes. In all cases, Registered Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with the Applicable Procedures). In such event, the Trustee shall cause the Global Notes to be canceled accordingly pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Registered Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Registered Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iii) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the Holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Registered Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.
(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Registered Notes to Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. A Holder of a Registered Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Registered Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or to register such a transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Registered Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Notes.
If any such exchange or registration of transfer from a Registered Note to a beneficial interest in a Global Note is effected at a time when a Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Registered Notes so transferred.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Registered Notes for Registered Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Registered Notes, the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Registered Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Registered Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by his attorney, duly authorized in writing.
(e) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF,
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AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.”
“UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN REGISTERED FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (00 XXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, XXX XXXX) (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY 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 MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE 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.”
(f) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Registered Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased, converted or cancelled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Registered Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
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SECTION 2.07. Replacement Securities.
If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the Trustee’s requirements are met. if required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder must provide an indemnity bond or other indemnity, sufficient in the judgment of both the Company and the Trustee, to protect the Company, the Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company may charge such Holder for its reasonable, out-of-pocket expenses in replacing a Security, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. Every replacement Security shall constitute an additional obligation of the Company.
SECTION 2.08. Outstanding Securities.
Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities that have been authenticated by the Trustee except those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or any of its Affiliates holds the Security.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 (other than a mutilated Security surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Security ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Security and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.07.
If on a Redemption Date or the Maturity Date the Paying Agent holds U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay all of the principal and interest due on the Securities payable on that date and is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders thereof pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Securities cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
If a Security is converted in accordance with Article Eleven, then from and after such conversion such Security shall cease to be outstanding and interest shall cease to accrue on such Security.
SECTION 2.09. Treasury Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver, consent or notice, Securities owned by the Company or an Affiliate shall be considered as though they are not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which a Trust Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so considered. The Company shall notify the Trustee, in writing, when it or any of its Affiliates repurchases or otherwise acquires Securities of the aggregate principal amount of such Securities so repurchased or otherwise acquired.
SECTION 2.10. Temporary Securities.
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Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon receipt of a written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate. The Officers’ Certificate shall specify the amount of temporary Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the temporary Securities are to be authenticated. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate upon receipt of a written order of the Company pursuant to Section 2.02 definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities.
SECTION 2.11. Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee, or at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent, and no one else, shall cancel and, at the written direction of the Company, shall dispose of all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, conversion, payment or cancellation. Subject to Section 2.07, the Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. If the Company shall acquire any of the Securities, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to this Section 2.11.
SECTION 2.12. Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus (to the extent lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, which date shall be the fifteenth day next preceding the date fixed by the Company for the payment of defaulted interest or the next succeeding Business Day if such date is not a Business Day. At least 15 days before the subsequent special record date, the Company shall mail to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice that states the subsequent special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest, and interest payable on such defaulted interest, if any, to be paid.
SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Number.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use a “CUSIP” number, and if so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that no representation is hereby deemed to be made by the Trustee as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number printed in the notice or on the Securities, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP number.
SECTION 2.14. Deposit of Monies.
Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on each Interest Payment Date and Maturity Date, the Company shall have deposited with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds money sufficient to make cash payments, if any, due on such Interest Payment Date or Maturity
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Date, as the case may be, in a timely manner which permits the Paying Agent to remit payment to the Holders on such Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be.
ARTICLE THREE
REDEMPTION
SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem Securities pursuant to Paragraph 6 of the Securities, it shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent in writing of the Redemption Date and the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed and whether it wants the Trustee to give notice of redemption to the Holders (at the Company’s expense) at least 45 days (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date. Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.
SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities To Be Redeemed.
If fewer than all of the Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities being redeemed are listed, or, if the Securities are not listed on a national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in such other fair and reasonable manner chosen at the discretion of the Trustee.
The Trustee shall make the selection from the Securities outstanding and not previously called for redemption and shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Security selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Securities in denominations of $250 may be redeemed only in whole. The Trustee may select for redemption portions (equal to $250 or any multiple thereof) of the principal of Securities that have denominations larger than $250. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption.
If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted during a selection of Securities to be redeemed may be treated by the Trustee as outstanding for the purpose of such selection.
SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption.
At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed a notice of redemption by first class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed, with a copy to the Trustee. At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense. Each notice for redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:
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(a) the Redemption Date;
(b) the Redemption Price;
(c) the Conversion Price;
(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;
(e) that Securities called for redemption may be converted at any time before the close of business on the last Trading Day prior to the Redemption Date;
(f) that Holders who want to convert Securities must satisfy the requirements set forth in paragraph 7 of the Securities;
(g) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price;
(h) that, unless the Company defaults in making the redemption payment, interest on Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Securities is to receive payment of the Redemption Price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Securities redeemed;
(f) if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date, and upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in the aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued; and
(g) if fewer than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the identification of the particular Securities (or portion thereof) to be redeemed, as well as the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be outstanding after such partial redemption.
SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price. Upon surrender to the Trustee or Paying Agent, such Securities called for redemption shall be paid at the Redemption Price.
SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent U.S. Legal Tender sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all Securities to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any U.S. Legal Tender so deposited which is not required for that purpose, except with respect to monies owed as obligations to the Trustee pursuant to Article Seven.
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If the Company complies with the preceding paragraph, then, unless the Company defaults in the payment of such Redemption Price, interest on the Securities to be redeemed will cease to accrue on and after the applicable Redemption Date, whether or not such Securities are presented for payment.
SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Security that is to be redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security or Securities equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
SECTION 3.07. Conversion Arrangement on Call for Redemption.
In connection with any redemption of Securities, the Company may arrange for the purchase and conversion of any Securities called for redemption by an agreement with one or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by paying to the Paying Agent in trust for the Securityholders, at or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date, an amount that, together with any amounts deposited with the Paying Agent by the Company for the redemption of the Securities, is not less than the Redemption Price, together with interest, if any, accrued to the Redemption Date, of such Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article 3, the obligation of the Company to pay the Redemption Price of such Securities, including all accrued interest, shall be deemed to be satisfied and discharged to the extent such amount is so paid by such purchasers. If such an agreement is entered into, any Securities not duly surrendered for conversion by the Holders thereof may, at the option of the Company, be deemed, to the fullest extent permitted by law, acquired by such purchasers from such Holders and (notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Article 11) surrendered by such purchasers for conversion, all immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date, subject to payment of the above amount as aforesaid.
The Paying Agent shall hold and pay to the Holders whose Securities are selected for redemption any such amount paid to it in the same manner as it would monies deposited with it by the Company for the redemption of Securities. Without the Paying Agent’s prior written consent, no arrangement between the Company and such purchasers for the purchase and conversion of any Securities shall increase or otherwise affect any of the powers, duties, responsibilities or obligations of the Paying Agent as set forth in this Indenture, and the Company agrees to indemnify the Paying Agent from, and hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense arising out of or in connection with any such arrangement for the purchase and conversion of any Securities between the Company and such purchasers, including the costs and expenses incurred by the Paying Agent in the defense of any claim or liability arising out of or in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers, duties, responsibilities or obligations under this Indenture.
