EXHIBIT 4.2
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EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC.,
Issuer
and
MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS
TRUST COMPANY,
Trustee
---------------------
Indenture
Dated as of March 10, 1998
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9.15% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
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TIA Sections Indenture Sections
------------------ ------------------
(S) 310(a)(1)............................................... 7.10
(a)(2)............................................... 7.10
(b).................................................. 7.08
(S) 313(c).................................................. 7.06; 11.02
(S) 314(a).................................................. 4.17; 11.02
(a)(4)............................................... 4.16; 11.02
(c)(1)............................................... 11.03
(c)(2)............................................... 11.03
(e).................................................. 11.04
(S) 315(b).................................................. 7.05; 11.02
(S) 316(a)(1)(A)............................................ 6.05
(a)(1)(B)............................................ 6.04
(b).................................................. 6.07
(S) 317(a)(1)............................................... 6.08
(a)(2)............................................... 6.09
(S) 318(a).................................................. 11.01
(c).................................................. 11.01
Note: The Cross-Reference Table shall not for any purpose be deemed to be a
part of this Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE ONE................................................................. 7
SECTION 1.01. Definitions............................................. 7
SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act....... 26
SECTION 1.03. Rules of Construction................................... 27
ARTICLE TWO................................................................. 27
SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating......................................... 27
SECTION 2.02. Restrictive Legends..................................... 29
SECTION 2.03. Execution, Authentication and Denominations............. 31
SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent.............................. 32
SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust..................... 33
SECTION 2.06. Transfer and Exchange................................... 33
SECTION 2.07. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes.................. 34
SECTION 2.08. Special Transfer Provisions............................. 36
SECTION 2.09. Replacement Notes....................................... 38
SECTION 2.10. Outstanding Notes....................................... 39
SECTION 2.11. Temporary Notes......................................... 39
SECTION 2.12. Cancellation............................................ 40
SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers........................................... 40
SECTION 2.14. Defaulted Interest...................................... 40
ARTICLE THREE............................................................... 40
SECTION 3.01. Right of Redemption..................................... 40
i
SECTION 3.02. Notices to Trustee..................................... 41
SECTION 3.03. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed...................... 41
SECTION 3.04. Notice of Redemption................................... 42
SECTION 3.05. Effect of Notice of Redemption......................... 43
SECTION 3.06. Deposit of Redemption Price............................ 43
SECTION 3.07. Payment of Notes Called for Redemption................. 43
SECTION 3.08. Notes Redeemed in Part................................. 43
ARTICLE FOUR............................................................... 44
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes....................................... 44
SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency........................ 44
SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Indebtedness............................. 45
SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments...................... 47
SECTION 4.05. Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions
Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries................................ 49
SECTION 4.06. Limitation on the Issuance and Sale of Capital Stock of
Restricted Subsidiaries.......................................... 50
SECTION 4.07. Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees by Restricted
Subsidiaries..................................................... 50
SECTION 4.08. Limitation on Transactions with Stockholders and
Affiliates....................................................... 51
SECTION 4.09. Limitation on Liens.................................... 52
SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Asset Sales.............................. 52
SECTION 4.11. Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control........... 53
SECTION 4.12. Existence.............................................. 53
SECTION 4.13. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims...................... 53
SECTION 4.14. Maintenance of Properties and Insurance................ 53
SECTION 4.15. Notice of Defaults..................................... 54
ii
SECTION 4.16. Compliance Certificates................................ 54
SECTION 4.17. Commission Reports and Reports to Holders.............. 55
SECTION 4.18. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws................ 55
SECTION 4.19. Limitation on Senior Subordinated Indebtedness......... 55
ARTICLE FIVE............................................................... 55
SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, Etc............................ 55
SECTION 5.02. Successor Substituted.................................. 57
ARTICLE SIX................................................................ 57
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default...................................... 57
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration........................................... 58
SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies......................................... 59
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults................................ 59
SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority.................................... 60
SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits.................................... 60
SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment................... 61
SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee............................. 61
SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim....................... 61
SECTION 6.10. Priorities............................................. 62
SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.................................. 62
SECTION 6.12. Restoration of Rights and Remedies..................... 62
SECTION 6.13. Rights and Remedies Cumulative......................... 62
SECTION 6.14. Delay or Omission Not Waiver........................... 63
ARTICLE SEVEN.............................................................. 63
SECTION 7.01. General................................................ 63
iii
SECTION 7.02. Certain Rights of Trustee.............................. 63
SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee........................... 64
SECTION 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer................................... 64
SECTION 7.05. Notice of Default...................................... 64
SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders.......................... 65
SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity............................. 65
SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee................................. 65
SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc....................... 66
SECTION 7.10. Eligibility............................................ 66
SECTION 7.11. Money Held in Trust.................................... 67
SECTION 7.12. Withholding Taxes...................................... 67
ARTICLE EIGHT.............................................................. 67
SECTION 8.01. Termination of Company's Obligations................... 67
SECTION 8.02. Defeasance and Discharge of Indenture.................. 68
SECTION 8.03. Defeasance of Certain Obligations...................... 70
SECTION 8.04. Application of Trust Money............................. 72
SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company................................... 72
SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement.......................................... 73
ARTICLE NINE............................................................... 73
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders............................. 73
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders................................ 73
SECTION 9.03. Revocation and Effect of Consent....................... 74
SECTION 9.04. Notation on or Exchange of Notes....................... 75
SECTION 9.05. Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc........................ 75
iv
SECTION 9.06. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.................... 76
ARTICLE TEN................................................................ 76
SECTION 10.01. Notes Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness............. 76
SECTION 10.02. No Payment on Notes in Certain Circumstances.......... 76
SECTION 10.03. Payment over Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc........... 77
SECTION 10.04. Subrogation........................................... 79
SECTION 10.05. Obligations of Company Unconditional.................. 80
SECTION 10.06. Notice to Trustee..................................... 80
SECTION 10.07. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of
Liquidating Agent................................................ 81
SECTION 10.08. Trustee's Relation to Senior Indebtedness............. 81
SECTION 10.09. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or
Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness....... 81
SECTION 10.10. Holders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate
Subordination of Notes........................................... 82
SECTION 10.11. Not to Prevent Events of Default...................... 82
SECTION 10.12. Trustee's Compensation Not Prejudiced................. 82
SECTION 10.13. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions................. 82
SECTION 10.14. Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution............. 82
SECTION 10.15. Consent of Holders of Senior Indebtedness Under
the Credit Agreement............................................. 83
SECTION 10.16. Trust Moneys Not Subordinated......................... 83
ARTICLE ELEVEN............................................................. 83
SECTION 11.01. Trust Indenture Act of 1939........................... 83
SECTION 11.02. Notices............................................... 83
SECTION 11.03. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.... 85
SECTION 11.04. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion......... 85
v
SECTION 11.05. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar........... 85
SECTION 11.06. Payment Date Other Than a Business Day................ 85
SECTION 11.07. Governing Law......................................... 86
SECTION 11.08. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements......... 86
SECTION 11.09. No Recourse Against Others............................ 86
SECTION 11.10. Successors............................................ 86
SECTION 11.11. Duplicate Originals................................... 86
SECTION 11.12. Separability.......................................... 86
SECTION 11.13. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc...................... 86
EXHIBIT A Form of Note A-1
EXHIBIT B Form of Certificate B-1
EXHIBIT C Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with
Transfers to Non-QIB Accredited Investors C-1
EXHIBIT D Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with
Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S D-1
6
INDENTURE, dated as of March 10, 1998, between Extended Stay America,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Manufacturers and Traders
Trust Company, a New York banking corporation, as Trustee (the "Trustee").
RECITALS
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance of up to $200,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of the Company's 9.15% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "Notes")
issuable as provided in this Indenture. All things necessary to make this
Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have
been done, and the Company has done all things necessary to make the Notes, when
executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee hereunder
and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of the Company as
hereinafter provided.
This Indenture is subject to, and shall be governed by, the provisions
of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, that are required to be a part of and to
govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
AND THIS INDENTURE FURTHER WITNESSETH
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes
by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and
proportionate benefit of all Holders, the Company and the Trustee, as follows.
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01. Definitions
"Acquired Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of a Person existing at the
time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or assumed in connection with
an Asset Acquisition from such Person by a Restricted Subsidiary and not
Incurred by such Person in connection with, or in anticipation of, such Person
becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such Asset Acquisition; provided that
Indebtedness of such Person which is redeemed, defeased, retired or otherwise
repaid at the time of or immediately upon consummation of the transactions by
which such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or such Asset Acquisition
shall not be Acquired Indebtedness.
"Adjusted Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the
aggregate net income (or loss) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
for such period determined on a consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP;
provided that the following items shall be
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excluded in computing Adjusted Consolidated Net Income (without duplication):
(i) the net income of any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary), except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other
distributions actually paid to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
by such Person during such period; (ii) solely for the purposes of calculating
the amount of Restricted Payments that may be made pursuant to clause (C) of the
first paragraph of Section 4.04 (and in such case, except to the extent
includable pursuant to clause (i) above), the net income (or loss) of any Person
accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into
or consolidated with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or all or
substantially all of the property and assets of such Person are acquired by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (iii) the net income of any
Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends
or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of such net income to the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is not at the time of such determination
permitted by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement,
instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation
applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary; (iv) any gains or losses (on an after-
tax basis) attributable to Asset Sales; (v) except for purposes of calculating
the amount of Restricted Payments that may be made pursuant to clause (C) of the
first paragraph of Section 4.04, any amount paid or accrued as dividends on
Preferred Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owned by Persons
other than the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (vi) all
extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses.
"Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total amount of
assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (less applicable
depreciation, amortization and other valuation reserves), except to the extent
resulting from write-ups of capital assets (excluding write-ups in connection
with accounting for acquisitions in conformity with GAAP), after deducting
therefrom (i) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (excluding intercompany items) and (ii) all goodwill, trade names,
trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like
intangibles, all as set forth on the most recent quarterly or annual
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries,
prepared in conformity with GAAP and filed with the Commission or provided to
the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.17.
"Affiliate" means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly
or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common
control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by"
and "under common control with"), as applied to any Person, means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
"Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent, authenticating agent or co-
Registrar.
8
"Agent Members" has the meaning provided in Section 2.07(a).
"Amended Credit Agreement" means the amendment to and restatement of
the Credit Agreement and such other agreements, instruments and documents
contemplated by the Commitment Letter dated February 13, 1998 between the
Company and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Senior Funding, Inc, in each case as such amended and
restated Credit Agreement or such other agreements, instruments and documents
may be amended (including amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented,
extended, renewed, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Asset Acquisition" means (i) an investment by the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries in any other Person pursuant to which such Person
shall become a Restricted Subsidiary or shall be merged into or consolidated
with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such
Person's primary business is related, ancillary or complementary to the
businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of such
investment or (ii) an acquisition by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of the property and assets of any Person other than the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that constitute substantially all of a
division or line of business, or one or more hotel properties, of such Person;
provided that the property and assets acquired are related, ancillary or
complementary to the businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
on the date of such acquisition.
"Asset Disposition" means the sale or other disposition by the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than to the Company or another
Restricted Subsidiary) of (i) all or substantially all of the Capital Stock of
any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) all or substantially all of the
assets that constitute a division or line of business, or one or more hotel
properties, of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Asset Sale" means any sale, transfer or other disposition (including
by way of merger, consolidation or sale-leaseback transaction) in one
transaction or a series of related transactions by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to any Person other than the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries of (i) all or any of the Capital Stock of any Restricted
Subsidiary, (ii) all or substantially all of the property and assets of an
operating unit or business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
or (iii) any other property and assets of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than the Capital Stock or other Investment in an
Unrestricted Subsidiary) outside the ordinary course of business of the Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary and, in each case, that is not governed by the
provisions of this Indenture applicable to mergers, consolidations and sales of
assets of the Company; provided that "Asset Sale" shall not include (a) sales or
other dispositions of inventory, receivables and other current assets, (b)
sales, transfers or other dispositions of assets with a fair market value not in
excess of $1 million in any transaction or series of related transactions, (c)
sales, transfers or other dispositions of assets constituting a Restricted
Payment permitted to be made under Section 4.04, (d) sales or other dispositions
of assets for consideration at least equal to the fair market value of the
assets sold or disposed of, to the extent that the consideration
9
received would satisfy clause (B) of Section 4.10 or (e) sales, transfers or
other dispositions of property or equipment that has become worn out, obsolete
or damaged or otherwise unsuitable for use in connection with the business of
the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Average Life" means, at any date of determination with respect to any
debt security, the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products of
(a) the number of years from such date of determination to the dates of each
successive scheduled principal payment of such debt security and (b) the amount
of such principal payment by (ii) the sum of all such principal payments.
"Bank Agent" means The Industrial Bank of Japan, Limited, or its
successors as agent for the lenders under the Credit Agreement.
"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company or
any committee of such Board of Directors duly authorized to act under this
Indenture.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution, certified by the
Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and
to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered
to the Trustee.
"Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on
which commercial banks in The City of New York, or in the city of the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee, are authorized by law to close.
"Capital Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares,
interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether
voting or non-voting) in equity of such Person, whether outstanding on the
Closing Date or issued thereafter, including, without limitation, all Common
Stock and Preferred Stock.
"Capitalized Lease" means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any
property (whether real, personal or mixed) of which the discounted present value
of the rental obligations of such Person as lessee, in conformity with GAAP, is
required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of such Person.
"Capitalized Lease Obligations" means the discounted present value of
the rental obligations under a Capitalized Lease.
"Change of Control" means such time as (i) a "person" or "group"
(within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other
than the Existing Stockholders and their respective Affiliates, becomes the
ultimate "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of
more than 35% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company on a
fully diluted basis and such ownership represents a greater percentage of the
total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, on a fully diluted basis,
than is held by or for the Existing Stockholders and their Affiliates on such
date; or (ii)
10
individuals who on the Closing Date constitute the Board of Directors (together
with any new or replacement directors whose election by the Board of Directors
or whose nomination by the Board of Directors for election by the Company's
stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors then still in office who either were members of the Board of
Directors on the Closing Date or whose election or nomination for election was
so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors then in office.
"Closing Date" means the date on which the Notes are originally issued
under this Indenture.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from
time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time
after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and
performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA, then the body performing
such duties at such time.
"Common Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares,
interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether
voting or non-voting) of such Person's equity, whether outstanding on the
Closing Date or issued thereafter, including, without limitation, all series and
classes of common stock.
"Company" means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this
Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to Article Five of this
Indenture and thereafter means the successor.
"Company Order" means a written request or order signed in the name of
the Company (i) by its Chairman, a Vice Chairman, its President or a Vice
President and (ii) by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary and delivered to the Trustee; provided, however, that such
written request or order may be signed by any two of the officers or directors
listed in clause (i) above in lieu of being signed by one of such officers or
directors listed in such clause (i) and one of the officers listed in clause
(ii) above.