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ARTICLE FOUR
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Securities.
The Company shall pay the principal of and interest on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities. An installment of principal of or interest on the Securities shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Trustee or Paying Agent holds on that date U.S. Legal Tender designated for and sufficient to pay the installment.
The Company shall pay, to the extent such payments are lawful, interest on overdue principal and on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the rate borne by the Securities plus 2% per annum. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America from principal or interest payments hereunder.
SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain the office or agency required under Section 2.03. The Company shall give prior notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee set forth in Section 12.02.
SECTION 4.03. Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default.
(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of its activities and the activities of its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether it 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 Company during such preceding fiscal year has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every such covenant and no Default or Event of Default occurred during such year and at the date of such certificate there is no Default or Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing or, if such signers do know of such Default or Event of Default, the certificate shall describe the Default or Event of Default and its status with particularity. The Officers’ Certificate shall also notify the Trustee should the Company elect to change the manner in which it fixes its fiscal year end.
(b) The annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.05 shall be accompanied by a written report of the Company’s independent accountants (who shall be a firm of established national reputation reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee) that in
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conducting their audit of such financial statements nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated any provisions of Article 4, 5 or 6 of this Indenture insofar as they relate to accounting matters or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.
(c) (i) If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) if any Holder seeks to exercise any remedy hereunder with respect to a claimed default under this Indenture or the Securities or (iii) if the trustee for or the holder of any other evidence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary seeks to exercise any remedy with respect to a claimed default, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee by registered or certified mail or by telegram, telex or facsimile transmission followed by hard copy by registered or certified mail an Officers’ Certificate specifying such event, notice or other action within five Business Days of its becoming aware of such occurrence.
SECTION 4.04. Compliance with Laws.
The Company shall comply, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply with, all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders and restrictions of the United States of America, all states and municipalities thereof, and of any governmental department, commission, board, regulatory authority, bureau, agency and instrumentality of the foregoing, in respect of the conduct of their respective businesses and the ownership of their respective properties, except for such noncompliances as are not in the aggregate reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
SECTION 4.05. SEC Reports.
The Company shall file with the Trustee and provide to the Securityholders within 15 days after it files the same with the SEC copies of the quarterly and 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 it is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company shall also comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(a). Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information and documents shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
SECTION 4.06. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the
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Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Securities as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) the Company hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
SECTION 4.07. Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation.
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause an amendment to its certificate of incorporation increasing the number of authorized shares of Common Stock to provide for the conversion of the Securities to be approved and filed on or before the date of its next annual stockholders meeting.
ARTICLE FIVE
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, Etc.
The Company shall not, in a single transaction or through a series of related transactions, consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to another Person or adopt a Plan of Liquidation, unless
(a) either (i) the Company shall be the survivor of such merger or consolidation or (ii) the surviving or transferee Person is a corporation, partnership or trust organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and such surviving transferee Person shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture; and
(b) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer complies with the Indenture, that the surviving or transferee Person agrees to be bound thereby, and that all conditions precedent in this Indenture relating to such transaction have been satisfied.
SECTION 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any transfer of assets in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein. When a successor Xxxxxx assumes all of the obligations of the Company hereunder and under the Securities and agrees to be bound hereby and thereby, the predecessor shall be released from such obligations.
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ARTICLE SIX
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default.
An “Event of Default” occurs if:
(a) the Company defaults in the payment of interest on any Securities when the same becomes due and payable and the Default continues for a period of 30 days (whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article Ten of this Indenture); or
(b) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal amount of any Securities when the same becomes due and payable, at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise (whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article Ten); or
(c) the Company fails to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the Securities or this Indenture and the Default continues for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof specifying such Default has been given to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities; or
(d) the Company or any Subsidiary (i) admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, (ii) commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law with respect to itself, (iii) consents to the entry of a judgment, decree or order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law, (iv) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for substantially all of its property, (v) consents to or acquiesces in the institution of a bankruptcy or an insolvency proceeding against it, (vi) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or (vii) takes any corporate action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing; or
(e) a court of competent jurisdiction enters a judgment, decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law, which shall (i) approve as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) appoint a Custodian of the Company or any Subsidiary for all or for substantially all of its property or (iii) order the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs; and such judgment, decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days.
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(d) or (e) with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing and has not been waived pursuant to Section 6.04, the Trustee may, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, and the Trustee shall, upon the request of such Holders, declare the aggregate principal amount of the Securities outstanding, together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon
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to be due and payable immediately and, upon any such declaration, the same shall become and be immediately due and payable; provided, however, that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to follow any request of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee, after request by the Trustee, reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it in compliance with such request, order or direction. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(d) or (e) occurs with respect to the Company, all unpaid principal and accrued interest on the Securities then outstanding shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Securityholder. Upon payment of such principal amount and interest all of the Company’s obligations under the Securities and this Indenture, other than obligations under Section 7.07, shall terminate. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if (i) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) all existing Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest on the securities which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived, (iii) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid, (iv) the Company has paid the Trustee its reasonable compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its expenses, disbursements and advances and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof and (v) in the event of the cure or waiver of a Default or Event of Default of the type described in Sections 6.01(d) and 6.01(e), the Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate from the Company and an Opinion of Counsel to the Company that such Default has been cured or waived. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereto.
SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Securityholder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.
Subject to Sections 6.02, 6.07 and 9.02, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of principal of or interest on any Security as specified in clauses (a) and (b) of Section 6.01.
SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority.
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The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may 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 it including, without limitation, any remedies provided for in Section 6.03. Subject to Section 7.01, however, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with any law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another Securityholder, or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits.
A Securityholder may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities unless:
(a) the Holder gives to the Trustee notice of a continuing Event of Default;
(b) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) such Holders offer to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against any loss, liability or expense to be incurred in compliance with such request,
(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 45 days after receipt of the request and the offer of satisfactory indemnity; and
(e) during such 45-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities do not give the Trustee a direction which, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with the request.
A Securityholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Securityholder or to obtain a preference or priority over such other Securityholder.
SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders To Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on a Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default in payment of principal or interest specified in clause (a) or (b) of section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or any other obligor on the Securities for the whole amount of principal and accrued interest remaining unpaid, together with interest on overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest at the rate set forth in Section 4.01 and such further amount, as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation,
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expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.07.
SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, taxes, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relating to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities, any of their respective creditors or any of their respective property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceedings is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, taxes, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agent and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07. The Company’s payment obligations under this Section 6.09 shall be secured in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.07 hereunder. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.10. Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article Six, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 6.09 and 7.07;
Second: if the Holders are forced to proceed against the Company directly without the Trustee, to Holders for their collection costs;
Third: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Fourth: to the Company or any other obligor on the Securities, as their interests may appear, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
The Trustee, upon prior notice to the Company, may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section 6.10.
SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may
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require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by a Holder or Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities.
ARTICLE SEVEN
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture or the TIA and no covenants or obligations shall be implied in this Indenture that are adverse to the Trustee.
(ii) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01.
(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(iii) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Sections 6.02, 6.04 or 6.05.
(d) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its
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duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(e) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 7.01.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money or assets received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Assets held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other assets except to the extent required by law.
SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.
Subject to Section 7.01:
(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may consult with counsel and may require an Officers’ Certificate from the Company or an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to Sections 12.04 and 12.05. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action that it takes or omits to take in good faith which it reasonably believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.
(e) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled, upon reasonable notice to the Company, to examine the books, records, and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it in compliance with such request, order or direction.
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(g) The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities, unless either (i) a Trust Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (ii) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any Holder of the Securities.
(h) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.
SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, or their respective Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, and it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in the Indenture or the Securities other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.
SECTION 7.05. Notice of Default.
If a Default or an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder notice of the uncured Default or Event of Default within 60 days after such Default or Event of Default occurs. Except in the case of a Default or an Event of Default in payment of principal of, or interest on, any Security, including an accelerated payment and, except in the case of failure to comply with Article Five hereof, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its Board of Directors or a committee of its directors and/or Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Securityholders.
SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders.
Within 60 days after each May 15 of each year beginning with May 15, 2004, the Trustee shall, to the extent that any of the events described in TIA § 313(a) occurred within the previous twelve months, but not otherwise, mail to each Securityholder a brief report dated as of such date that complies with TIA § 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA §§ 313(b) and 313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange, if any, on which the Securities are listed.
The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee if the Securities become listed on any stock exchange and the Trustee shall comply with TIA § 313(d).
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SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it in connection with the performance of its duties under this Indenture. Such expenses shall include the reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee and its agents, employees, stockholders and directors for, and hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred by them except for such actions to the extent caused by any negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on their part, arising out of or in connection with the administration of this trust including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their rights, powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim asserted against the Trustee for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its written consent. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability to the extent incurred by the Trustee through its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
To secure the Company’s payment obligations in Section 6.09 and in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all assets or money held or collected by the Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee, except assets or money held in trust to pay principal of or interest on particular Securities.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(d) or (e) occurs, such expenses and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law; provided, however, that in the event that such expenses and compensation fail to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities in accordance with this Section 7.07.
The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture.
SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.
The Trustee may resign by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Company and the Trustee and may appoint a successor trustee. The Company may remove the Trustee if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;
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(c) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason, the Company shall notify each Holder of such event and shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee within one year after the successor Trustee takes office; the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided in Section 7.07, 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. A successor Trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each Securityholder.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Xxxxxx, Etc.
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall, if such resulting, surviving or transferee corporation is otherwise eligible hereunder, be the successor Trustee, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Seven.
SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA §§ 310(a)(1) and 310(a)(2). The Trustee (or in the case of a corporation included in a bank holding company system, the related bank holding company) shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. In addition, if the Trustee is a corporation included in a bank holding company system, the Trustee, independently of such bank holding company, shall meet the capital requirements of TIA § 310(a)(2). The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other
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securities, or certificates of interest or participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding, if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA § 310(b)(1) are met. The provisions of TIA § 310 shall apply to the Company, as obligor of the Securities.
SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein. The provisions of TIA § 311 shall apply to the Company, as obligor on the Securities.
ARTICLE EIGHT
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
ARTICLE NINE
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders.
The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, together, may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities without notice to or consent of any Securityholder:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; provided that such amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect;
(b) to comply with Article Five;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; or
(d) to make any other change that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights of any Securityholders hereunder; provided that the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate, each stating that such amendment or supplement complies with the provisions of this Section 9.01.
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders.
Subject to Section 6.07, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, together, with the written consent of the Holder or Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities, may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities, without notice to any other Securityholders. Subject to Section 6.07, the Holder or Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities without notice to any other Securityholder. No amendment, supplement or waiver, including a
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waiver pursuant to Section 6.04, shall, without the consent of each Holder of each Security affected thereby:
(a) reduce or have the effect of reducing the amount of Securities whose holders must consent to an amendment;
(b) reduce or have the effect of reducing the rate of or change or have the effect of changing the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest, on any Securities;
(c) reduce or have the effect of reducing the principal of or change or have the effect of changing the fixed maturity of any Securities, or change or have the effect of changing the date on which any Securities may be subject to redemption or repurchase, or reduce or have the effect of reducing the redemption or repurchase price therefor;
(d) make or have the effect of making any Securities payable in money other than that stated in the Securities; or
(e) make or have the effect of making any change in provisions of this Indenture protecting the right of each Holder of a Security to receive payment of principal of and interest on such Security on or after the due date thereof or to bring suit to enforce such payment, permitting holders of a majority in principal amount of a class of Securities to waive Defaults or Events of Default, other than ones with respect to the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities, or relating to certain amendments of the Indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
SECTION 9.03. Compliance with TIA.
Every amendment, waiver or supplement of this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.
SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment, waiver or supplement becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. Subject to the following paragraph, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of his Security by notice
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to the Trustee or the Company received before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have consented (and not theretofore revoked such consent) to the amendment, supplement or waiver.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver, which record date shall be at least 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Securityholder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (a) through (e) of Section 9.02, in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security; provided that any such waiver shall not impair or affect the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on a Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities.
If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms.
SECTION 9.06. Trustee To Sign Amendments, Etc.
The Trustee shall execute any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article Nine; provided that the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, execute any such amendment, supplement or waiver which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate each stating that the execution of any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article Nine is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. Such Opinion of Counsel shall not be an expense of the Trustee.
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ARTICLE TEN
SUBORDINATION
SECTION 10.01. Securities Subordinated to Senior Debt.
The Company covenants and agrees and the Trustee and each Holder of the Securities, by its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article Ten; and the Trustee and each Person holding any Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees that the payment of all Obligations on the Securities (except for the payment of fees and expenses of the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof) by the Company shall, to the extent and in the manner herein set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash or Cash Equivalents of all Obligations on the Senior Debt; that the subordination is for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable directly by, the holders of Senior Debt, and that each holder of Senior Debt whether now outstanding or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed shall be deemed to have acquired Senior Debt in reliance upon the covenants and provisions contained in this Indenture and the Securities.
SECTION 10.02. No Payment on Securities in Certain Circumstances.