"Consolidated EBITDA" means, for any period, Adjusted Consolidated Net
Income for such period plus, (A) to the extent such amount was deducted in
calculating such Adjusted Consolidated Net Income, (i) Consolidated Interest
Expense, (ii) income taxes (other than income taxes (either positive or
negative) attributable to extraordinary gains or losses or sales of assets),
(iii) depreciation expense, (iv) amortization expense and (v) all other non-cash
items reducing Adjusted Consolidated Net Income less all non-cash items
increasing Adjusted Consolidated Net Income, provided that increases or
decreases from changes in the amounts of current assets or current liabilities,
respectively, shall not result in adjustments to Adjusted Consolidated Net
Income pursuant to this clause (v), all as determined on a consolidated basis
for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP, and (B)
$25 million (for fiscal periods ending on or prior to December 31, 1998), $15
million (for fiscal periods ending
11
after December 31, 1998 and on or prior to December 31, 1999) and $10 million
(for fiscal periods ending after December 31, 1999 and on or prior to December
31, 2000); provided that, if any Restricted Subsidiary is not a Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary, Consolidated EBITDA shall be reduced (to the extent not
otherwise reduced in accordance with GAAP) by an amount equal to (X) the amount
of the Adjusted Consolidated Net Income attributable to such Restricted
Subsidiary multiplied by (Y) the percentage ownership interest in the income of
such Restricted Subsidiary not owned on the last day of such period by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for any period, the aggregate
amount of interest in respect of Indebtedness (including, without limitation,
amortization of original issue discount on any Indebtedness and the interest
portion of any deferred payment obligation, calculated in accordance with the
effective interest method of accounting; all commissions, discounts and other
fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers' acceptance
financing; the net costs associated with Interest Rate Agreements; and
Indebtedness that is Guaranteed or secured by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries) and all but the principal component of rentals in
respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid
or to be accrued by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such
period; excluding, however, (i) any amount of such interest of any Restricted
Subsidiary if the net income of such Restricted Subsidiary is excluded in the
calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (iii) of the
definition thereof (but only in the same proportion as the net income of such
Restricted Subsidiary is excluded from the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated
Net Income pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition thereof) and (ii) any
premiums, fees and expenses (and any amortization thereof) payable in connection
with the offering of the Notes or the establishment of the Credit Agreement or
the Amended Credit Agreement, all as determined on a consolidated basis (without
taking into account Unrestricted Subsidiaries) in conformity with GAAP.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means, at any date of determination,
stockholders' equity as set forth on the most recently available quarterly or
annual consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
(which shall be as of a date not more than 135 days prior to the date of such
computation, and which shall not take into account Unrestricted Subsidiaries),
less any amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock or any equity security
convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness, the cost of treasury stock
and the principal amount of any promissory notes receivable from the sale of the
Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, each item to
be determined in conformity with GAAP (excluding the effects of foreign currency
exchange adjustments under Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 52); provided that for purposes of clause
(viii) of Section 4.03, pro forma effect shall be given to any issuance and sale
of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) after the date of such
consolidated balance sheet.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which the
corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which
12
office is, at the date of this Indenture, located at Xxx X&X Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Corporate Trust Department.
"Credit Agreement" means the credit agreement dated as of September
26, 1997 among the Company, various xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Senior Funding, Inc.,
as syndication agent and arranger, and The Industrial Bank of Japan, Limited, as
administrative agent, together with any agreements, instruments and documents
executed or delivered pursuant to or in connection with such credit agreement
(including without limitation any Guarantees and security documents), in each
case as such credit agreement or such agreements, instruments or documents may
be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented,
extended, renewed, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time (including
the Amended Credit Agreement and including any agreement extending the maturity
of, refinancing or otherwise restructuring (including, but not limited to, the
inclusion of additional borrowers thereunder that are Subsidiaries of the
Company) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or any
successor agreement, as such agreement may be amended, renewed, extended,
substituted, replaced, restated and otherwise modified from time to time).
"Currency Agreement" means any foreign exchange contract, currency
swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement.
"Default" means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time
or both would be, an Event of Default.
"Depositary" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, its nominees,
and their respective successors.
"Designated Senior Indebtedness" means (i) any Indebtedness under the
Credit Agreement (except that any Indebtedness which represents a partial
refinancing of Indebtedness theretofore outstanding pursuant to the Credit
Agreement, rather than a complete refinancing thereof, shall only constitute
Designated Senior Indebtedness if such partial refinancing meets the
requirements of clause (ii) below) and (ii) any other Indebtedness constituting
Senior Indebtedness that, at the date of determination, has an aggregate
principal amount outstanding of at least $25 million and that is specifically
designated by the Company, in the instrument creating or evidencing such Senior
Indebtedness, as "Designated Senior Indebtedness."
"Disqualified Stock" means any class or series of Capital Stock of any
Person that by its terms or otherwise is (i) required to be redeemed prior to
the Stated Maturity of the Notes, (ii) redeemable at the option of the holder of
such class or series of Capital Stock at any time prior to the Stated Maturity
of the Notes or (iii) convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock
referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above or Indebtedness having a scheduled
maturity prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes; provided that any Capital
Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof
giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to repurchase or redeem
such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an "asset sale" or
13
"change of control" occurring prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes shall
not constitute Disqualified Stock if the "asset sale" or "change of control"
provisions applicable to such Capital Stock are no more favorable to the holders
of such Capital Stock than the provisions contained in Section 4.10 and Section
4.11 and such Capital Stock specifically provides that such Person will not
repurchase or redeem any such stock pursuant to such provision prior to the
Company's repurchase of such Notes as are required to be repurchased pursuant to
Section 4.10 and Section 4.11.
"Event of Default" has the meaning provided in Section 6.01.
"Excess Proceeds" has the meaning provided in Section 4.10.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
"Exchange Notes" means any securities of the Company containing terms
identical to the Notes (except that such Exchange Notes (i) shall be registered
under the Securities Act and (ii) shall have an interest rate equal to 9.15% per
annum, without provision for adjustment as provided in the fourth paragraph of
Section 1 of the Notes) that are issued and exchanged for the Notes pursuant to
the Registration Rights Agreement and this Indenture.
"Existing Stockholders" means H. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Xx. and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, their spouses and any one or more of their lineal
descendants and their spouses or any trust created solely for the benefit of any
such Persons.
"Extended Stay Assets" means (i) an investment by the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any other Person pursuant to which such Person
shall become a Restricted Subsidiary or shall be merged into or consolidated
with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such
Person's primary business is related, ancillary or complementary to the
businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date;
(ii) an acquisition by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of the
property and assets of any Person other than the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, that are related, ancillary or complementary to the
businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date;
or (iii) the construction or development of property or assets that are related,
ancillary or complementary to the businesses of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, in each case including the costs and expenses
in connection therewith (including the cost of design, development,
construction, acquisition or improvement).
"fair market value" means the price that would be paid in an arm's-
length transaction between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to
sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy, as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive
if evidenced by a Board Resolution.
14
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America as in effect as of the Closing Date, including, without
limitation, those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting
Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and
statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in
such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment
of the accounting profession. All ratios and computations contained or referred
to in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP applied on a
consistent basis, except that calculations made for purposes of determining
compliance with the terms of this Indenture shall be made without giving effect
to (i) the amortization of any expenses incurred in connection with the offering
of the Notes or the establishment of the Credit Agreement and the Amended Credit
Agreement (including the write-off of debt issuance costs in connection
therewith), (ii) the costs related to the acquisition of Studio Plus Hotels
Inc., and (iii) except as otherwise provided, the amortization of any amounts
required or permitted by Accounting Principles Board Opinion Nos. 16 and 17.
"Global Notes" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.
"Government Securities" means direct obligations of, obligations fully
guaranteed by, or participations in pools consisting solely of obligations of or
obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which
guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States of
America is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the
issuer thereof.
"Guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any
Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person
and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or
indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of
such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by
agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services
(unless such purchase arrangements are on arm's-length terms and are entered
into in the ordinary course of business), to take-or-pay, or to maintain
financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for purposes
of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment
thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or
in part); provided that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term "Guarantee"
used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
"Guaranteed Indebtedness" has the meaning provided in Section 4.07.
"Holder" or "Securityholder" means the registered holder of any Note.
"Incur" means, with respect to any Indebtedness, to incur, create,
issue, assume, Guarantee or otherwise become liable for or with respect to, or
become responsible for, the payment of, contingently or otherwise, such
Indebtedness, including an "Incurrence" of Acquired
15
Indebtedness; provided that neither the accrual of interest nor the accretion of
original issue discount shall be considered an Incurrence of Indebtedness.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person at any date of
determination (without duplication), (i) all indebtedness of such Person for
borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such
Person in respect of letters of credit or other similar instruments (including
reimbursement obligations with respect thereto, but excluding obligations with
respect to letters of credit (including trade letters of credit) securing
obligations (other than obligations described in (i) or (ii) above or (v), (vi)
or (vii) below) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person
to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if drawn upon, to
the extent such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day
following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement), (iv) all
obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of
property or services, which purchase price is due more than six months after the
date of placing such property in service or taking delivery and title thereto or
the completion of such services, except Trade Payables, (v) all Capitalized
Lease Obligations, (vi) all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on
any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such
Person; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness shall be the lesser of (A)
the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination and (B) the
amount of such Indebtedness, (vii) all Indebtedness of other Persons Guaranteed
by such Person to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by such Person and
(viii) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, obligations
under Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements. The amount of
Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance at such
date of all unconditional obligations as described above and, with respect to
contingent obligations, the maximum liability upon the occurrence of the
contingency giving rise to the obligation, provided (A) that the amount
outstanding at any time of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount
is the face amount of such Indebtedness less the remaining unamortized portion
of the original issue discount of such Indebtedness at such time as determined
in conformity with GAAP, (B) that money borrowed and set aside at the time of
the Incurrence of any Indebtedness in order to prefund the payment of the
interest on such Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be "Indebtedness" so long
as such money is held to secure the payment of such interest, and (C) that
Indebtedness shall not include any liability for federal, state, local or other
taxes.
"Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio" means, on any Transaction Date,
the ratio of (i) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on such Transaction Date to (ii)
the sum of (A) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on such Transaction Date plus
(B) the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company on such Transaction Date.
16
"Indenture" means this Indenture as originally executed or as it may
be amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time by one or more
indentures supplemental to this Indenture entered into pursuant to the
applicable provisions of this Indenture.
"Institutional Accredited Investor" means an institution that is an
"accredited investor" as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7)
under the Securities Act.
"Interest Coverage Ratio" means, on any Transaction Date, the ratio of
(i) the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA for the then most recent four
fiscal quarters prior to such Transaction Date for which reports have been filed
with the Commission or provided to the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.17 (the
"Four Quarter Period") to (ii) the aggregate Consolidated Interest Expense
during such Four Quarter Period. In making the foregoing calculation, (A) pro
forma effect shall be given to any Indebtedness Incurred or repaid during the
period (the "Reference Period") commencing on the first day of the Four Quarter
Period and ending on the Transaction Date (other than Indebtedness Incurred or
repaid under a revolving credit or similar arrangement to the extent of the
commitment thereunder (or under any predecessor revolving credit or similar
arrangement) in effect on the last day of such Four Quarter Period unless any
portion of such Indebtedness is projected, in the reasonable judgment of the
senior management of the Company, to remain outstanding for a period in excess
of 12 months from the date of the Incurrence thereof), in each case as if such
Indebtedness had been Incurred or repaid on the first day of such Reference
Period (and pro forma effect shall be given to the purchase of any U.S.
government securities required to be purchased with the proceeds of any such
Indebtedness and set aside to prefund the payment of interest on such
Indebtedness at the time such Indebtedness is Incurred); (B) Consolidated
Interest Expense attributable to interest on any Indebtedness (whether existing
or being Incurred) computed on a pro forma basis and bearing a floating interest
rate shall be computed as if the rate in effect on the Transaction Date (taking
into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such
Interest Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months or, if
shorter, at least equal to the remaining term of such Indebtedness) had been the
applicable rate for the entire period; (C) pro forma effect shall be given to
Asset Dispositions and Asset Acquisitions (including giving pro forma effect to
the application of proceeds of any Asset Disposition) and the designation of
Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries that occur during such
Reference Period as if they had occurred and such proceeds had been applied on
the first day of such Reference Period; and (D) pro forma effect shall be given
to asset dispositions and asset acquisitions (including giving pro forma effect
to the application of proceeds of any asset disposition) that have been made by
any Person that has become a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged with or
into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary during such Reference Period and
that would have constituted Asset Dispositions or Asset Acquisitions had such
transactions occurred when such Person was a Restricted Subsidiary as if such
asset dispositions or asset acquisitions were Asset Dispositions or Asset
Acquisitions that occurred on the first day of such Reference Period; provided
that to the extent that clause (C) or (D) of this sentence requires that pro
forma effect be given to an Asset Acquisition or Asset Disposition, such pro
forma calculation shall be based upon the four full
17
fiscal quarters immediately preceding the Transaction Date of the Person, or
division or line of business of the Person, that is acquired or disposed for
which financial information is available.
"Interest Payment Date" means each semiannual interest payment date on
March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing September 15, 1998.
"Interest Rate Agreement" means any interest rate protection
agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement,
interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar
agreement, interest rate hedge agreement, option or future contract or other
similar agreement or arrangement.
"Investment" in any Person means any direct or indirect advance, loan
or other extension of credit (including, without limitation, by way of Guarantee
or similar arrangement; but excluding advances to customers, suppliers or
contractors in the ordinary course of business that are, in conformity with
GAAP, recorded as accounts receivable, prepaid expenses or deposits on the
balance sheet of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries) or capital
contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or
any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any
purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other
similar instruments issued by, such Person and shall include (i) the designation
of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (ii) the fair
market value of the Capital Stock (or any other Investment), held by the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, of (or in) any Person that has ceased to
be a Restricted Subsidiary, including, without limitation, by reason of any
transaction permitted by clause (iii) of Section 4.06; provided that the fair
market value of the Investment remaining in any Person that has ceased to be a
Restricted Subsidiary shall not exceed the aggregate amount of Investments
previously made in such Person valued at the time such Investments were made
less the net reduction of such Investments. For purposes of the definition of
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" and Section 4.04, (i) "Investment" shall include the
fair market value of the assets (net of liabilities (other than liabilities to
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries)) of any Restricted Subsidiary
at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted
Subsidiary, (ii) the fair market value of the assets (net of liabilities (other
than liabilities to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries)) of any
Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time that such Unrestricted Subsidiary is
designated a Restricted Subsidiary shall be considered a reduction in
outstanding Investments and (iii) any property transferred to or from an
Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of
such transfer.
"Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance,
lien or charge of any kind (including, without limitation, any conditional sale
or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof or any
agreement to give any security interest).
"Moody's" means Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
18
"Net Cash Proceeds" means, (a) with respect to any Asset Sale, the
proceeds of such Asset Sale in the form of cash or cash equivalents, including
payments in respect of deferred payment obligations (to the extent corresponding
to the principal, but not interest, component thereof) when received in the form
of cash or cash equivalents (except to the extent such obligations are financed
or sold with recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) and proceeds
from the conversion of other property received when converted to cash or cash
equivalents, net of (i) brokerage commissions and other fees and expenses
(including fees and expenses of counsel and investment bankers) related to such
Asset Sale, (ii) provisions for all taxes (whether or not such taxes will
actually be paid or are payable) as a result of such Asset Sale without regard
to the consolidated results of operations of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (iii) payments made to repay Indebtedness or any
other obligation outstanding at the time of such Asset Sale that either (A) is
secured by a Lien on the property or assets sold or (B) is required to be paid
as a result of such sale and (iv) appropriate amounts to be provided by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as a reserve against any liabilities
associated with such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, pension and
other post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental
matters and liabilities under any indemnification obligations associated with
such Asset Sale, all as determined in conformity with GAAP and (b) with respect
to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, the proceeds of such issuance or sale
in the form of cash or cash equivalents, including payments in respect of
deferred payment obligations (to the extent corresponding to the principal, but
not interest, component thereof) when received in the form of cash or cash
equivalents (except to the extent such obligations are financed or sold with
recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) and proceeds from the
conversion of other property received when converted to cash or cash
equivalents, net of attorneys' fees, accountants' fees, underwriters' or
placement agents' fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and
other fees incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes
paid or payable as a result thereof.
"Non-U.S. Person" means a person who is not a U.S. person, as defined
in Regulation S.
"Notes" means any of the securities, as defined in the first paragraph
of the recitals hereof, that are authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term "Notes" shall include
any Exchange Notes to be issued and exchanged for any Notes pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement and this Indenture and, for purposes of this
Indenture, all Notes and Exchange Notes shall vote together as one series of
Notes under this Indenture.
"Offer to Purchase" means an offer to purchase Notes by the Company
from the Holders commenced by mailing a notice to the Trustee and each Holder
stating: (i) the covenant pursuant to which the offer is being made and that all
Notes validly tendered will be accepted for payment on a pro rata basis; (ii)
the purchase price and the date of purchase (which shall be a Business Day no
earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed)
(the "Payment Date"); (iii) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue
interest pursuant to
19
its terms; (iv) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the purchase
price, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer to Purchase shall
cease to accrue interest on and after the Payment Date; (v) that Holders
electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to the Offer to Purchase will be
required to surrender the Note, together with the form entitled "Option of the
Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse side of the Note completed, to the
Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of
business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Payment Date; (vi) that
Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent
receives, not later than the close of business on the third Business Day
immediately preceding the Payment Date, a telegram, facsimile transmission or
letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Notes
delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his
election to have such Notes purchased; and (vii) that Holders whose Notes are
being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount
to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered; provided that each Note
purchased and each new Note issued shall be in a principal amount of $1,000 or
integral multiples thereof. On the Payment Date, the Company shall (i) accept
for payment on a pro rata basis Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to
an Offer to Purchase; (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay
the purchase price of all Notes or portions thereof so accepted; and (iii)
deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee all Notes or portions thereof
so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate specifying the Notes or
portions thereof accepted for payment by the Company. The Paying Agent shall
promptly mail to the Holders of Notes so accepted payment in an amount equal to
the purchase price, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail to such
Holders a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the
Note surrendered; provided that each Note purchased and each new Note issued
shall be in a principal amount of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof. The
Company will publicly announce the results of an Offer to Purchase as soon as
practicable after the Payment Date. The Trustee shall act as the Paying Agent
for an Offer to Purchase. The Company will comply with Rule 14e-1 under the
Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent such laws and regulations are applicable, in the event that the Company
is required to repurchase Notes pursuant to an Offer to Purchase.
"Officer" means, with respect to the Company, (i) the Chairman of the
Board, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, and (ii)
the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by one Officer
listed in clause (i) of the definition thereof and one Officer listed in clause
(ii) of the definition thereof or two Officers listed in clause (i) of the
definition thereof. Each Officers' Certificate (other than certificates provided
pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall include the statements provided for in
TIA Section 314(e).
"Offshore Global Note" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.
20
"Offshore Physical Notes" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion signed by legal counsel
who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company. Each such Opinion of
Counsel shall include the statements provided for in TIA Section 314(e).
"Paying Agent" has the meaning provided in Section 2.04, except that,
for the purposes of Article Eight, the Paying Agent shall not be the Company or
a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of any of them. The term "Paying
Agent" includes any additional Paying Agent.
"Payment Blockage Period" has the meaning provided in Section 10.02.
"Permitted Investment" means (i) an Investment in the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary or a Person which will, upon the making of such
Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary or be merged or consolidated with or
into or transfer or convey all or substantially all its assets to, the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Person's primary business is
related, ancillary or complementary to the businesses of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of such Investment; (ii) Temporary Cash
Investments; (iii) payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that
are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses
in accordance with GAAP; (iv) stock, obligations or securities received in
satisfaction of judgments; (v) an Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary
consisting solely of an Investment in another Unrestricted Subsidiary; (vi)
Interest Rate Agreements and Currency Agreements designed solely to protect the
Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates or
foreign currency exchange rates; (vii) loans or advances to employees in the
ordinary course of business in aggregate amount outstanding not to exceed $1
million; and (viii) Investments in any Person the primary business of which is
related, ancillary or complementary to the businesses of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the aggregate amount of such Investments
does not exceed $50 million plus the net reduction in such Investments.
"Person" means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited
liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization,
including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality
thereof.
"Physical Notes" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.
"Preferred Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any and all
shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated,
whether voting or non-voting) of such Person's preferred or preference stock,
whether outstanding on the Closing Date or issued thereafter, including, without
limitation, all series and classes of such preferred or preference stock.
21
"principal" of a debt security, including the Notes, means the
principal amount due on the Stated Maturity as shown on such debt security.
"Private Placement Legend" means the legend initially set forth on the
Notes in the form set forth in Section 2.02.
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A.
"Redemption Date" means, when used with respect to any Note to be
redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
"Redemption Price" means, when used with respect to any Note to be
redeemed, the price at which such Note is to be redeemed pursuant to this
Indenture.
"Registrar" has the meaning provided in Section 2.04.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of March 10, 1998, between the Company and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx &
Co. Incorporated, Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation, Bear
Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc. and Salomon Brothers Inc and certain permitted assigns
specified therein.
"Registration Statement" means the Registration Statement as defined
and described in the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date means the March 1 or September 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the
case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
"Regulation S" means Regulation S under the Securities Act.
"Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the Trustee, means
the chairman or any vice chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or any
vice chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the chairman
of the trust committee, the president, any vice president, any assistant vice
president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant
treasurer, the cashier, any assistant cashier, any trust officer or assistant
trust officer, the controller or any assistant controller or any other officer
of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by
any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a
particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is
referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.
"Restricted Payments" has the meaning provided in Section 4.04.
22
"Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company other than
an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
"Secured Indebtedness" has the meaning provided in Section 4.09.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933.
"Security Register" has the meaning provided in Section 2.04.
"Senior Indebtedness" means the following obligations of the Company,
whether outstanding on the Closing Date or thereafter Incurred: (i) all
Indebtedness and all other monetary obligations (including, without limitation,
expenses, fees, principal, interest, reimbursement obligations under letters of
credit and indemnities payable in connection therewith) of the Company under (or
in respect of) the Credit Agreement or any Interest Rate Agreement or Currency
Agreement relating to the Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and (ii) all
other Indebtedness and all other monetary obligations of the Company (other than
the Notes), including principal and interest on such Indebtedness, unless such
Indebtedness, by its terms or by the terms of any agreement or instrument
pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, is pari passu with, or
subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes; provided that the term "Senior
Indebtedness" shall not include (a) any Indebtedness of the Company that, when
Incurred, was without recourse to the Company, (b) any Indebtedness of the
Company to a Subsidiary of the Company, or to a joint venture in which the
Company has an interest, (c) any Indebtedness of the Company, to the extent not
permitted by Section 4.03 and Section 4.19, (d) any repurchase, redemption or
other obligation in respect of Disqualified Stock, (e) any Indebtedness to any
employee of the Company or any of its respective Subsidiaries, (f) any liability
for taxes owed or owing by the Company or (g) any Trade Payables. Senior
Indebtedness will also include interest accruing subsequent to events of
bankruptcy of the Company and its respective Subsidiaries at the rate provided
for in the document governing such Senior Indebtedness, whether or not such
interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the debtor in a bankruptcy case
under bankruptcy law.
"Senior Subordinated Obligations" means any principal of, premium, if
any, interest, or other amounts due, on the Notes payable pursuant to the terms
of the Notes or upon acceleration, including any amounts received upon the
exercise of rights of rescission or other rights of action (including claims for
damages) or otherwise, to the extent relating to the purchase price of the Notes
or amounts corresponding to such principal, premium, if any, or interest on the
Notes.
"Significant Subsidiary" means, at any date of determination, any
Restricted Subsidiary that, together with its Subsidiaries, (i) for the most
recent fiscal year of the Company, accounted for more than 10% of the
consolidated revenues of the Company and its Restricted
23
Subsidiaries or (ii) as of the end of such fiscal year, was the owner of more
than 10% of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, all as set forth on the most recently available consolidated
financial statements of the Company for such fiscal year.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The
XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, and its successors.
"Stated Maturity" means, (i) with respect to any debt security, the
date specified in such debt security as the fixed date on which the final
installment of principal of such debt security is due and payable and (ii) with
respect to any scheduled installment of principal of or interest on any debt
security, the date specified in such debt security as the fixed date on which
such installment is due and payable.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
association, business trust or other business entity of which more than 50% of
the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock is owned, directly or
indirectly, by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person.
"Temporary Cash Investment" means any of the following: (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America or any agency thereof or obligations
fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or any
agency thereof, (ii) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money
market deposits maturing within one year of the date of acquisition thereof
issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the
United States of America, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by
the United States of America, and which bank or trust company has capital,
surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $50 million (or the
foreign currency equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt which is rated "A"
(or such similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally
recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the
Securities Act) or any money market fund sponsored by a registered broker dealer
or mutual fund distributor, (iii) repurchase obligations with a term of not more
than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (i)
above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause
(ii) above, (iv) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year after the
date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the
Company) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of
America, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United
States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein
is made of "P-1" (or higher) according to Moody's or "A-1" (or higher) according
to S&P, (v) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of
acquisition issued or fully and unconditionally guaranteed by any state,
commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least "A" by S&P or
Moody's and (vi) other dollar denominated securities issued by any Person
incorporated in the United States rated at least "A" or the equivalent by S&P or
at least "A2" or the equivalent by Moody's and in each case either (A) maturing
not more than one year after the date of acquisition or (B) which are subject to
a repricing arrangement
24
(such as a Dutch auction) not more than one year after the date of acquisition
(and reprices at least yearly thereafter) which the Person making the investment
believes in good faith will permit such Person to sell such security at par in
connection with such repricing mechanism.
"TIA" or "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
(15 U.S. Code (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbb), as in effect on the date this Indenture was
executed, except as provided in Section 9.06.
"Trade Payables" means, with respect to any Person, any accounts
payable or any other indebtedness or monetary obligation to trade creditors
created, assumed or Guaranteed by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries arising
in the ordinary course of business in connection with the acquisition of goods
or services, including without limitation, obligations under (or in respect of)
construction contracts (to the extent such obligations do not constitute
Indebtedness for borrowed money).
"Transaction Date" means, with respect to the Incurrence of any
Indebtedness by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the date such
Indebtedness is to be Incurred and, with respect to any Restricted Payment, the
date such Restricted Payment is to be made.
"Trustee" means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this
Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the provisions of
Article Seven of this Indenture and thereafter means such successor.
"United States Bankruptcy Code" means the Bankruptcy Reform Act of
1978, as amended and as codified in Title 11 of the United States Code, as
amended from time to time hereafter, or any successor federal bankruptcy law.
"U.S. Global Note" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.
"U.S. Government Obligations" means securities that are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full
faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of
America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and
credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are
not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof at any time prior
to the Stated Maturity of the Notes, and shall also include a depository receipt
issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S.
Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any
such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the
holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such
custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the
holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in
respect of the U.S. Government Obligation
25
or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. Government
Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
"U.S. Physical Notes" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (i) any Subsidiary of the Company that
at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by
the Board of Directors in the manner provided below; and (ii) any Subsidiary of
an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted
Subsidiary (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the
Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary owns any
Capital Stock of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (A) any Guarantee by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness of the Subsidiary being so designated
shall be deemed an "Incurrence" of such Indebtedness and an "Investment" by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (or both, if applicable) at the time of
such designation; (B) either (I) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total
assets of $1,000 or less or (II) if such Subsidiary has assets greater than
$1,000, such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04; and (C) if
applicable, the Incurrence of Indebtedness and the Investment referred to in
clause (A) of this proviso would be permitted under Section 4.03 and Section
4.04. The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a
Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing at the time of or after giving effect to such
designation and (ii) all Liens and Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary
outstanding immediately after such designation would, if Incurred at such time,
have been permitted to be Incurred (and shall be deemed to have been Incurred)
for all purposes of this Indenture. Any such designation by the Board of
Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee
a copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an
Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the
foregoing provisions.
"Voting Stock" means with respect to any Person, Capital Stock of any
class or kind ordinarily having the power to vote for the election of directors,
managers or other voting members of the governing body of such Person.
"Wholly Owned" means, with respect to any Subsidiary of any Person,
the ownership of all of the outstanding Capital Stock of such Subsidiary (other
than any director's qualifying shares or Investments by foreign nationals
mandated by applicable law) by such Person or one or more Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries of such Person.
SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following
TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
26
"indenture securities" means the Notes;
"indenture security holder" means a Holder or a Securityholder;
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;
"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee;
and
"obligor" on the indenture securities means the Company or any other
obligor on the Notes.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the
TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by a rule of the
Commission and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them
therein.
SECTION 1.03. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise
requires:
(i) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(ii) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned
to it in accordance with GAAP;
(iii) "or" is not exclusive;
(iv) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural
include the singular;
(v) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;
(vi) "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;
(vii) all ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this
Indenture shall be computed in accordance with the definition of GAAP set
forth in Section 1.01; and
(viii) all references to Sections or Articles refer to Sections or
Articles of this Indenture unless otherwise indicated.
ARTICLE TWO
THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate
of authentication shall be substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit
A. The Notes may
27
have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange
agreements to which the Company is subject or usage. The Company shall approve
the form of the Notes and any notation, legend or endorsement on the Notes. Each
Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.
The terms and provisions contained in the form of the Notes annexed
hereto as Exhibit A shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of
this Indenture. 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.
Notes offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued
initially in the form of a single permanent global Note in registered form,
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A (the "U.S. Global Note"),
deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by
the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The
aggregate principal amount of the U.S. Global Note may from time to time be
increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as
custodian for the Depositary or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.
Notes offered and sold in offshore transactions in reliance on
Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of a single permanent global
Note in registered form substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A (the
"Offshore Global Note") deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the
Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as
hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Offshore Global Note
may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the
records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee, as
hereinafter provided.
Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation D under the
Securities Act shall be issued in the form of permanent certificated Notes in
registered form in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A (the "U.S.
Physical Notes"). Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.07 in exchange for
interests in the Offshore Global Note shall be in the form of permanent
certificated Notes in registered form substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit A (the "Offshore Physical Notes").
The Offshore Physical Notes and U.S. Physical Notes are sometimes
collectively herein referred to as the "Physical Notes." The U.S. Global Note
and the Offshore Global Note are sometimes referred to herein as the "Global
Notes."