(a) If any default in the payment of any principal of or interest on any Senior Debt, when due and payable, whether at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise, occurs and is continuing, no payment shall be made by, or on behalf of, the Company or any other Person on its or their behalf with respect to any Obligations on the Securities, or to acquire any of the Securities for cash or property or otherwise. In addition, if any other event of default occurs and is continuing (or if such an event of default would occur upon any payment with respect to the Securities or would arise upon the passage of time as a result of such payment) with respect to any Designated Senior Debt (as such event of default is defined in the instrument creating or evidencing such Designated Senior Debt) and such event of default permits the holders of such Designated Senior Debt then outstanding to accelerate the maturity thereof and if the Representative for the respective issue of Designated Senior Debt gives written notice of the event of default to the Trustee (a “Default Notice”), then, unless and until all events of default have been cured or waived or have ceased to exist or the Trustee receives notice from the Representative for the respective issue of Designated Senior Debt terminating the Blockage Period (as defined below), during the 180 days after the delivery of such Default Notice (the “Blockage Period”), neither the Company nor any other Person on behalf of the Company shall (x) make any payment with respect to any Obligations on the Securities or (y) acquire any of the Securities for cash or property or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event will a Blockage Period extend beyond 180 days from the date the payment on the Securities was due and only one such Blockage Period may be commenced within any 360 consecutive days. For all purposes of this Section 10.02(a), no event of default which existed or was continuing on the date of the commencement of any Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Debt initiating such Blockage Period shall be, or be made, the basis for the commencement of a second Blockage Period by the Representative of such
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Designated Senior Debt, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such event of default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.
(b) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by Section 10.02(a), such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Debt (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amount of Senior Debt held by such holders) or their respective Representatives, as their respective interests may appear. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on information regarding amounts then due and owing on the Senior Debt, if any, received from the holders of Senior Debt (or their Representatives) or, if such information is not received from such holders or their Representatives, from the Company and only amounts included in the information provided to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Debt.
Nothing contained in this Article Ten shall limit the right of the Trustee or the Holders of Securities to take any action to accelerate the maturity of the Securities pursuant to Section 6.02 or to pursue any rights or remedies hereunder; provided that all Senior Debt thereafter due or declared to be due shall first be paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents before the Holders are entitled to receive any payment with respect to Obligations on the Securities.
SECTION 10.03. Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc.
(a) Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or total or partial liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all Obligations due or to become due upon all Senior Debt shall first be paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents before any payment or distribution is made on account of any Obligations on the Securities, or for the acquisition of any of the Securities for cash or property or otherwise. Upon any such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee under this Indenture would be entitled, except for the provisions hereof, shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders of the Securities or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them, directly to the holders of Senior Debt (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Debt held by such holders) or their respective Representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear for application to the payment of Senior Debt remaining unpaid until all such Senior Debt has been paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of Senior Debt.
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(b) To the extent any payment of Senior Debt (whether by or on behalf of the Company, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then, if such payment is recovered by, or paid over to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person, the Senior Debt or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.
(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by any Holder when such payment or distribution is prohibited by Section 10.03(a), such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Debt (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amount of Senior Debt held by such holders) or their respective Representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of Senior Debt remaining unpaid until all such Senior Debt has been paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Senior Debt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 10.03(c) shall not apply to the amounts subject to the lien of the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof, which amounts shall be paid directly to the Trustee.
(d) For purposes of this Article Ten, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment which are subordinated, to at least the same extent as the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt and to the payment of all securities issued in exchange therefor to the holders of Senior Debt at the time outstanding; provided that with respect to securities of any other corporation, such securities shall only be excluded from the operation of this Article Ten if the plan of reorganization or readjustment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the indebtedness then outstanding under the Credit Agreement and by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of any other Designated Senior Debt then outstanding. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company with or into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided in Article Five hereof and as long as permitted under the terms of the Senior Debt shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, assume the Company’s obligations hereunder in accordance with Article Five hereof.
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SECTION 10.04. Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution.
Nothing contained in this Article Ten or elsewhere in this Indenture shall prevent (i) the Company, except under the conditions described in Sections 10.02 and 10.03, from making payments at any time for the purpose of making payments of principal of and interest on the Securities, or from depositing with the Trustee any moneys for such payments, or (ii) in the absence of actual knowledge by the Trustee that a given payment would be prohibited by Section 10.02 or 10.03, the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it for the purpose of making such payments of principal of, and interest on, the Securities to the Holders entitled thereto unless at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which such payment would otherwise become due and payable, the Trustee shall have received the written notice provided for in Section 10.02(a) or in Section 10.07. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company.
SECTION 10.05. Subrogation.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Debt to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to the Senior Debt until the Securities shall be Paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no such payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Debt by or on behalf of the Company or by or on behalf of the Holders by virtue of this Article Ten which otherwise would have been made to the Holders shall, as between the Company and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Debt, it being understood that the provisions of this Article Ten are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Debt, on the other hand.
SECTION 10.06. Obligations of the Company Unconditional.
Nothing contained in this Article Ten or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Debt, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of and any interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior Debt, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Holder of any Security or the Trustee on its behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights if any, in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.
SECTION 10.07. Notice to Trustee.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article Ten. Regardless of anything to the contrary contained in this Article Ten or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with
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knowledge of the existence of any default or event of default with respect to any Senior Debt or of any other facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing from the Company, or from a holder of Senior Debt or a Representative therefor, and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled to assume (in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary) that no such facts exist.
In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that any evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Debt to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Ten, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amounts of Senior Debt held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Ten, 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.
SECTION 10.08. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Ten, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Seven hereof, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which bankruptcy, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or upon a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other Indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Ten.
SECTION 10.09. Trustee’s Relation to Senior Debt.
The Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Ten with respect to any Senior Debt which may at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any such agent of any of its rights as such holder.
With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Ten, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt.
Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders or owners of Senior Debt, the distribution may be made and the notice may be given to their Representative, if any.
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SECTION 10.10. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt.
No right of any present or future holders of any Senior Debt to enforce subordination as provided herein shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Debt may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee, without incurring responsibility to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Ten or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Securities to the holders of the Senior Debt, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Debt, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Debt, or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Debt is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Debt; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the payment or collection of Senior Debt; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.
SECTION 10.11. Securityholders Authorize Trustee To Effectuate Subordination of Securities.
Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance of them authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, as between the holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of Securities, the subordination provided in this Article Ten, and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization or similar proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the business and assets of the Company, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its or his Securities and accrued interest in the form required in those proceedings.
SECTION 10.12. This Article Ten Not To Prevent Events of Default.
The failure to make a payment on account of principal of or interest on the Securities by reason of any provision of this Article Ten will not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default.
SECTION 10.13. Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced.
Nothing in this Article Ten will apply to amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to other sections in this Indenture.
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ARTICLE ELEVEN
CONVERSION
SECTION 11.01. Right to Convert
Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Indenture, each Holder shall have the right, at its option, at any time beginning on the date of the filing of an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation increasing the number of authorized shares of Common Stock and continuing through the close of business on the Business Day immediately prior to the Maturity Date (except that, with respect to any Securities or portion thereof which shall be called for redemption, such right shall terminate, except as provided in Section 11.02 or Section 3.07, at the close of business on the Business Day next preceding the date fixed for redemption of such Securities or portion unless the Company shall default in payment due upon redemption thereof) to convert the principal amount of any such Security, or any portion of such principal amount which is $250 or a multiple thereof, into that number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (as such shares shall then be constituted) obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Security or portion thereof surrendered for conversion by the Conversion Price in effect at such time, by surrender of the Security so to be converted in whole or in part in the manner provided in Section 11.02. A Holder of Securities is not entitled to any rights of a holder of Common Stock until such Holder has converted his Securities into Common Stock, and only to the extent such Securities are deemed to have been converted to Common Stock under this Article Eleven. The conversion price per share of Common Stock (the “Conversion Price”) shall be that set forth in paragraph 7 in the Securities, subject to adjustment as herein set forth. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to conversion of all of a Security also apply to conversion of a portion of a Security.
SECTION 11.02. Conversion Procedures
(a) Each Security shall be convertible at the office of the Conversion Agent into fully paid and nonassessable shares (calculated to the nearest 1/100th of a share) of Common Stock. The Security will be converted into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price therefor.
(b) In order to exercise the conversion privilege with respect to any Registered Note, the Holder of any such Securities to be converted, in whole or in part, shall:
(i) complete and manually sign the conversion notice (the “Conversion Notice”) provided on the back of the Security and deliver such notice to a Conversion Agent;
(ii) surrender the Security to the Conversion Agent;
(iii) furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, if required; and
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(iv) pay any transfer or similar tax, if required.
The date on which the Holder satisfies all of the requirements set forth in (i) through (iv) above is the “Conversion Date.” Such notice shall also state the name or names (with address or addresses) in which the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock which shall be issuable on such conversion shall be issued. All such Securities surrendered for conversion shall, unless the shares issuable on conversion are to be issued in the same name as the registration of such Securities, be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company duly executed by, the Holder or his duly authorized attorney.
In order to exercise the conversion privilege with respect to any interest in Global Notes, the Holder must complete the appropriate instruction form for conversion pursuant to the Depositary’s book-entry conversion program, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents if required by the Company or the Trustee or Conversion Agent, and pay the funds, if any, required by this Section 11.02 and any transfer taxes if required pursuant to Section 11.04.
(c) As promptly as practicable after satisfaction of the requirements for conversion set forth above (but in no event later than 3 Business Days after the Conversion Date), subject to compliance with any restrictions on transfer of shares issuable on conversion to be issued in a name other than that of the Holder (as if such transfer were a transfer of the Securities (or portion thereof) so converted), the Company shall issue and shall deliver to such Holder at the office of the Conversion Agent, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of such Securities or portion thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Article and a check or cash in respect of any fractional interest in respect of a share of Common Stock arising upon such conversion, as provided in Section 11.03. In case any Securities of a denomination greater than $250 shall be surrendered for partial conversion, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of the Securities so surrendered, without charge to him, new Securities in authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the surrendered Securities.
(d) Each conversion shall be deemed to have been effected as to any such Securities (or portion thereof) on the date on which the requirements set forth above in this Section 11.02 have been satisfied as to such Securities (or portion thereof), and the person in whose name any certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock shall be issuable upon such conversion shall be deemed to have become on said date the Holder of record of the shares represented thereby; provided, however, that in case of any such surrender on any date when the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed, the person or persons in whose name the certificate or certificates for such shares are to be issued shall be deemed to have become the record Holder thereof for all purposes on the next day on which such stock transfer books are open, but such conversion shall be at the Conversion Price in effect on the date upon which such Securities shall be surrendered.
All Securities or portions thereof surrendered for conversion during the period from the close of business on the applicable Record Date (as defined in the Security) for any Interest
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Payment Date to the close of business on the Business Day next preceding the following Interest Payment Date shall (unless such Securities or portion thereof being converted shall have been called for redemption on a Redemption Date which occurs during the period from the close of business on such Record Date to the close of business on the Business Day next preceding the following Interest Payment Date) be accompanied by payment, in funds acceptable to the Company, of an amount equal to the interest otherwise payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount being converted; provided, however, that no such payment need be made if there shall exist at the time of conversion a default in the payment of interest on the Securities. Except as provided above in this Section 11.02, no payment or other adjustment shall be made for interest accrued on any Securities converted or for dividends on any shares issued upon the conversion of such Securities as provided in this Article. Accrued and unpaid interest will be deemed paid in full rather than canceled, extinguished or forfeited.
(e) Upon the conversion of an interest in Global Notes, the Trustee (or other Conversion Agent appointed by the Company) shall make a notation on such Global Notes as to the reduction in the principal amount represented thereby. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any conversions of Securities effected through any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee.
SECTION 11.03. Fractional Shares
The Company will not issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Securities. If multiple Securities shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares which shall be issuable upon conversion shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted hereby) so surrendered. If any fractional share of stock would be issuable upon the conversion of any Securities, the Company shall make an adjustment and payment therefor in cash at the current market value thereof to the Holder of Securities. The current market value of a fraction of a share of Common Stock shall be determined by multiplying the Sale Price of such Common Stock on the Trading Day before the Conversion Date by such fraction and rounding the product to the nearest whole cent.
SECTION 11.04. Taxes on Conversion
If a Holder converts a Security, the Company shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on the issue of shares of Common Stock upon the conversion. However, the Holder shall pay any such tax which is due because the Holder requests the shares to be issued in a name other than the Holder’s name. The Conversion Agent may refuse to deliver the certificates representing the Common Stock being issued in a name other than the Holder’s name until the Conversion Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax which will be due because the shares are to be issued in a name other than the Holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulations.
SECTION 11.05. Reservation of Shares; Shares to be Fully Paid; Compliance with Governmental Requirements; Listing of Common Stock
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Beginning on the date of filing of an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation increasing the number of authorized shares of Common Stock, the Company shall provide, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares or shares held in treasury, sufficient shares of Common Stock to provide for the conversion of the Securities from time to time as such Securities are presented for conversion.
Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment reducing the Conversion Price below the then par value, if any, of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities, the Company will take all corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue shares of such Common Stock at such adjusted Conversion Price.
The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon conversion of Securities shall be newly issued shares or Treasury shares, shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and shall be free from preemptive rights and free from any Lien or adverse claim.
The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to list or cause to have quoted any shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of Securities on each national securities exchange or over-the-counter or other domestic market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted.
SECTION 11.06. Adjustment for Change in Capital Stock
In case the Company shall (i) pay a dividend, or make a distribution, in shares of its Common Stock, on its Common Stock, (ii) subdivide its outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares, or (iii) combine its outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted so that the holder of any Security thereafter surrendered for conversion shall be entitled to receive the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company which he would have owned or have been entitled to receive after the happening of any of the events described above had such Security been converted immediately prior to the happening of such event. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in clause (i) above is not so paid or made, the Conversion Price shall again be adjusted to the Conversion Price which would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 11.06 shall become effective immediately after the record date in the case of a dividend and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of subdivision or combination.