The definitive Notes shall be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved
or produced by any combination of these methods or may be produced in any other
manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange on which the Notes may
be listed, all as determined by the Officers executing such Notes, as evidenced
by their execution of such Notes.
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SECTION 2.02. Restrictive Legends. Unless and until a Note is
exchanged for an Exchange Note in connection with an effective Registration
Statement pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, (i) the U.S. Global
Note and each U.S. Physical Note shall bear the legend, set forth below on the
face thereof and (ii) the Offshore Physical Notes and the Offshore Global Note
shall bear the legend set forth below on the face thereof until at least 41 days
after the Closing Date and receipt by the Company and the Trustee of a
certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD
WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S.
PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION
HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS AN
INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3)
OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN "INSTITUTIONAL
ACCREDITED INVESTOR") OR (C) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS
NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD
REFERRED TO IN RULE 144(k) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS IN EFFECT WITH
RESPECT TO SUCH TRANSFER, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A)
TO EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC. OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE
UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE
144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN
INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES
TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND
AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM
OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND IF SUCH TRANSFER IS
IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES AT THE TIME OF
TRANSFER OF LESS THAN $100,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC. THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
SECURITIES ACT, (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN
COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO THE
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
(IF AVAILABLE) OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO
WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS
29
LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD
REFERRED TO ABOVE THE HOLDER MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON
THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS
CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE. IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN INSTITUTIONAL
ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO
THE TRUSTEE AND EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC. SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL
OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO
CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR
IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION," "UNITED
STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE
TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE
FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
Each Global Note, whether or not an Exchange Note, shall also bear the
following legend on the face thereof:
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY 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 TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR SUCH OTHER
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY
(AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY),
ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO
ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS
AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT
NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO. OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH
SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE
LIMITED TO TRANSFERS
30
MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 2.08 OF THE
INDENTURE.
SECTION 2.03. Execution, Authentication and Denominations. The Notes
shall be executed by two Officers of the Company. The signature of any of these
Officers on the Notes may be by facsimile or manual signature in the name and on
behalf of the Company.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office
at the time the Trustee or authenticating agent authenticates the Note, the Note
shall be valid nevertheless.
A Note shall not be valid until the Trustee or authenticating agent
manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature
shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this
Indenture.
The Trustee or an authenticating agent shall upon receipt of a Company
Order authenticate for original issue Notes in the aggregate principal amount of
up to $200,000,000 plus any Exchange Notes that may be issued pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement; provided that the Trustee shall be entitled to
receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of the Company in
connection with such authentication of Notes. The Opinion of Counsel shall
state:
(a) that the form and terms of such Notes have been established by or
pursuant to a Board Resolution or an indenture supplemental hereto in
conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(b) that such supplemental indenture, if any, when executed and
delivered by the Company and the Trustee, will constitute a valid and
binding obligation of the Company;
(c) that such Notes, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee
and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions
specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms and will be
entitled to the benefits of this Indenture, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar
laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights
and to general equity principles; and
(d) that the Company has been duly incorporated in, and is a validly
existing corporation in good standing under the laws of, the State of
Delaware.
Such Company Order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the
date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated. The aggregate
principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the amount set
forth above except for Notes
31
authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange
for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 2.06, 2.09, 2.10 or 2.11.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent to authenticate Notes.
An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so.
Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes
authentication by such authenticating agent. An authenticating agent has the
same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons
and only in denominations of $1,000 in principal amount and any integral
multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain
an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or
for exchange (the "Registrar"), an office or agency where Notes may be presented
for payment (the "Paying Agent") and an office or agency where notices and
demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be
served, which shall be in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. The
Company shall cause the Registrar to keep a register of the Notes and of their
transfer and exchange (the "Security Register"). The Company may have one or
more co-Registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents.
The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any
agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the
provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent
and any change in the address of such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a
Registrar, Paying Agent and/or agent for service of notices and demands, the
Trustee shall act as such Registrar, Paying Agent and/or agent for service of
notices and demands. The Company may remove any agent upon written notice to
such agent and the Trustee; provided that no such removal shall become effective
until (i) the acceptance of an appointment by a successor agent to such agent as
evidenced by an appropriate agency agreement entered into by the Company and
such successor agent and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the
Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as such agent until the appointment of a
successor agent in accordance with clause (i) of this proviso. The Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Affiliate of any of them may act as Paying
Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar, and/or agent for service of notice and
demands.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent,
authenticating agent and agent for service of notice and demands. If, at any
time, the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Registrar shall make available to
the Trustee on or before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as
the Trustee may reasonably request, the names and addresses of the Holders as
they appear in the Security Register.
32
SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. Not later than each
due date of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on any Notes, the
Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money in immediately available funds
sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, and interest so becoming due.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in
writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the
Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes (whether such money has
been paid to it by the Company or any other obligor on the Notes), and such
Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Trustee of any default by the Company (or
any other obligor on the Notes) in making any such payment. The Company at any
time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and
account for any funds disbursed, and the Trustee may at any time during the
continuance of any payment default, upon written request to a Paying Agent,
require such Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to
account for any funds disbursed. Upon doing so, the Paying Agent shall have no
further liability for the money so paid over to the Trustee. If the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of any of them acts as Paying
Agent, it will, on or before each due date of any principal of, premium, if any,
or interest on the Notes, segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the
benefit of the Holders a sum of money sufficient to pay such principal, premium,
if any, or interest so becoming due until such sum of money shall be paid to
such Holders or otherwise disposed of as provided in this Indenture, and will
promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure to act.
SECTION 2.06. Transfer and Exchange. The Notes are issuable only in
registered form. A Holder may transfer a Note by written application to the
Registrar stating the name of the proposed transferee and otherwise complying
with the terms of this Indenture. No such transfer shall be effected until, and
such transferee shall succeed to the rights of a Holder only upon, final
acceptance and registration of the transfer by the Registrar in the Security
Register. The Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company shall treat the
person in whose name the Note is registered as the owner thereof for all
purposes whether or not the Note shall be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Furthermore, any Holder of a U.S. Global Note shall, by acceptance of such U.S.
Global Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such U.S. Global
Note may be effected only through a book entry system maintained by the Holder
of such U.S. Global Note (or its agent) and that ownership of a beneficial
interest in the Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry. When
Notes are presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to
register the transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes
of other authorized denominations (including an exchange of Notes for Exchange
Notes), the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as
requested if its requirements for such transactions are met; provided that no
exchanges of Notes for Exchange Notes shall occur until a Registration Statement
shall have been declared effective by the Commission and that any Notes that are
exchanged for Exchange Notes shall be cancelled by the Trustee. To permit
registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrar's request. No service charge
shall be made for any registration of transfer or
33
exchange or redemption of the Notes, but the Company may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable
in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or other similar
governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Section 2.11, 3.08 or
9.04).
The Registrar shall not be required (i) to issue, register the
transfer of or exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of
Notes selected for redemption under Section 3.03 and ending at the close of
business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or
exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
SECTION 2.07. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes. (a) The U.S.
Global Note and Offshore Global Note initially shall (i) be registered in the
name of the Depositary for such Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary,
(ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary and (iii) bear
legends as set forth in Section 2.02.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary ("Agent Members") shall
have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on
their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the
Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and
any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global
Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein
shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the
Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other
authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary
and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the
exercise of the rights of a holder of any Note.
(b) Transfers of a Global Note shall be limited to transfers of such
Global Note in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or
their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in a Global Note may
be transferred in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary and
the provisions of Section 2.08. In addition, U.S. Physical Notes and Offshore
Physical Notes shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for
their beneficial interests in the U.S. Global Note or the Offshore Global Note,
respectively, if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or
unable to continue as Depositary for the U.S. Global Note or the Offshore Global
Note, as the case may be, and a successor depositary is not appointed by the
Company within 90 days of such notice or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing and the Registrar has received a request to the foregoing
effect from the Depositary.
(c) Any beneficial interest in one of the Global Notes that is
transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in the
other Global Note will, upon transfer, cease to be an interest in such Global
Note and become an interest in the other Global Note and, accordingly, will
thereafter be subject to all transfer restrictions, if any, and other procedures
34
applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Note for as long as it
remains such an interest.
(d) In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial
interests in a Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b) of
this Section, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and
a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note in an amount equal to the
principal amount of the beneficial interest in such Global Note to be
transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver, one or more Physical Notes of like tenor and amount.
(e) In connection with the transfer of the entire U.S. Global Note or
Offshore Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b) of this
Section, the U.S. Global Note or Offshore Global Note, as the case may be, shall
be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company
shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each
beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial
interest in the U.S. Global Note or Offshore Global Note, as the case may be, an
equal aggregate principal amount of U.S. Physical Notes or Offshore Physical
Notes, as the case may be, of authorized denominations.
(f) Any U.S. Physical Note delivered in exchange for an interest in
the U.S. Global Note pursuant to paragraph (b) or (d) of this Section shall,
except as otherwise provided by paragraph (f) of Section 2.08, bear the legend
regarding transfer restrictions applicable to the U.S. Physical Note set forth
in Section 2.02.
(g) Any Offshore Physical Note delivered in exchange for an interest
in the Offshore Global Note pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section shall,
except as otherwise provided by paragraph (f) of Section 2.08, bear the legend
regarding transfer restrictions applicable to the Offshore Physical Note set
forth in Section 2.02.
(h) The registered holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and
otherwise authorize any person, including Agent Members and persons that may
hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is
entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.
(i) QIBs that are beneficial owners of interests in a U.S. Global Note
may receive Physical Notes (which shall bear the Private Placement Legend if
required by Section 2.02) in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary.
In connection with the execution, authentication and delivery of such Physical
Notes, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records a decrease in the
principal amount of the relevant U.S. Global Note equal to the principal amount
of such Physical Notes, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver one or more Physical Notes having an equal aggregate
principal amount.
35
SECTION 2.08. Special Transfer Provisions. Unless and until a Note
is exchanged for an Exchange Note in connection with an effective registration
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the following provisions shall
apply:
(a) Transfers to Non-QIB Institutional Accredited Investors. The
following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any
proposed transfer of a Note to any Institutional Accredited Investor which
is not a QIB (excluding Non-U.S. Persons):
(i) The Registrar shall register the transfer of any Note,
whether or not such Note bears the Private Placement Legend, if (x)
the requested transfer is after the time period referred to in Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act as in effect with respect to such
transfer or (y) the proposed transferee has delivered to the Registrar
(A) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto and
(B) if the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being transferred
is less than $100,000 at the time of such transfer, an opinion of
counsel acceptable to the Company that such transfer is in compliance
with the Securities Act.
(ii) If the proposed transferor is an Agent Member holding a
beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Note, upon receipt by the
Registrar of (x) the documents, if any, required by paragraph (i) and
(y) instructions given in accordance with the Depositary's and the
Registrar's procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and
records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the U.S.
Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the
beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Note to be transferred, and the
Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver,
one or more U.S. Physical Notes of like tenor and amount.
(b) Transfers to QIBs. The following provisions shall apply with
respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a U.S. Physical
Note or an interest in the U.S. Global Note to a QIB (excluding Non-U.S.
Persons):
(i) If the Note to be transferred consists of (x) U.S. Physical
Notes, the Registrar shall register the transfer if such transfer is
being made by a proposed transferor who has checked the box provided
for on the form of Note stating, or has otherwise advised the Company
and the Registrar in writing, that the sale has been made in
compliance with the provisions of Rule 144A to a transferee who has
signed the certification provided for on the form of Note stating, or
has otherwise advised the Company and the Registrar in writing, that
it is purchasing the Note for its own account or an account with
respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it
and any such account is a QIB within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is
aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and
acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the
36
Company as it has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined
not to request such information and that it is aware that the
transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to
claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A or (y) an
interest in the U.S. Global Note, the transfer of such interest may be
effected only through the book entry system maintained by the
Depositary.
(ii) If the proposed transferee is an Agent Member, and the Note
to be transferred consists of U.S. Physical Notes, upon receipt by the
Registrar of the documents referred to in clause (i) and instructions
given in accordance with the Depositary's and the Registrar's
procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the
date and an increase in the principal amount of the U.S. Global Note
in an amount equal to the principal amount of the U.S. Physical Notes,
to be transferred, and the Trustee shall cancel the U.S. Physical Note
so transferred.
(c) Transfers of Interests in the Offshore Global Note or Offshore
Physical Notes. The following provisions shall apply with respect to any
transfer of interests in the Offshore Global Note or Offshore Physical
Notes:
(i) prior to the removal of the Private Placement Legend from
the Offshore Global Note or Offshore Physical Notes pursuant to
Section 2.02, the Registrar shall refuse to register such transfer;
and
(ii) after such removal, the Registrar shall register the
transfer of any such Note without requiring any additional
certification.
(d) Intentionally Omitted.
(e) Transfers to Non-U.S. Persons at Any Time. The following
provisions shall apply with respect to any transfer of a Note to a Non-U.S.
Person:
(i) The Registrar shall register any proposed transfer to any
Non-U.S. Person if the Note to be transferred is a U.S. Physical Note
or an interest in the U.S. Global Note only upon receipt of a
certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D from the proposed
transferor.
(ii) (A) If the proposed transferor is an Agent Member holding a
beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Note, upon receipt by the
Registrar of (x) the documents required by paragraph (i) and (y)
instructions in accordance with the Depositary's and the Registrar's
procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the
date and a decrease in the principal amount at maturity of the U.S.
Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount at maturity of
the beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Note to be transferred, and
(B) if the
37
proposed transferee is an Agent Member, upon receipt by the Registrar
of instructions given in accordance with the Depositary's and the
Registrar's procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and
records the date and an increase in the principal amount at maturity
of the Offshore Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount
at maturity of the U.S. Physical Notes or the U.S. Global Note, as the
case may be, to be transferred, and the Trustee shall cancel the
Physical Note, if any, so transferred or decrease the amount of the
U.S. Global Note.
(f) Private Placement Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or
replacement of Notes not bearing the Private Placement Legend, the
Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear the Private Placement
Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing the
Private Placement Legend, the Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear
the Private Placement Legend unless either (i) the circumstances
contemplated by paragraphs (a)(i)(x) or (e)(ii) of this Section 2.08 exist
or (ii) there is delivered to the Registrar an Opinion of Counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee to the effect that
neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required
in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.
(g) General. By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Private
Placement Legend, each Holder of such a Note acknowledges the restrictions
on transfer of such Note set forth in this Indenture and in the Private
Placement Legend and agrees that it will transfer such Note only as
provided in this Indenture. The Registrar shall not register a transfer of
any Note unless such transfer complies with the restrictions on transfer of
such Note set forth in this Indenture. In connection with any transfer of
Notes, each Holder agrees by its acceptance of the Notes to furnish the
Registrar or the Company such certifications, legal opinions or other
information as either of them may reasonably require to confirm that such
transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or a transaction not
subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act; provided
that the Registrar shall not be required to determine (but may rely on a
determination made by the Company with respect to) the sufficiency of any
such certifications, legal opinions or other information.
The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other
written communications received pursuant to Section 2.07 or this Section 2.08.
The Company shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters,
notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving
of reasonable written notice to the Registrar.
SECTION 2.09. Replacement Notes. If a mutilated Note is surrendered
to the Trustee or if the Holder claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or
wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a
replacement Note of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding; provided that the requirements of the second
paragraph of Section 2.10 are met. If required by the Trustee or the
38
Company, an indemnity bond must be furnished that is sufficient in the judgment
of both the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee or any
Agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The
Company may charge such Holder for its expenses and the expenses of the Trustee
in replacing a Note. In case any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully
taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its
discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement
thereof.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and
shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.10. Outstanding Notes. Notes outstanding at any time are
all Notes that have been authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled
by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this
Section 2.10 as not outstanding.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.09, it ceases to be
outstanding unless and until the Trustee and the Company receive proof
satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company) holds on the maturity date money sufficient to pay Notes payable on
that date, then on and after that date such Notes cease to be outstanding and
interest on them shall cease to accrue.
A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or one of
its Affiliates holds such Note, provided, however, that, in determining whether
the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding Notes have
given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver
hereunder, Notes owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes or any
Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and
deemed not to be outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Notes which the Trustee knows to be
so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good
faith may be regarded as outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the
satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such
Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the
Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.
SECTION 2.11. Temporary Notes. Until definitive Notes are ready for
delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary
Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes
but may have insertions, substitutions, omissions and other variations
determined to be appropriate by the Officers executing the temporary Notes, as
evidenced by their execution of such temporary Notes. If temporary Notes are
issued, the Company will cause definitive Notes to be prepared without
unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Notes, the temporary
Notes shall be exchangeable for
39
definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at the office or agency
of the Company designated for such purpose pursuant to Section 4.02, without
charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more
temporary Notes, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Notes of
authorized denominations. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall be
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes.
SECTION 2.12. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver to the
Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and delivered
hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may
deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated
hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold. The Registrar and the
Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for
transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Notes surrendered
for transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall destroy them in
accordance with its normal procedure. The Company may not issue new Notes to
replace Notes it has paid in full or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use
"CUSIP" and "CINS" numbers (if then generally in use), and the Trustee shall use
CUSIP numbers or CINS numbers, as the case may be, in notices of redemption or
exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice shall state
that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as
printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption or exchange and
that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on
the Notes.
SECTION 2.14. Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment
of interest on the Notes, it shall pay, or shall deposit with the Paying Agent
money in immediately available funds sufficient to 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. A special
record date, as used in this Section 2.14 with respect to the payment of any
defaulted interest, shall mean the 15th day next preceding the date fixed by the
Company for the payment of defaulted interest, whether or not such day is a
Business Day. At least 15 days before the subsequent special record date, the
Company shall mail to each Holder and to the Trustee a notice that states the
subsequent special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted
interest to be paid.
ARTICLE THREE
REDEMPTION
SECTION 3.01. Right of Redemption. The Notes will be redeemable, at
the Company's option, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, on
or after March 15, 2003 and prior to maturity, upon not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days' prior notice mailed by
40
first class mail to each Holder's last address as it appears in the Security
Register, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed in percentages of
principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption
Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record
Date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date to receive interest due on an
Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing March
15 of the years set forth below:
Redemption
Year Price
---- ----------
2003 104.575%
2004 103.050
2005 101.525
2006 and thereafter 100.000
In addition, at any time prior to March 15, 2001, the Company may
redeem up to 35% of the principal amount of the Notes with the proceeds of one
or more sales by the Company of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
Stock), at any time or from time to time in part, at a Redemption Price
(expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 109.15%, plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the Redemption Date (subject to the rights of Holders of
record on the relevant Regular Record Date that is prior to the Redemption Date
to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date); provided that at least
$130 million aggregate principal amount of Notes remains outstanding after each
such redemption and that notice of such redemption is mailed within 60 days
after the consummation of such sale or sales.
SECTION 3.02. Notices to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem
Notes pursuant to Section 3.01, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the
Redemption Date and the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed.
The Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section 3.02
in an Officers' Certificate at least 45 days before the Redemption Date (unless
a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).
SECTION 3.03. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. If less than all of
the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to
be redeemed in compliance with the requirements, as certified to it by the
Company, of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the
Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not listed on a national securities
exchange, on a pro rata basis by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in
its sole discretion shall deem fair and appropriate; provided that no Notes of
$1,000 in principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part.
The Trustee shall make the selection from the Notes outstanding and
not previously called for redemption. Notes in denominations of $1,000 in
principal amount may
41
only be redeemed in whole. The Trustee may select for redemption portions (equal
to $1,000 in principal amount or any integral multiple thereof) of Notes that
have denominations larger than $1,000 in principal amount. Provisions of this
Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of
Notes called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company and the
Registrar promptly in writing of the Notes or portions of Notes to be called for
redemption.
SECTION 3.04. Notice of Redemption. With respect to any redemption of
Notes pursuant to Section 3.01, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days
before a Redemption Date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first
class mail to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the Redemption Price;
(iii) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(iv) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the
Paying Agent in order to collect the Redemption Price;
(v) unless the Company defaults in making the redemption payment,
interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the
Redemption Date and the only remaining right of the Holders is to receive
payment of the Redemption Price plus accrued interest to the Redemption
Date upon surrender of the Notes to the Paying Agent;
(vi) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the
principal amount (equal to $1,000 in principal amount or any integral
multiple thereof) of such Note to be redeemed and that, on and after the
Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be reissued;
and
(vii) that, if any Note contains a CUSIP number as provided in
Section 2.13, no representation is being made as to the correctness of the
CUSIP number either as printed on the Notes or as contained in the notice
of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed on the Notes.
At the Company's request (which request may be revoked by the Company
at any time prior to the time at which the Trustee shall have given such notice
to the Holders), made in writing to the Trustee at least 45 days (or such
shorter period as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) before a Redemption
Date, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the name and at the
expense of the Company. If, however, the Company gives such notice to the
Holders,
42
the Company shall concurrently deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating that such notice has been given.
SECTION 3.05. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of
redemption is mailed, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the
Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price. Upon surrender of any Notes to the
Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the Redemption Price, plus accrued
interest, if any, to the Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption shall be deemed to be given when mailed, whether
or not the Holder receives the notice. In any event, failure to give such
notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings
for the redemption of Notes held by Holders to whom such notice was properly
given.
SECTION 3.06. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to any
Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the
Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust as
provided in Section 2.05) money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of and
accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date other than Notes or
portions thereof called for redemption on that date that have been delivered by
the Company to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 3.07. Payment of Notes Called for Redemption. If notice of
redemption has been given in the manner provided above, the Notes or portion of
Notes specified in such notice to be redeemed shall become due and payable on
the Redemption Date at the Redemption Price stated therein, together with
accrued interest to such Redemption Date, and on and after such date (unless the
Company shall default in the payment of such Notes at the Redemption Price and
accrued interest to the Redemption Date, in which case the principal, until
paid, shall bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed in the
Notes), such Notes shall cease to accrue interest. Upon surrender of any Note
for redemption in accordance with a notice of redemption, such Note shall be
paid and redeemed by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued
interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided that installments of interest
whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to
the Holders registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular
Record Date.
SECTION 3.08. Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of any Note that
is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to
the unredeemed portion of such surrendered Note.
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ARTICLE FOUR
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes. The Company shall pay the principal
of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner
provided in the Notes and this Indenture. An installment of principal, premium,
if any, or interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Trustee or
Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company, or any
Affiliate of any of them) holds on that date money designated for and sufficient
to pay the installment. If the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any
Affiliate of any of them acts as Paying Agent, an installment of principal,
premium, if any, or interest shall be considered paid on the due date if the
entity acting as Paying Agent complies with the last sentence of Section 2.05.
As provided in Section 6.09, upon any bankruptcy or reorganization procedure
relative to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as the Paying Agent, if any,
for the Notes.
The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal, premium, if any,
and interest on overdue installments of interest, to the extent lawful, at the
rate per annum specified in the Notes.
SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will
maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York an office or agency
where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for
presentation for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in
respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the
location, of such office or agency. If at any time the 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 11.02.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or
all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided
that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company
of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan,
The City of New York for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written
notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in
the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby initially designates the corporate trust office of
the Trustee at 00 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000, as such office of the Company
in accordance with Section 2.04.
44
SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Indebtedness. (a) The Company will not,
and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, Incur any
Indebtedness (other than the Notes and Indebtedness existing on the Closing
Date); provided that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur
Indebtedness if, after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and
the receipt and application of the proceeds therefrom, the Interest Coverage
Ratio would be greater than (x) 1.50:1, for Indebtedness Incurred on or prior to
December 31, 1998, (y) 1.75:1, for Indebtedness Incurred after December 31, 1998
and on or prior to December 31, 1999 and (z) 2.00:1, for Indebtedness Incurred
thereafter.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and any Restricted
Subsidiary (except as specified below) may Incur each and all of the following:
(i) Indebtedness outstanding at any time in an aggregate principal amount not to
exceed $800 million, less any amount of such Indebtedness permanently repaid as
provided under Section 4.10; (ii) Indebtedness owed (A) by a Restricted
Subsidiary to the Company; provided that if such Indebtedness exceeds $500,000
it shall be evidenced by a promissory note or (B) by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary to any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any event which results
in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any
subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (other than to the Company or another
Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an
Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (ii); (iii)
Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to
refinance or refund, then outstanding Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness
Incurred under clause (i), (ii), (iv), (vi), (vii), (viii) or (ix) of this
paragraph) and any refinancings thereof in an amount not to exceed the amount so
refinanced or refunded (plus premiums, accrued interest, fees and expenses);
provided that Indebtedness the proceeds of which are used to refinance or refund
the Notes or Indebtedness that is pari passu with, or subordinated in right of
payment to, the Notes shall only be permitted under this clause (iii) if (A) in
case the Notes are refinanced in part or the Indebtedness to be refinanced is
pari passu with the Notes, such new Indebtedness, by its terms or by the terms
of any agreement or instrument pursuant to which such new Indebtedness is
outstanding, is expressly made pari passu with, or subordinate in right of
payment to, the remaining Notes, (B) in case the Indebtedness to be refinanced
is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such new Indebtedness, by its
terms or by the terms of any agreement or instrument pursuant to which such new
Indebtedness is issued or remains outstanding, is expressly made subordinate in
right of payment to the Notes at least to the extent that the Indebtedness to be
refinanced is subordinated to the Notes and (C) such new Indebtedness,
determined as of the date of Incurrence of such new Indebtedness, does not
mature prior to the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness to be refinanced or
refunded, and the Average Life of such new Indebtedness is at least equal to the
remaining Average Life of the Indebtedness to be refinanced or refunded; and
provided further that in no event may Indebtedness of the Company that is pari
passu with or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes be refinanced by
means of any Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to this clause
(iii); (iv) Indebtedness (A) in respect of performance, surety or appeal bonds
provided in the ordinary course of business, (B) under Currency Agreements and
Interest Rate Agreements; provided that such agreements (a) are
45
designed solely to protect the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries against
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or interest rates and (b) do not
increase the Indebtedness of the obligor outstanding at any time other than as a
result of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or interest rates or
by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation payable thereunder and (C)
arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase
price or similar obligations, or from Guarantees or letters of credit, surety
bonds or performance bonds securing any obligations of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to such agreements, in any case Incurred in
connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary
(other than Guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or
any portion of such business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of
financing such acquisition), in a principal amount not to exceed the gross
proceeds actually received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in
connection with such disposition; (v) Indebtedness of the Company, to the extent
the net proceeds thereof are promptly (A) used to purchase Notes tendered in an
Offer to Purchase made as a result of a Change in Control or (B) deposited to
defease the Notes as described in Section 8.03; (vi) Guarantees of the Notes and
Guarantees of Indebtedness of the Company by any Restricted Subsidiary provided
the Guarantee of such Indebtedness is permitted by and made in accordance with
Section 4.07; (vii) Indebtedness Incurred to finance Extended Stay Assets or to
refinance such Indebtedness, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any one
time outstanding (A) the Net Cash Proceeds, or the fair market value of property
other than cash, received by the Company after the Closing Date from the
issuance and sale of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock),
including an Incurrence (permitted by this Indenture) of Indebtedness of the
Company upon conversion of such Indebtedness into Capital Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the Company, to a Person that is not a Subsidiary of the
Company, to the extent such sale of Capital Stock has not been used pursuant to
clause (C)(2) of the first paragraph, or clause (iii), (iv) or (vi) of the
second paragraph, of Section 4.04 to make a Restricted Payment, less (B) the
aggregate amount of Indebtedness outstanding under clause (viii) below; (viii)
Indebtedness Incurred prior to December 31, 1999 to finance Extended Stay Assets
or to refinance such Indebtedness, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $150
million at any one time outstanding; provided that after giving pro forma effect
to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Company's Indebtedness to
Capitalization Ratio would be less than 60%; and (ix) Indebtedness, in addition
to Indebtedness permitted under clauses (i) through (viii) above, in an
aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $15 million
less any amount of such Indebtedness permanently repaid as provided under
Section 4.10.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.03, the
maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary may
Incur pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall not be deemed to be exceeded, with
respect to any outstanding Indebtedness, due solely to the result of
fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies.
(c) For purposes of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness
under this Section 4.03, (1) Indebtedness Incurred under the Credit Agreement on
or prior to the
46
Closing Date shall be treated as Incurred pursuant to clause (i) of the second
paragraph of this Section 4.03(a), (2) Guarantees, Liens or obligations with
respect to letters of credit supporting Indebtedness otherwise included in the
determination of such particular amount shall not be included and (3) any Liens
granted pursuant to the equal and ratable provisions referred to in Section 4.09
shall not be treated as Indebtedness. For purposes of determining compliance
with this Section 4.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the
criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the above
clauses (other than Indebtedness referred to in clause (1) of the preceding
sentence), the Company, in its sole discretion, shall classify, and from time to
time may reclassify, such item of Indebtedness and only be required to include
the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of such clauses.
SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Company will not,
and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, (i)
declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on or with respect to its
Capital Stock (other than (x) dividends or distributions payable solely in
shares of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or in options,
warrants or other rights to acquire shares of such Capital Stock and (y) pro
rata dividends or distributions on Common Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries held
by minority stockholders) held by Persons other than the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for
value any shares of Capital Stock of (A) the Company or an Unrestricted
Subsidiary (including options, warrants or other rights to acquire such shares
of Capital Stock) held by any Person or (B) a Restricted Subsidiary (including
options, warrants or other rights to acquire such shares of Capital Stock) held
by any Affiliate of the Company (other than a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary) or any holder (or any Affiliate of such holder) of 5% or more of the
Capital Stock of the Company, (iii) make any voluntary or optional principal
payment, or voluntary or optional redemption, repurchase, defeasance, or other
acquisition or retirement for value, of Indebtedness of the Company that is
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or (iv) make any Investment, other
than a Permitted Investment, in any Person (such payments or any other actions
described in clauses (i) through (iv) being collectively "Restricted Payments")
if, at the time of, and after giving effect to, the proposed Restricted Payment:
(A) a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (B) the
Company could not Incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness under the first paragraph
of Section 4.03(a) or (C) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments (the
amount, if other than in cash, to be determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and evidenced by a Board
Resolution) made after the Closing Date shall exceed the sum of (1) 50% of the
aggregate amount of the Adjusted Consolidated Net Income (or, if the Adjusted
Consolidated Net Income is a loss, minus 100% of the amount of such loss)
(determined by excluding income resulting from transfers of assets by the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to an Unrestricted Subsidiary) accrued on a
cumulative basis during the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on
the first day of the fiscal quarter immediately following the Closing Date and
ending on the last day of the last fiscal quarter preceding the Transaction Date
for which reports have been filed with the Commission or provided to the Trustee
pursuant to Section 4.17 plus (2) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds
47
received by the Company after the Closing Date from the issuance and sale
permitted by this Indenture of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock)
to a Person who is not a Subsidiary of the Company, including an issuance or
sale permitted by this Indenture of Indebtedness of the Company for cash
subsequent to the Closing Date upon the conversion of such Indebtedness into
Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, or from the
issuance to a Person who is not a Subsidiary of the Company of any options,
warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Stock of the Company (in each case,
exclusive of any Disqualified Stock or any options, warrants or other rights
that are redeemable at the option of the holder, or are required to be redeemed,
prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes), in each case except to the extent
such Net Cash Proceeds are used to Incur Indebtedness outstanding under clause
(vii) of Section 4.03(a), plus (3) an amount equal to the net reduction in
Investments (other than reductions in Permitted Investments) in any Person
resulting from payments of interest on Indebtedness, dividends, repayments of
loans or advances, or other transfers of assets, in each case to the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary or from the Net Cash Proceeds from the sale of any
such Investment (except, in each case, to the extent any such payment or
proceeds are included in the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Income),
or from redesignations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries
(valued in each case as provided in the definition of "Investments"), not to
exceed, in each case, the amount of Investments previously made by the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person or Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The foregoing provision shall not be violated by reason of: (i) the
payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof if,
at said date of declaration, such payment would comply with the foregoing
paragraph; (ii) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or
retirement for value of Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to
the Notes including premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, with the
proceeds of, or in exchange for, Indebtedness Incurred under clause (iii) of the
second paragraph of part (a) of Section 4.03; (iii) the repurchase, redemption
or other acquisition of Capital Stock of the Company or an Unrestricted
Subsidiary (or options, warrants or other rights to acquire such Capital Stock)
in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of a substantially concurrent offering
of, shares of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (or
options, warrants or other rights to acquire such Capital Stock); (iv) the
making of any principal payment or the repurchase, redemption, retirement,
defeasance or other acquisition for value of Indebtedness of the Company which
is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes in exchange for, or out of the
proceeds of a substantially concurrent offering of, shares of the Capital Stock
(other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (or options, warrants or other
rights to acquire such Capital Stock); (v) payments or distributions to
dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection
with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets that complies with Article
Five; (vi) Investments acquired in exchange for Capital Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or (vii) Restricted Payments in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $50 million; provided that, except in the case of clauses
(i) and (iii), no Default or Event of Default
48
shall have occurred and be continuing or occur as a consequence of the actions
or payments set forth therein.
Each Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to the preceding paragraph
(other than the Restricted Payment referred to in clause (ii) or (vii) thereof,
an exchange of Capital Stock for Capital Stock or Indebtedness referred to in
clause (iii) or (iv) thereof and an Investment referred to in clause (vi)
thereof), and the Net Cash Proceeds from any issuance of Capital Stock referred
to in clauses (iii) and (iv), shall be included in calculating whether the
conditions of clause (C) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.04 have been
met with respect to any subsequent Restricted Payments. In the event the
proceeds of an issuance of Capital Stock of the Company are used for the
redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of the Notes, or Indebtedness that
is pari passu with the Notes, then the Net Cash Proceeds of such issuance shall
be included in clause (C) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.04 only to
the extent such proceeds are not used for such redemption, repurchase or other
acquisition of Indebtedness.
SECTION 4.05. Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions
Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not, and will not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become
effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability
of any Restricted Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make any other
distributions permitted by applicable law on any Capital Stock of such
Restricted Subsidiary owned by the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary,
(ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any other Restricted
Subsidiary, (iii) make loans or advances to the Company or any other Restricted
Subsidiary or (iv) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any
other Restricted Subsidiary.
The foregoing provisions shall not restrict any encumbrances or
restrictions: (i) existing on the Closing Date in the Credit Agreement, this
Indenture or any other agreements in effect on the Closing Date, and any
modifications, extensions, refinancings, renewals, substitutions or replacements
of such agreements; provided that the encumbrances and restrictions in any such
modifications, extensions, refinancings, renewals, substitutions or replacements
are no less favorable in any material respect to the Holders than those
encumbrances or restrictions that are then in effect and that are being
modified, extended, refinanced, renewed, substituted or replaced; (ii) existing
under or by reason of applicable law; (iii) existing with respect to any Person
or the property or assets of such Person acquired by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary, existing at the time of such acquisition and not incurred
in contemplation thereof, which encumbrances or restrictions are not applicable
to any Person or the property or assets of any Person other than such Person or
the property or assets of such Person so acquired; (iv) in the case of clause
(iv) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.05, (A) that restrict in a
customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset
that is a lease, license, conveyance or contract or similar property or asset,
(B) existing by virtue of any transfer of, agreement to transfer, option or
right with respect to, or Lien on, any property or assets of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture or (C) arising
or agreed to in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any
Indebtedness,
49
and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of
property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner
material to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; (v) with respect to a
Restricted Subsidiary and imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered
into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital
Stock of, or property and assets of, such Restricted Subsidiary; or (vi)
contained in the terms of any Indebtedness or any agreement pursuant to which
such Indebtedness was issued if (A) the encumbrance or restriction applies only
in the event of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial
covenant contained in such Indebtedness or agreement, (B) the encumbrance or
restriction is not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes
than is customary in comparable financings (as determined by the Company) and
(C) the Company determines that any such encumbrance or restriction will not
materially affect the Company's ability to make principal or interest payments
on the Notes. Nothing contained in this Section 4.05 shall prevent the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary from (1) creating, incurring, assuming or suffering
to exist any Liens otherwise permitted in Section 4.09 or (2) restricting the
sale or other disposition of property or assets of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries that secure Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.
SECTION 4.06. Limitation on the Issuance and Sale of Capital Stock of
Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not sell, and will not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to issue or sell, any shares of
Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (including options, warrants or other
rights to purchase shares of such Capital Stock) except (i) to the Company or a
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary; (ii) issuances of director's qualifying
shares or sales to foreign nationals of shares of Capital Stock of foreign
Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent required by applicable law; (iii) if,
immediately after giving effect to such issuance or sale, such Restricted
Subsidiary would no longer constitute a Restricted Subsidiary and any Investment
in such Person remaining after giving effect to such issuance or sale would have
been permitted to be made under Section 4.04 if made on the date of such
issuance or sale; or (iv) issuances or sales of Common Stock of a Restricted
Subsidiary, provided that the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary applies the
Net Cash Proceeds, if any, of any such sale in accordance with clause (A) or (B)
of Section 4.10.
SECTION 4.07. Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees by Restricted
Subsidiaries. The Company will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, to Guarantee any Indebtedness of the Company which is pari passu
with or subordinate in right of payment to the Notes ("Guaranteed
Indebtedness"), unless (i) such Restricted Subsidiary simultaneously executes
and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture providing for a
Guarantee (a "Subsidiary Guarantee") of payment of the Notes by such Restricted
Subsidiary and (ii) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will not in any manner
whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of any rights of
reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Company
or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted
Subsidiary under its Subsidiary Guarantee; provided that this paragraph shall
not be
50
applicable to any Guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the
time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not Incurred in
connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted
Subsidiary. If the Guaranteed Indebtedness is (A) pari passu with the Notes,
then the Guarantee of such Guaranteed Indebtedness shall be pari passu with, or
subordinated to, the Subsidiary Guarantee or (B) subordinated to the Notes, then
the Guarantee of such Guaranteed Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the
Subsidiary Guarantee at least to the extent that the Guaranteed Indebtedness is
subordinated to the Notes.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantee by a
Restricted Subsidiary may provide by its terms that it shall be automatically
and unconditionally released and discharged upon (i) any sale, exchange or
transfer, to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company, of all of the Company's
and each Restricted Subsidiary's Capital Stock in, or all or substantially all
the assets of, such Restricted Subsidiary (which sale, exchange or transfer is
not prohibited by this Indenture) or (ii) the release or discharge of the
Guarantee which resulted in the creation of such Subsidiary Guarantee, except a
discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such Guarantee.
SECTION 4.08. Limitation on Transactions with Stockholders and
Affiliates. The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary
to, directly or indirectly, enter into, renew or extend any transaction
(including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of
property or assets, or the rendering of any service) with any holder (or any
Affiliate of such holder) of 5% or more of any class of Capital Stock of the
Company or with any Affiliate of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary,
except upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained, at the time of such transaction
or, if such transaction is pursuant to a written agreement, at the time of the
execution of the agreement providing therefor, in a comparable arm's-length
transaction with a Person that is not such a holder or an Affiliate.
The foregoing limitation does not limit, and shall not apply to (i)
transactions (A) approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the
Board of Directors or (B) for which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
delivers to the Trustee a written opinion of a nationally recognized investment
banking firm stating that the transaction is fair to the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; (ii) any transaction
solely between the Company and any of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries
or solely between Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries; (iii) the payment of
reasonable and customary fees and expenses to directors of the Company who are
not employees of the Company; (iv) any payments or other transactions pursuant
to any tax-sharing agreement between the Company and any other Person with which
the Company files a consolidated tax return or with which the Company is part of
a consolidated group for tax purposes; or (v) any Restricted Payments not
prohibited by Section 4.04. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transaction or
series of related transactions covered by the first paragraph of this Section
4.08 and not covered by clauses (ii) through (v) of this paragraph, (a) the
aggregate amount of which exceeds $5 million in value, must be approved or
determined to be fair in the manner provided for in clause (i)(A) or (B) above
and (b) the
51
aggregate amount of which exceeds $10 million in value, must be determined to be
fair in the manner provided for in clause (i)(B) of this second paragraph of
Section 4.08.
SECTION 4.09. Limitation on Liens. The Company shall not Incur any
Indebtedness secured by a Lien ("Secured Indebtedness") which is not Senior
Indebtedness unless contemporaneously therewith effective provision is made to
secure the Notes equally and ratably with (or, if the Secured Indebtedness is
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, prior to) such Secured
Indebtedness for so long as such Secured Indebtedness is secured by a Lien.
SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Asset Sales. The Company will not, and
will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate any Asset Sale, unless
(i) the consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is
at least equal to the fair market value of the assets sold or disposed of and
(ii) at least 75% of the consideration received consists of cash or Temporary
Cash Investments or the assumption of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or
Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary is irrevocably released from all liability under such
Indebtedness. In the event and to the extent that the Net Cash Proceeds received
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from one or more Asset
Sales occurring on or after the Closing Date in any period of 12 consecutive
months exceed 10% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (determined as of
the date closest to the commencement of such 12-month period for which a
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been filed
with the Commission or provided to the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.17), then
the Company shall or shall cause the relevant Restricted Subsidiary to (i)
within twelve months after the date Net Cash Proceeds so received exceed 10% of
Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (A) apply an amount equal to such
excess Net Cash Proceeds to permanently repay Senior Indebtedness of the
Company, or any Restricted Subsidiary providing a Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant
to Section 4.07 or Indebtedness of any other Restricted Subsidiary, in each case
owing to a Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
or (B) invest an equal amount, or the amount not so applied pursuant to clause
(A) (or enter into a definitive agreement committing to so invest within 12
months after the date of such agreement), in property or assets (other than
current assets) of a nature or type or that are used in a business (or in a
company having property and assets of a nature or type, or engaged in a
business) similar or related to the nature or type of the property and assets
of, or the business of, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries existing on
the date of such investment and (ii) apply (no later than the end of the 12-
month period referred to in clause (i)) such excess Net Cash Proceeds (to the
extent not applied pursuant to clause (i)) as provided in the following
paragraph of this Section 4.10. The amount of such excess Net Cash Proceeds
required to be applied (or to be committed to be applied) during such 12-month
period as set forth in clause (i) of the preceding sentence and not applied as
so required by the end of such period shall constitute "Excess Proceeds."
If, as of the first day of any calendar month, the aggregate amount of
Excess Proceeds not theretofore subject to an Offer to Purchase pursuant to this
Section 4.10 totals at
52
least $10 million, the Company must commence, not later than the fifteenth
Business Day of such month, and consummate an Offer to Purchase from the Holders
on a pro rata basis an aggregate principal amount of Notes equal to the Excess
Proceeds on such date, at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount
of the Notes, plus, in each case, accrued interest (if any) to the Payment Date.
SECTION 4.11. Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control. The
Company must commence, within 30 days of the occurrence of a Change of Control,
and consummate an Offer to Purchase for all Notes then outstanding, at a
purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued
interest (if any) to the Payment Date. The Company will not be required to make
an Offer to Purchase pursuant to this Section 4.11 if a third party makes an
Offer to Purchase in compliance with this Section 4.11 and repurchases all Notes
validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Offer to Purchase.
SECTION 4.12. Existence. Subject to Articles Four and Five of this
Indenture, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to
preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and the existence of
each of its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the respective
organizational documents of the Company and each such Subsidiary and the rights
(whether pursuant to charter, partnership certificate, agreement, statute or
otherwise), material licenses and franchises of the Company and each such
Subsidiary; provided that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such
right, license or franchise, or the existence of any Restricted Subsidiary, if
the maintenance or preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of
the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
SECTION 4.13. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company will pay
or discharge and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay or discharge, or
cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent (i) all
material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon (a)
the Company or any such Subsidiary, (b) the income or profits of any such
Subsidiary which is a corporation or (c) the property of the Company or any such
Subsidiary and (ii) all material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies
that, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or
any such Subsidiary; provided that the Company shall not be required to pay or
discharge, or cause to be paid or discharged, any such tax, assessment, charge
or claim the amount, applicability or validity of which is being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been
established.
SECTION 4.14. Maintenance of Properties and Insurance. The Company
will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the
business of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in good
condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment
and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements,
betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may
be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be
properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided that nothing in
this Section 4.14
53
shall prevent the Company or any such Subsidiary from discontinuing the use,
operation or maintenance of any of such properties or disposing of any of them,
if such discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable
in the conduct of the business of the Company or such Subsidiary.
The Company will provide or cause to be provided, for itself and its
Restricted Subsidiaries, insurance (including appropriate self-insurance)
against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by corporations
similarly situated and owning like properties, including, but not limited to,
products liability insurance and public liability insurance, with reputable
insurers or with the government of the United States of America, or an agency or
instrumentality thereof, in such amounts, with such deductibles and by such
methods as shall be customary for corporations similarly situated in the
industry in which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be,
is then conducting business.
SECTION 4.15. Notice of Defaults. In the event that the Company
becomes aware of any Default or Event of Default the Company, promptly after it
becomes aware thereof, will give written notice thereof to the Trustee.