SECTION 11.07. Adjustment for Rights Issue
In case the Company shall issue rights or warrants to all holders of its Common Stock entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 days after the record date mentioned below) to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock at a price per share less than the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock at the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the Conversion Price determined by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the date of issuance of such rights or warrants by
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a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date of issuance of such rights or warrants plus the number of shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares so offered would purchase at such Current Market Price, and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date of issuance of such rights or warrants plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock offered for subscription or purchase. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any such rights or warrants are issued, and shall become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants. To the extent that shares of Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights or warrants, the Conversion Price shall be readjusted to the Conversion Price which would then be in effect had the adjustments made upon the issuance of such rights or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. If such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Price shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Price which would then be in effect if such record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants had not been fixed. In determining whether any rights or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than such Current Market Price, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights or warrants, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 11.08. Adjustment for Other Distributions.
(a) In case the Company shall distribute to all holders of its Common Stock (excluding any distribution in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary) any shares of any class of capital stock of the Company (other than Common Stock) or evidences of its indebtedness or assets (other than cash) or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any of its securities (excluding those referred to in Section 11.07 hereof) (any of the foregoing hereinafter in this Section 11.08(a) called the “Distributed Securities”), then, in each case, the Conversion Price shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the Conversion Price determined by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the date of such distribution by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the record date mentioned below less the fair market value on such record date (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive, and described in a certificate filed with the Trustee) of the Distributed Securities so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock, and the denominator shall be the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock on such record date. Such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the then fair market value (as so determined) of the portion of the Distributed Securities so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock is equal to or greater than the Current Market Price of the Common Stock on the relevant record date, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Securityholder shall have the right to receive upon conversion the amount of Distributed Securities such Holder would have received had such Holder converted each Security on such record date. In the event that such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Price shall again be adjusted to the
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Conversion Price which would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared. If the Board of Director determines the fair market value of any distribution for purposes of this Section 11.08(a) by reference to the actual or when issued trading market for any securities, it must in doing so consider the prices in such market over the same period used in computing the Current Market Price of the Common Stock.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.08(a), no adjustment shall be made thereunder for any distribution of Distributed Securities if the Company makes proper provision so that each Holder of a Security who converts such Security (or any portion thereof) after the record date for such distribution shall be entitled to receive upon such conversion, in addition to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, the amount and kind of Distributed Securities that such Holder would have been entitled to receive if such Holder had, immediately prior to such record date, converted such Security into Common Stock, provided that, with respect to any Distributed Securities that are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable, the foregoing provision shall only apply to the extent (and so long as) the Distributed Securities receivable upon conversion of such Security would be convertible, exchangeable or exercisable, as applicable, without any loss of rights or privileges for a period of at least 60 days following conversion of such Security.
(b) In case the Company shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all holders of its Common Stock cash (excluding (x) any quarterly cash dividend on the Common Stock, (y) any dividend or distribution in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary and (z) any cash that is distributed upon a merger or consolidation to which Section 11.14 applies), then, in such case, unless the Company elects to reserve such cash for distribution to the holders of the Securities upon the conversion of the Securities so that any such holder converting Securities will receive upon such conversion, in addition to the shares of Common Stock to which such holder is entitled, the amount of cash which such holder would have received if such holder had, immediately prior to the record date for such distribution of cash, converted its Securities into Common Stock, the Conversion Price shall be decreased so that the same shall equal the Conversion Price determined by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the record date by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the Current Market Price of the Common Stock on the record date less the amount of cash so distributed (and not excluded as provided above) applicable to one share of Common Stock, and the denominator shall be such Current Market Price of the Common Stock, such decrease to be effective immediately prior to the opening of business on, the day following the record date; provided, however, that in the event the portion of the cash so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock is equal to or greater than the Current Market Price of the Common Stock on the record date, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Securityholder shall have the right to receive upon conversion the amount of cash such holder would have received had such holder converted each Security on the record date. If such dividend or distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Price shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Price which would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.
(c) In case a tender offer made by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for all or any portion of the Common Stock shall expire and such tender offer shall involve the payment by the Company or such Subsidiary of consideration per share of Common Stock
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having a fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, a duly authorized committee thereof, whose determination shall be conclusive, and described in a resolution of the Board of Directors or such duly authorized committee thereof, as the case may be, at the last time (the “Expiration Time”) tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (as it shall have been amended)) that exceeds the Current Market Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Time, the Conversion Price shall be decreased so that the same shall equal the Conversion Price determined by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the Expiration Time by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (including any tendered shares) on the Expiration Time multiplied by the Current Market Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Time, and the denominator shall be the sum of (x) the fair market value (determined as aforesaid) of the aggregate consideration payable to stockholders based on the acceptance (up to any maximum specified in the terms of the tender offer) of all shares validly tendered or exchanged and not withdrawn as of the Expiration Time (the shares deemed so accepted up to any such maximum, being referred to as the “Purchased Shares”) and (y) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (less any Purchased Shares) on the Expiration Time and the Current Market Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Time, such decrease to become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following the Expiration Time. In the event that the Company is obligated to purchase shares pursuant to any such tender or exchange offer, but the Company is permanently prevented by applicable law from effecting any such purchases or all such purchases are rescinded, the Conversion Price shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Price which would then be effect if such tender or exchange offer had not been made.
SECTION 11.09. When Adjustment May be Deferred
No adjustment in the Conversion Price need be made unless the adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Conversion Price. Any adjustments that are not made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.
All calculations under this Article Eleven shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be.
SECTION 11.10. When no Adjustment Required
No adjustment need be made for rights to purchase Common Stock pursuant to a Company plan for reinvestment of dividends or interest.
No adjustment need be made for a change in the par value or no par value of the Common Stock.
To the extent the Securities become convertible into cash, assets, property or securities (other than capital stock of the Company), no adjustment need be made thereafter as to the cash, assets, property or such securities. Interest will not accrue on the cash.
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SECTION 11.11. Notice of Adjustment
Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted, the Company shall promptly mail to Securityholders a notice of the adjustment. The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Conversion Agent such notice. The certificate shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive evidence that the adjustment is correct. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be under any duty or responsibility with respect to any such certificate except to exhibit the same to any Holder desiring inspection thereof.
SECTION 11.12. Voluntary Decrease
The Company may make such decreases in the Conversion Price, in addition to those required by Sections 11.06, 11.07 and 11.08, as the Board of Directors considers to be advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase Common Stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock (or rights to acquire stock) or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company from time to time may decrease the Conversion Price by any amount for any period of time if the period is at least 20 days, the decrease is irrevocable during the period and the Board of Directors shall have made a determination that such decrease would be in the best interests of the Company, which determination shall be conclusive. Whenever the Conversion Price is so decreased, the Company shall mail to Securityholders and file with the Trustee and the Conversion Agent a notice of the decrease. The Company shall mail the notice at least 15 days before the date the decreased Conversion Price takes effect. The notice shall state the decreased Conversion Price and the period it will be in effect.