SECTION 4.16. Compliance Certificates. (a) The Company shall deliver
to the Trustee, within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter (105 days
after the end of the last fiscal quarter of each year), an Officers' Certificate
stating whether or not the signers know of any Default or Event of Default that
occurred during such fiscal quarter. In the case of the Officers' Certificate
delivered within 105 days of the end of the Company's fiscal year, such
certificate shall contain a certification from the principal executive officer,
principal financial officer or principal accounting officer that a review has
been conducted of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
and the Company's and its Restricted Subsidiaries' performance under this
Indenture and that the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants
under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 4.16, such compliance shall
be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice
provided under this Indenture. If they do know of such a Default or Event of
Default, the certificate shall describe any such Default or Event of Default and
its status. The first certificate to be delivered pursuant to this Section
4.16(a) shall be for the first fiscal quarter beginning after the execution of
this Indenture.
(b) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 105 days after
the end of the Company's fiscal year, a certificate signed by the Company's
independent certified public accountants stating (i) that their audit
examination has included a review of the terms of this Indenture and the Notes
as they relate to accounting matters, (ii) that they have read the most recent
Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
Section 4.16 and (iii) whether, in connection with their audit examination,
anything came to their attention that caused them to believe that the Company
was not in compliance with any of the terms, covenants, provisions or conditions
of Article Four and Section 5.01 of this Indenture as they pertain to accounting
matters and, if any Default or Event of Default has come to their attention,
54
specifying the nature and period of existence thereof; provided that such
independent certified public accountants shall not be liable in respect of such
statement by reason of any failure to obtain knowledge of any such Default or
Event of Default that would not be disclosed in the course of an audit
examination conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
in effect at the date of such examination.
SECTION 4.17. Commission Reports and Reports to Holders. Whether or
not the Company is required to file reports with the Commission, for so long as
any Notes are outstanding, the Company shall file with the Commission all such
reports and other information as it would be required to file with the
Commission by Sections 13(a) or 15(d) under the Exchange Act if it were subject
thereto; provided that, if filing such documents by the Company with the
Commission is not permitted under the Exchange Act, the Company shall provide
such documents to the Trustee and upon written request supply copies of such
documents to any prospective Holder. The Company shall supply the Trustee and
each Holder or shall supply to the Trustee for forwarding to each such Holder,
without cost to such Holder, copies of such reports and other information. The
Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a).
SECTION 4.18. 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, or 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 Company from paying all or any portion of the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes as contemplated herein,
wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or that 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 4.19. Limitation on Senior Subordinated Indebtedness. The
Company will not Incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate in right of payment
to any Senior Indebtedness unless such Indebtedness is pari passu with, or
subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes; provided that the foregoing
limitation shall not apply to distinctions between categories of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company that exist by reason of any Liens or Guarantees
arising or created in respect of some but not all of such Senior Indebtedness.
ARTICLE FIVE
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, Etc. The Company will not
consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or
otherwise dispose of all or
55
substantially all of its property and assets (as an entirety or substantially an
entirety in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to, any Person
or permit any Person to merge with or into the Company unless:
(i) the Company shall be the continuing Person, or the Person (if
other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the
Company is merged or that acquired or leased such property and assets of
the Company shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the
laws of the United States of America or any state or jurisdiction thereof
and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed and
delivered to the Trustee, all of the obligations of the Company on all of
the Notes and under this Indenture;
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default
or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro
forma basis, the Company or any Person becoming the successor obligor of
the Notes shall have a Consolidated Net Worth equal to or greater than the
Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such
transaction;
(iv) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro
forma basis the Company, or any Person becoming the successor obligor of
the Notes, as the case may be, could Incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness
under the first paragraph of Section 4.03(a); provided that this clause
(iv) shall not apply to a consolidation, merger or sale of all (but not
less than all) of the assets of the Company if all Liens and Indebtedness
of the Company or any Person becoming the successor obligor of the Notes,
as the case may be, and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding immediately
after such transaction would, if Incurred at such time, have been permitted
to be Incurred (and all such Liens and Indebtedness, other than Liens and
Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding
immediately prior to the transaction, shall be deemed to have been
Incurred) for all purposes of this Indenture; and
(v) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
(attaching the arithmetic computations to demonstrate compliance with
clauses (iii) and (iv)) and Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that
such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture
complies with this provision and that all conditions precedent provided for
herein relating to such transaction have been complied with;
provided, however, that clauses (iii) and (iv) above do not apply if, in the
good faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution, the principal purpose of
such transaction is to change the state of
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incorporation of the Company and that any such transaction shall not have as one
of its purposes the evasion of the foregoing limitations.
SECTION 5.02. Successor Substituted. Upon any consolidation or
merger, or any sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the property and assets of the Company in accordance with
Section 5.01 of this Indenture, the successor Person formed by such
consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale,
conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition 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; provided that the Company shall not be released from its
obligation to pay the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes in
the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its property and assets.
ARTICLE SIX
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. An "Event of Default" shall occur
with respect to the Notes if:
(a) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or
premium, if any, on) any Note when the same becomes due and payable at
maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise, whether or not such
payment is prohibited by Article Ten;
(b) the Company defaults in the payment of interest on any Note when
the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period
of 30 days, whether or not such payment is prohibited by Article Ten;
(c) the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches the
provisions of, Article Five or fails to make or consummate an Offer to
Purchase in accordance with Section 4.10 or 4.11;
(d) the Company defaults in the performance of or breaches any other
covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or under the Notes
(other than a default specified in clause (a), (b) or (c) above) and such
default or breach continues for a period of 30 consecutive days after
written notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of 25% or more
in aggregate principal amount of the Notes;
(e) there occurs with respect to any issue or issues of Indebtedness
of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary having an outstanding
principal amount of $15 million or more in the aggregate for all such
issues of all such Persons, whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall
hereafter be created, (I) an event of default that has caused the holder
thereof to declare such Indebtedness to be due and payable prior to its
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Stated Maturity and such Indebtedness has not been discharged in full or
such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled within 30 days of such
acceleration and/or (II) the failure to make a principal payment at the
final (but not any interim) fixed maturity and such defaulted payment shall
not have been made, waived or extended within 30 days of such payment
default;
(f) any final judgment or order (not covered by insurance) for the
payment of money in excess of $15 million in the aggregate for all such
final judgments or orders against all such Persons (treating any
deductibles, self-insurance or retention as not so covered) shall be
rendered against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary and shall not be
paid or discharged, and there shall be any period of 60 consecutive days
following entry of the final judgment or order that causes the aggregate
amount for all such final judgments or orders outstanding and not paid or
discharged against all such Persons to exceed $15 million during which a
stay of enforcement of such final judgment or order, by reason of a pending
appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect;
(g) a court having jurisdiction in the premises enters a decree or
order for (A) relief in respect of the Company or any Significant
Subsidiary in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, (B) appointment
of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or
similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or
substantially all of the property and assets of the Company or any
Significant Subsidiary or (C) the winding up or liquidation of the affairs
of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary and, in each case, such decree
or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive
days; or
(h) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (A) commences a
voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar
law now or hereafter in effect, or consents to the entry of an order for
relief in an involuntary case under any such law, (B) consents to the
appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or any
Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property and
assets of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or (C) effects any
general assignment for the benefit of creditors.
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an
Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 that occurs with
respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the
Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Notes, then outstanding, by written notice to the Company (and to the Trustee if
such notice is given by the Holders), may, and the Trustee at the request of
such Holders shall, declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued
interest on the Notes to be immediately due and payable. Upon a declaration of
acceleration, such principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest shall be
immediately due and payable; provided that any such
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declaration of acceleration shall not become effective until the earlier of (A)
five Business Days after receipt of the acceleration notice by the Bank Agent
and the Company or (B) acceleration of the Indebtedness under the Credit
Agreement; provided further that such acceleration shall automatically be
rescinded and annulled without any further action required on the part of the
Holders in the event that any and all Events of Default specified in the
acceleration notice under this Indenture shall have been cured, waived or
otherwise remedied as provided in this Indenture prior to the expiration of the
period referred to in clauses (A) and (B) of this Section 6.02. In the event of
a declaration of acceleration because an Event of Default set forth in clause
(e) of Section 6.01 has occurred and is continuing, such declaration of
acceleration shall be automatically rescinded and annulled if the event of
default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to clause (e) of Section 6.01
shall be remedied or cured by the Company or the relevant Significant Subsidiary
or waived by the holders of the relevant Indebtedness within 60 days after the
declaration of acceleration with respect thereto. If an Event of Default
specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 occurs with respect to the
Company, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the Notes
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 Holder.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration, but before a
judgment or decree for the payment of the money due has been obtained by the
Trustee, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may
waive all past Defaults and rescind and annul such declaration of acceleration
and its consequences if (i) all existing Events of Default, other than the non-
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the Notes
that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured
or waived and (ii) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree
of a court of competent jurisdiction.
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, premium, if any, or interest
on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this
Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any
of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding.
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Sections 6.02,
6.07 and 9.02, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Notes, 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, premium, if any, or interest on any Note as specified in clause
(a) or (b) of Section 6.01 or in respect of a covenant or provision of this
Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder
of each outstanding Note affected. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall
cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to
have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no
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such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default
or impair any right consequent thereto.
SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of at least a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes 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 the Trustee; provided,
that the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or
this Indenture, that may involve the Trustee in personal liability, or that the
Trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of
Holders of Notes not joining in the giving of such direction; and provided
further that the Trustee may take any other action it deems proper that is not
inconsistent with any such direction received from Holders of Notes pursuant to
this Section 6.05.
SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits. A Holder may not institute any
proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or the Notes,
or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy
hereunder, unless:
(i) the Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
(ii) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Notes shall have made written request to the Trustee to pursue
the remedy;
(iii) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity
satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs, liabilities or expenses to
be incurred in compliance with such request;
(iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request
and offer of indemnity has failed to comply with such request; and
(v) during such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a
direction that is inconsistent with such written request.
For purposes of Section 6.05 of this Indenture and this Section 6.06,
the Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 316(a) in making any determination of
whether the Holders of the required aggregate principal amount of outstanding
Notes have concurred in any request or direction of the Trustee to pursue any
remedy available to the Trustee or the Holders with respect to this Indenture or
the Notes or otherwise under the law.
A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another
Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over such other Holder.
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The limitations set forth in this Section 6.06 shall not apply to the
right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of the principal of, premium,
if any, or interest on, such Note or to bring suit for the enforcement of any
such payment, on or after the due date expressed in the Notes, which right shall
not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.
SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to
receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Holder's
Note on or after the respective due dates expressed on such Note, 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, premium or interest specified in clause (a), (b) (c) or
(d) 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 of the Notes for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any,
and accrued interest remaining unpaid, together with interest on overdue
principal, premium, if any, and, to the extent that payment of such interest is
lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest, in each case at the rate
specified in the Notes, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover
the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee 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, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to
the Company (or any other obligor of the Notes), its creditors or its property
and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any monies,
securities or other property payable or deliverable upon conversion or exchange
of the Notes or upon any such claims and to distribute the same, and any
custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other
similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each
Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee
shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to
the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agent and counsel, and any other
amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07. Nothing herein contained shall be
deemed to empower the Trustee to authorize or consent to, or accept or adopt on
behalf of any Holder, any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to
authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such
proceeding.
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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 all amounts due under Section 7.07;
Second: to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, as and to the extent
required by Article Ten;
Third: to Holders for amounts then due and unpaid for principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on the Notes in respect of which or for the
benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference
or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such
Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and
Fourth: to the Company or any other obligors of the Notes, as their
interests may appear, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
The Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Company, may fix a
record date and payment date for any payment to Holders 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 may require any party
litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and
the court 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 of this Indenture, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal
amount of the outstanding Notes.
SECTION 6.12. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or
any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under
this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any
reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then,
and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the
Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and
respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and
remedies of the Company, Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no
such proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 6.13. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise
provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed,
lost or wrongfully taken Notes in Section 2.09, no right or remedy herein
conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be
exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the
extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and
62
remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or
otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or
otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other
appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 6.14. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of
the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any
Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of
any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy
given by this Article Six or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be
exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the
Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
ARTICLE SEVEN
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01. General. The duties and responsibilities of the
Trustee shall be as provided by the TIA and as set forth herein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 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. Whether or not therein expressly
so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or
affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be
subject to the provisions of this Article Seven.
SECTION 7.02. Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to TIA Sections
315(a) through (d):
(i) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
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;
(ii) before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require
an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to
Section 11.04. 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;
(iii) 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;
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(iv) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction
of any of the Holders, unless such Holders shall have offered to the
Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or
direction;
(v) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits
to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within its
rights or powers or for any action it takes or omits to take in accordance
with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Notes relating to the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust
or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture; provided that
the Trustee's conduct does not constitute negligence or bad faith;
(vi) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee
shall deem it desirable that a making be proved or established prior to
taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless
other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer's Certificate; and
(vii) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into
the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness 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 to examine the books, records and premises of the Company
personally or by agent or attorney.
SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee, in its
individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and
may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it
would have if it were not the Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like
rights. However, the Trustee is subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311.
SECTION 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer. The Trustee (i) makes no
representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes,
(ii) shall not be accountable for the Company's use or application of the
proceeds from the Notes and (iii) shall not be responsible for any statement in
the Notes other than its certificate of authentication.
SECTION 7.05. Notice of Default. If any Default or any Event of
Default occurs and is continuing and if such Default or Event of Default is
known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder in the manner and to
the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c) notice of the Default or Event of
Default within 45 days after it occurs, unless such Default or Event of
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Default has been cured; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default
in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note,
the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the
board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors
and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the
withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders.
SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. Within 60 days after
each May 15, beginning with May 15, 1998, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder
as provided in TIA Section 313(c) a brief report dated as of such May 15, if
required by TIA Section 313(a).
SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to
the Trustee such compensation as shall be agreed upon in writing for its
services. The compensation of the Trustee 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 and advances
incurred or made by the Trustee. Such expenses shall include the reasonable
compensation and expenses of the Trustee's agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee for, and hold it harmless
against, any loss or liability or expense incurred by it without negligence or
bad faith on its part in connection with the acceptance or administration of
this Indenture and its duties under this Indenture and the Notes, including the
costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability and of
complying with any process served upon it or any of its officers in connection
with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under this
Indenture and the Notes.
To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the
Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or
collected by the Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee, except money or property
held in trust to pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on particular
Notes.
If the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after the
occurrence of an Event of Default specified in clause (f) or (g) of Section
6.01, the expenses and the compensation for the services will be intended to
constitute expenses of administration under Title 11 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code or any applicable federal or state law for the relief of
debtors.
SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. A resignation or removal of
the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only
upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of appointment as provided in this
Section 7.08.
The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company in
writing at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may remove
the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee in writing and may appoint a successor
Trustee with the consent of the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee if:
(i) the Trustee is no longer eligible under Section 7.10; (ii) the Trustee is
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adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent; (iii) a receiver or other public officer
takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or (iv) the Trustee becomes
incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed, or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company or, after the occurrence and
continuation of an Event of Default, the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of Notes outstanding, 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 outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to
replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If the successor
Trustee does not deliver its written acceptance required by the next succeeding
paragraph of this Section 7.08 within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns
or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after the
delivery of such written acceptance, subject to the lien provided in Section
7.07, (i) the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee
to the successor Trustee, (ii) the resignation or removal of the retiring
Trustee shall become effective and (iii) 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 Holder.