SECTION 11.13. Notice Of Certain Transactions. If:
(a) the Company makes any distribution or dividend that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Price pursuant to Section 11.06, 11.07 or 11.08; or
(b) the Company takes any action that would require a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 11.14; or
(c) there is a liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
then the Company shall mail to Securityholders and file with the Trustee and the Conversion Agent a notice referencing this Section 11.13 and stating the proposed record date for a dividend or distribution or the proposed effective date of a subdivision, combination, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, and if applicable, the new Conversion Price. The Company shall file and mail the notice at least 15 days before such date. Failure to file or mail the notice or any defect in it shall not affect the validity of the transaction. Unless and until the Trustee shall receive a notice pursuant to this Section 11.13, it shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any event required to be described in a notice pursuant to this Section 11.13.
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SECTION 11.14. Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale
If any of the following events occur, namely (i) any reclassification or change of outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination), (ii) any consolidation, merger or combination of the Company with another corporation as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash) with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock, or (iii) any sale or conveyance of the properties and assets of the Company as, or substantially as, an entirety to any other corporation as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash) with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock, then the Company or the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture providing that each Security shall be convertible into the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities or property or assets (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, combination, sale or conveyance by a holder of a number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such Securities immediately prior to such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, combination, sale or conveyance. Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article.
The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture to be mailed to each holder of Securities at his address appearing on the Securityholder list provided for in Section 2.05 of this Indenture.
The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, consolidations, mergers, combinations, and sales.
If this Section applies, neither Section 11.06, 11.07 nor 11.08 applies.
SECTION 11.15. Company Determination Final
Any determination that the Company or the Board of Directors must make pursuant to Section 11.03, 11.06, 11.07, 11.08, 11.09, 11.10, 11.14 or 11.17 is conclusive.
SECTION 11.16. Trustee’s Adjustment Disclaimer
The Trustee has no duty to determine when an adjustment under this Article Eleven should be made, how it should be made or what it should be. The Trustee has no duty to determine whether a supplemental indenture under Section 11.14 need be entered into or whether any provisions of any supplemental indenture are correct. The Trustee shall not be accountable for and makes no representation as to the validity or value of any securities or assets issued upon conversion of Securities. The Trustee shall not be responsible for the Company’s failure to comply with this Article Eleven. Each Conversion Agent shall have the same protection under this Section 11.16 as the Trustee.
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SECTION 11.17. Simultaneous Adjustment
In the event that this Article 11 requires adjustments to the Conversion Price under more than one of Sections 11.06, 11.07, 11.08(a) or 11.08(b), and the record dates for the distributions giving rise to such adjustments shall occur on the same date, then such adjustments shall be made by applying, first, the provisions of Section 11.08(a), second, the provisions of Section 11.08(b), third the provisions of Section 11.06 and, fourth, the provisions of Section 11.07.
SECTION 11.18. Successive Adjustments
After an adjustment to the Conversion Price under this Article Eleven, any subsequent event requiring an adjustment under this Article Eleven shall cause an adjustment to the Conversion Price as so adjusted.
SECTION 11.19. Rights Issued in Respect of Common Stock Issued Upon Conversion
Each share of Common Stock issued upon conversion of Securities pursuant to this Article Eleven shall be entitled to receive the appropriate number of Rights (as defined below), if any, and the certificates representing the Common Stock issued upon such conversion shall bear such legends, if any, in each case as provided by and subject to the terms of the agreement governing such Rights (the “Rights Agreement”) as in effect at the time of such conversion. If the Rights are separated from the Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of the Rights Agreement such that the Holders of Securities would thereafter not be entitled to receive any such Rights in respect to the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such Securities, the Conversion Price will be adjusted as provided in Section 11.08(a) on the separation date; provided that if such Rights expire, terminate or are redeemed by the Company, the Conversion Price shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Price which would then be in effect if such separation had not occurred. In lieu of any such adjustment, the Company may amend the Rights Agreement to provide that upon conversion of the Securities the Holders will receive, in addition to the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, the Rights which would have attached to such shares of Common Stock if the Rights had not become separated from the Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of the Rights Agreement.
Rights or warrants distributed by the Company to all holders of Common Stock entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Company’s capital stock (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“Trigger Event”):
(a) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of Common Stock,
(b) are not exercisable, and
(c) are also issued in respect of future issuances of Common Stock,
(“Rights”) shall not be deemed distributed for purposes of Section 11.08(a) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event. In addition, in the event of any distribution of rights or warrants, or any Trigger Event with respect thereto, that shall have resulted in an adjustment to the Conversion Price under Section 11.08(a), (1) in the case of any such rights or warrants which
50
shall all have been redeemed or repurchased without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Price shall be readjusted upon such final redemption or repurchase to give effect to such distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per share redemption or repurchase price received by a holder of Common Stock with respect to such rights or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights or warrants), made to all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or repurchase, and (2) in the case of any such rights or warrants all of which shall have expired without exercise by any holder thereof, the Conversion Price shall be readjusted as if such issuance had not occurred.
SECTION 11.20. General Considerations
Whenever successive adjustments to the Conversion Price are called for pursuant to this Article Eleven, such adjustments shall be made to the Current Market Price as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the intent of this Article and to avoid unjust or inequitable results as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE TWELVE
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 12.01. TIA Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the required provision shall control.
SECTION 12.02. Notices.
Any notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be sufficiently given if made by hand delivery, by telex, by telecopier or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If to the Company: | Wickes Inc. | |
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061 | ||
Attention: Chief Financial Officer | ||
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000 | ||
With a copy to: | Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, Chtd. | |
000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 | ||
Chicago, Illinois 60601 | ||
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000 |
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If to the Trustee: | HSBC Bank USA | |
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
New York, New York 10018 | ||
Attention: Issuer Services | ||
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000 |
Each of the Company and the Trustee by written notice to each other such Person may designate additional or different addresses for notices to such Person. Any notice or communication to the Company or the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given or made as of the date so delivered if personally delivered; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if faxed; and five (5) calendar days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (except that a notice of change of address shall not be deemed to have been given until actually received by the addressee).
Any notice or communication mailed to a Securityholder shall be mailed to him by first class mail or other equivalent means at his address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given to him if so mailed within the time prescribed.
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
SECTION 12.03. Communications by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Conversion Agent and any other Person shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
SECTION 12.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
an Officers’ Certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to be performed by the Company, if any, 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 to be performed by the Company, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with.
SECTION 12.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture, other than the Officers’ Certificate required by Section 4.03, shall include:
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a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
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;
a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is reasonably necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 12.06. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules in accordance with the Trustee’s customary practices for action by or at a meeting of Securityholders. The Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Registrar may make reasonable rules for its functions.
SECTION 12.07. Legal Holidays.
A “Legal Holiday” used with respect to a particular place of payment is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or at such place of payment are not required to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at such place, payment may be made at such place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
SECTION 12.08. Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS. Each of the parties hereto agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture.
SECTION 12.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
SECTION 12.10. No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee, stockholder or incorporator, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creations. Each
53
Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.
SECTION 12.11. Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
SECTION 12.12. Duplicate Originals.
All parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together shall represent the same agreement.
SECTION 12.13. Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, it being intended that all of the provisions hereof shall be enforceable to the full extent permitted by law.
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SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.
WICKES INC. | ||||||||||
By: | ||||||||||
Name: | ||||||||||
Title: | ||||||||||
HSBC Bank USA, as Trustee | ||||||||||
By: | ||||||||||
Name: | ||||||||||
Title: |
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EXHIBIT A
WICKES INC.
10% Convertible Note Due 2007
No. | $ |
WICKES INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor entity), for value received promises to pay to or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars, on June 15, 2007.
Interest Payment Dates: March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15
Record Dates: March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.
WICKES INC. | ||||||||||
By: | ||||||||||
Name: | ||||||||||
Title: | ||||||||||
By: | ||||||||||
Name: | ||||||||||
Title: |
Dated: , 2003
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the 10% Convertible Notes Due 2007 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
HSBC Bank USA, as Trustee | ||||||||||
By: | ||||||||||
Authorized Officer |
(REVERSE OF SECURITY)
[THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO AN PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN REGISTERED FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (00 XXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, XXX XXXX) (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY 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 MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE 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.] 1
10% Convertible Note Due 2007
1. Interest. WICKES INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date on which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from December 15, 2003. The Company will pay interest quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, commencing March 15, 2004. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
1 Used on Global Note only. |
The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal from time to time on demand at the rate borne by the Securities plus 2% per annum; it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the rate borne by the Securities plus 2% per annum to the extent lawful.
2. Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are the registered Holders at the close of business on the Record Date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date even if the Securities are cancelled on registration of transfer or registration of exchange after such Record Date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company shall pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts (“U.S. Legal Tender”). However, the Company may pay principal and interest by its check payable in such U.S. Legal Tender. The Company may deliver any such interest payment to the Paying Agent or to a Holder at the Holder’s registered address.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, HSBC Bank USA will act as Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice to the Holders. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may, subject to certain exceptions, act as Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.
4. Indenture. The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture, dated as of December , 2003 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and HSBC Bank USA, as trustee (the “Trustee”). This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company designated as its 10% Convertible Notes Due 2007 (the “Securities”), limited (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture) in aggregate principal amount to $[21,123,000], which may be issued under the Indenture. Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”), as in effect on the date of the Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders of Securities are referred to the Indenture and said Act for a statement of them. The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the Company.
5. Subordination. The Securities are subordinated in right of payment, in the manner and to the extent set forth in the Indenture, to the prior payment in full in cash or Cash Equivalents of all Senior Debt of the Company, whether outstanding on the date of the Indenture or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed. Each Holder by his acceptance hereof agrees to be bound by such provisions and authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee, on his behalf, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided for in the Indenture and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for such purposes.
6. Optional Redemption.
(a) As long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company may redeem all or any of the Securities at any time at redemption prices
(expressed in percentages of the principal amount) set forth below in the periods indicated below, together with any accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities to be redeemed:
Issue Date through December 15, 2005 105.00%
December 16, 2005 and thereafter 100.00%
(b) Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $250 may be redeemed in part.
Except as set forth in the Indenture, if monies for the redemption of the Securities called for redemption shall have been deposited with the Paying Agent for redemption on such Redemption Date, then, unless the Company defaults in the payment of such Redemption Price, the Securities called for redemption will cease to bear interest from and after such Redemption Date and the only right of the Holders of such Securities will be to receive payment of the Redemption Price.
7. Conversion. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, a Holder of a Security may convert it into Common Stock of the Company commencing at any time after the date of filing of an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation increasing the number of shares of Common Stock the Company is authorized to issue and ending on the close of business on June 15, 2007. If the Security is called for redemption, the Holder may convert it at any time before the close of the last Trading Day prior to the Redemption Date.
The initial Conversion Price is $1.00 per share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in certain events described in the Indenture. The Company will deliver cash or a check in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock. To convert a Security a Holder must (a) complete and manually sign the conversion notice on the back of the Security and deliver such notice to the Conversion Agent, (b) surrender the Security to the Conversion Agent, (c) furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, if required, and (d) pay any transfer or similar tax, if required.
A Holder may convert a portion of a Security if the principal amount of such portion is $250 or a multiple of $250.
The Conversion Price is subject to adjustment as provided in the Indenture. In addition, in the case of (a) any reclassification of the Common Stock, or (b) a consolidation or merger involving the Company or a sale or conveyance to another corporation of the property and assets of the Company as an entirety (or substantially as an entirety), in each case as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive stock, securities, other property or assets (including cash) with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock, as set forth in the Indenture, or upon certain distributions described in the Indenture, the right to convert a Security into Common Stock may be changed, as set forth in the Indenture, into a right to convert it into securities, cash or other assets of the Company or another person.
8. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange. The Securities are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $250 and multiples of $250. A Holder shall register the transfer of or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Securities or portions thereof selected for redemption.
9. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Security shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
10. Unclaimed Money. If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for one year, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will pay the money back to the Company. After that, all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
11. Amendment: Supplement; Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Securities may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding, and any existing Default or Event of Default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities, or comply with Article Five of the Indenture or make any other change that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights of any Holder of a Security.
12. Successors. When a successor assumes, in accordance with the Indenture, all the obligations of its predecessor under the Securities and the Indenture, the predecessor will be released from those obligations.
13. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of Securities then outstanding may declare all the Securities to be due and payable in the manner, at the time and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Holders of Securities may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee is not obligated to enforce the Indenture or the Securities unless it has received indemnity satisfactory to it. The Indenture permits, subject to certain limitations therein provided, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding to direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of Securities notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.
14. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.
15. No Recourse Against Others. No stockholder, director, officer, employee or incorporator, as such, of the Company shall have any liability for any obligation of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of a Security by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.
16. Authentication. This Security shall not be valid until the Trustee or authenticating agent manually signs the certificate of authentication on this Security.
17. Governing Law. The Laws of the State of New York shall govern this Security and the Indenture, without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
18. Abbreviations and Defined Terms. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Security or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT tenants by the entirety), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
19. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to the Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
20. Indenture. Each Holder, by accepting a Security, agrees to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Indenture, as the same may be amended from time to time.
The Company will furnish to any Holder of a Security upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture, which has the text of this Security in larger type. Requests may be made to: WICKES INC., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attn: Secretary.
FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE
To: Wickes Inc.
The undersigned registered holder of this Security hereby irrevocably exercises the option to convert this Security, or portion hereof (which is $250 principal amount or a multiple thereof) below designated, into shares of Common Stock of Wickes Inc., in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Security, and directs that the shares issuable and deliverable upon such conversion, together with any check in payment for fractional shares and any Securities representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If shares or any portion of this Security not converted are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto.
Principal amount to be converted: $ ,000
Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number:
If you want the stock certificate made out in another person’s name, print in the lines below:
Name:
Address:
Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number:
Date: Signed:
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the Security)
Signature Guarantee:
Note: Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.