If the Trustee is no longer eligible under Section 7.10, any Holder
who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(b) may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a
successor Trustee.
The Company shall give notice of any resignation and any removal of
the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders. Each
notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its
Corporate Trust Office.
Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section
7.08, the Company's obligation under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit
of the retiring Trustee.
SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. If the Trustee
consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially
all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking
association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or national
banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee with
the same effect as if the successor Trustee had been named as the Trustee
herein.
SECTION 7.10. Eligibility. This Indenture shall always have a
Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1). The Trustee
shall have a combined capital
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and surplus of at least $25 million as set forth in its most recent published
annual report of condition.
SECTION 7.11. Money Held in Trust. The Trustee shall not be liable
for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree with
the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law and except for money held in
trust under Article Eight of this Indenture.
SECTION 7.12. Withholding Taxes. The Trustee, as agent for the
Company, shall exclude and withhold from each payment of principal and interest
and other amounts due hereunder or under the Notes any and all withholding taxes
applicable thereto as required by law. The Trustee agrees to act as such
withholding agent and, in connection therewith, whenever any present or future
taxes or similar charges are required to be withheld with respect to any amounts
payable in respect of the Notes, to withhold such amounts and timely pay the
same to the appropriate authority in the name of and on behalf of the holders of
the Notes, that it will file any necessary withholding tax returns or statements
when due, and that, as promptly as possible after the payment thereof, it will
deliver to each Holder of a Note appropriate documentation showing the payment
thereof, together with such additional documentary evidence as such Holders may
reasonably request from time to time.
ARTICLE EIGHT
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
SECTION 8.01. Termination of Company's Obligations. Except as
otherwise provided in this Section 8.01, the Company may terminate its
obligations under the Notes and this Indenture if:
(i) all Notes previously authenticated and delivered (other than
destroyed, lost or stolen Notes that have been replaced or Notes that are
paid pursuant to Section 4.01 or Notes for whose payment money or
securities have theretofore been held in trust and thereafter repaid to the
Company, as provided in Section 8.05) have been delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation and the Company has paid all sums payable by it hereunder;
or
(ii) (A) the Notes mature within one year or all of them are to be
called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to
the Trustee for giving the notice of redemption, (B) the Company
irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee during such one-year period,
under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form and substance
satisfactory to the Trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the
Holders for that purpose, money or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient
(in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the
Trustee), without consideration of any reinvestment of any interest
thereon, to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the
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Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and to pay all other
sums payable by it hereunder, (C) no Default or Event of Default with
respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of
such deposit, (D) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of,
or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound and (E)
the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent
provided for herein relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture have been complied with.
With respect to the foregoing clause (i), the Company's obligations
under Section 7.07 shall survive. With respect to the foregoing clause (ii),
the Company's obligations in Sections 2.02, 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08,
2.09, 2.14, 4.01, 4.02, 7.07, 7.08, 8.04, 8.05, 8.06 and Article Ten (with
respect to payments in respect of Senior Subordinated Obligations other than
with the assets held in trust as described in the foregoing clause (ii)) shall
survive until the Notes are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the
Company's obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive. After any
such irrevocable deposit, the Trustee upon request shall acknowledge in writing
the discharge of the Company's obligations under the Notes and this Indenture
except for those surviving obligations specified above.
SECTION 8.02. Defeasance and Discharge of Indenture. The Company
will be deemed to have paid and will be discharged from any and all obligations
in respect of the Notes on the 123rd day after the date of the deposit referred
to in clause (A) of this Section 8.02, and the provisions of this Indenture will
no longer be in effect with respect to the Notes, and the Trustee, at the
expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same,
except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange, (ii)
substitution of apparently mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes,
(iii) rights of Holders to receive payments of principal thereof and interest
thereon, (iv) the Company's obligations under Section 4.02, (v) the rights,
obligations and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (vi) the rights of the
Holders as beneficiaries of this Indenture with respect to the property so
deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them; provided that the
following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(A) with reference to this Section 8.02, the Company has irrevocably
deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee (or
another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 7.10 of this
Indenture) and conveyed all right, title and interest for the benefit of
the Holders, under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form and
substance satisfactory to the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically
pledged to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders as security for
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the
Notes, and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders, in and to (1)
money in an amount, (2) U.S. Government Obligations that, through the
payment of interest, premium, if any, and principal in respect thereof in
accordance with their terms, will provide, not later than one day before
the due date of any payment referred to in this clause (A), money in an
amount
68
or (3) a combination thereof in an amount sufficient, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a
written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and
discharge, without consideration of the reinvestment of such interest and
after payment of all federal, state and local taxes or other charges and
assessments in respect thereof payable by the Trustee, the principal of,
premium, if any, and accrued interest on the outstanding Notes at the
Stated Maturity of such principal or interest; provided that the Trustee
shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds
of such U.S. Government Obligations to the payment of such principal,
premium, if any, and interest with respect to the Notes;
(B) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or
constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound and is
permitted by Article Ten;
(C) immediately after giving effect to such deposit on a pro forma
basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 123rd day
after such date of deposit, and such deposit shall not result in a breach
or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(D) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee (1) either (x) a
ruling directed to the Trustee received from the Internal Revenue Service
to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company's exercise of its
option under this Section 8.02 and will be subject to federal income tax on
the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have
been the case if such option had not been exercised or (y) an Opinion of
Counsel to the same effect as the ruling described in clause (x) above
accompanied by a ruling to that effect published by the Internal Revenue
Service, unless there has been a change in the applicable federal income
tax law since the date of this Indenture such that a ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service is no longer required and (2) an Opinion of
Counsel to the effect that (x) the creation of the defeasance trust does
not violate the Investment Company Act of 1940 and (y) after the passage of
123 days following the deposit (except, with respect to any trust funds for
the account of any Holder who may be deemed to be an "insider" for purposes
of the United States Bankruptcy Code, after one year following the
deposit), the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of Xxxxxxx 000
xx xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Bankruptcy Code or Section 15 of the New York Debtor
and Creditor Law in a case commenced by or against the Company under either
such statute, and either (I) the trust funds will no longer remain the
property of the Company (and therefore will not be subject to the effect of
any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally) or (II) if a court were to rule
under any such law in any case or proceeding that the trust funds remained
property of the Company, (a) assuming such trust funds remained in the
possession of the
69
Trustee prior to such court ruling to the extent not paid to the Holders,
the Trustee will hold, for the benefit of the Holders, a valid and
perfected security interest in such trust funds that is not avoidable in
bankruptcy or otherwise except for the effect of Section 552(b) of the
United States Bankruptcy Code on interest on the trust funds accruing after
the commencement of a case under such statute and (b) the Holders will be
entitled to receive adequate protection of their interests in such trust
funds if such trust funds are used in such case or proceeding;
(E) if the Notes are then listed on a national securities exchange,
the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to
the effect that such deposit defeasance and discharge will not cause the
Notes to be delisted; and
(F) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that all conditions
precedent provided for herein relating to the defeasance contemplated by
this Section 8.02 have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the end of the 123-day (or one
year) period referred to in clause (D)(2)(y) of this Section 8.02, none of the
Company's obligations under this Indenture shall be discharged. Subsequent to
the end of such 123-day (or one year) period with respect to this Section 8.02,
the Company's obligations in Sections 2.02, 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08,
2.09, 2.14, 4.01, 4.02, 7.07, 7.08, 8.05 and 8.06 and Article Ten (with respect
to payments in respect of Senior Subordinated Obligations other than with the
assets held in trust as described in this Section 8.02) shall survive until the
Notes are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the Company's obligations in
Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive. If and when a ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service or an Opinion of Counsel referred to in clause (D)(1)
of this Section 8.02 is able to be provided specifically without regard to, and
not in reliance upon, the continuance of the Company's obligations under Section
4.01, then the Company's obligations under such Section 4.01 shall cease upon
delivery to the Trustee of such ruling or Opinion of Counsel and compliance with
the other conditions precedent provided for herein relating to the defeasance
contemplated by this Section 8.02.
After any such irrevocable deposit, the Trustee upon request shall
acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Company's obligations under the
Notes and this Indenture except for those surviving obligations in the
immediately preceding paragraph.
SECTION 8.03. Defeasance of Certain Obligations. The Company may
omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in clauses (iii)
and (iv) of Section 5.01 and Sections 4.03 through 4.17, and clause (c) of
Section 6.01 with respect to clauses (iii) and (iv) of Section 5.01 and Sections
4.03 through 4.17, and clauses (d), (e) and (f) of Section 6.01 shall be deemed
not to be Events of Default, in each case with respect to the outstanding Notes
if:
70
(i) with reference to this Section 8.03, the Company has irrevocably
deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee (or
another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 7.10) and conveyed
all right, title and interest to the Trustee for the benefit of the
Holders, under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form and
substance satisfactory to the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically
pledged to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders as security for
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the
Notes, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders, in and to (A)
money in an amount, (B) U.S. Government Obligations that, through the
payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with
their terms, will provide, not later than one day before the due date of
any payment referred to in this clause (i), money in an amount or (C) a
combination thereof in an amount sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written
certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge,
without consideration of the reinvestment of such interest and after
payment of all federal, state and local taxes or other charges and
assessments in respect thereof payable by the Trustee, the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the Stated
Maturity of such principal or interest; provided that the Trustee shall
have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of
such U.S. Government Obligations to the payment of such principal, premium,
if any, and interest with respect to the Notes;
(ii) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or
constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound and is
permitted by Article Ten;
(iii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing on the date of such deposit;
(iv) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to
the effect that (A) the creation of the defeasance trust does not violate
the Investment Company Act of 1940, (B) the Holders have a valid first
priority security interest in the trust funds, (C) the Holders will not
recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result
of such deposit and defeasance of certain obligations and will be subject
to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the
same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had
not occurred and (D) after the passage of 123 days following the deposit
(except, with respect to any trust funds for the account of any Holder who
may be deemed to be an "insider" for purposes of the United States
Bankruptcy Code, after one year following the deposit), the trust funds
will not be subject to the effect of Xxxxxxx 000 xx xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Bankruptcy Code or Section 15 of the New York Debtor and Creditor Law in a
case commenced by or against the Company under either such statute, and
either (1) the trust funds will no longer remain the property of the
Company (and therefore will not be subject to the effect of any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
71
creditors' rights generally) or (2) if a court were to rule under any such
law in any case or proceeding that the trust funds remained property of the
Company, (x) assuming such trust funds remained in the possession of the
Trustee prior to such court ruling to the extent not paid to the Holders,
the Trustee will hold, for the benefit of the Holders, a valid and
perfected security interest in such trust funds that is not avoidable in
bankruptcy or otherwise (except for the effect of Section 552(b) of the
United States Bankruptcy Code on interest on the trust funds accruing after
the commencement of a case under such statute), (y) the Holders will be
entitled to receive adequate protection of their interests in such trust
funds if such trust funds are used in such case or proceeding and (z) no
property, rights in property or other interests granted to the Trustee or
the Holders in exchange for, or with respect to, such trust funds will be
subject to any prior rights of holders of other Indebtedness of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries;
(v) if the Notes are then listed on a national securities exchange,
the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to
the effect that such deposit defeasance and discharge will not cause the
Notes to be delisted; and
(vi) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that all conditions
precedent provided for herein relating to the defeasance contemplated by
this Section 8.03 have been complied with.
SECTION 8.04. Application of Trust Money. Subject to Section 8.06,
the Trustee or Paying Agent shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government
Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.01, 8.02 or 8.03, as the
case may be, and shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S.
Government Obligations in accordance with the Notes and this Indenture to the
payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes; but such
money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by
law.
SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company. Subject to Sections 7.07, 8.01,
8.02 and 8.03, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the
Company upon request set forth in an Officers' Certificate any excess money held
by them at any time and thereupon shall be relieved from all liability with
respect to such money. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the
Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal,
premium, if any, or interest that remains unclaimed for two years; provided that
the Trustee or such Paying Agent before being required to make any payment may
cause to be published at the expense of the Company once in a newspaper of
general circulation in The City of New York or mail to each Holder entitled to
such money at such Holder's address (as set forth in the Security Register)
notice that such money remains unclaimed and that after a date specified therein
(which shall be at least 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing)
any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the
Company. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to such money must look
to the Company for payment as general creditors
72
unless an applicable law designates another Person, and all liability of the
Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is
unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with
Section 8.01, 8.02 or 8.03, as the case may be, by reason of any legal
proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental
authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the
Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and
reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.01, 8.02 or
8.03, as the case may be, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance
with Section 8.01, 8.02 or 8.03, as the case may be; provided that, if the
Company has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be
subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment
from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying
Agent.
ARTICLE NINE
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders. The Company, when
authorized by a resolution of its Board of Directors, and the Trustee may amend
or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without notice to or the consent of
any Holder:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in this Indenture;
provided that such amendments or supplements shall not adversely affect the
interests of the Holders in any material respect;
(2) to comply with Article Five;
(3) to comply with any requirements of the Commission in connection
with the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
(4) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor Trustee; or
(5) to make any change that does not materially and adversely affect
the rights of any Holder.
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders. Subject to Sections 6.04 and
6.07 and without prior notice to the Holders, the Company, when authorized by
its Board of Directors (as evidenced by a Board Resolution), and the Trustee may
amend this Indenture and the Notes with the written consent of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by
73
written notice to the Trustee may waive future compliance by the Company with
any provision of this Indenture or the Notes.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9.02, without the
consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver, including a waiver
pursuant to Section 6.04, may not:
(i) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment
of interest on, any Note;
(ii) reduce the principal amount of, or premium, if any, or interest
on, any Note;
(iii) change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or
premium, if any, or interest on, any Note;
(iv) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on or after the Stated Maturity (or, in the case of a redemption,
on or after the Redemption Date) of any Note;
(v) reduce the percentage of outstanding Notes the consent of whose
Holders is necessary to modify or amend this Indenture;
(vi) waive a Default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any,
or interest on the Notes;
(vii) modify any of the provisions of Article Ten in a manner adverse
to the Holders; or
(viii) reduce the percentage or aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Notes the consent of whose Holders is necessary for waiver of
compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or for waiver of
certain defaults.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this
Section 9.02 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. The Company will
mail supplemental indentures to Holders upon request. 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 or waiver.
SECTION 9.03. Revocation and Effect of Consent. Until an amendment
or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent
by the Holder and
74
every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same
debt as the Note of the consenting Holder, even if notation of the consent is
not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke
the consent as to its Note or portion of its Note. Such revocation shall be
effective only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date
the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement
or waiver shall become effective on receipt by the Trustee of written consents
from the Holders of the requisite percentage in principal amount of the
outstanding Notes.
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. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the last
two sentences 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 consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver or
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 Holder unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (i)
through (v) of Section 9.02. In case of an amendment or waiver of the type
described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 9.02, the amendment or waiver
shall bind each Holder who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a
Note that evidences the same indebtedness as the Note of the consenting Holder.
SECTION 9.04. Notation on or Exchange of Notes. If an amendment,
supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the
Holder to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate
notation on the Note about the changed terms and return it to the Holder and the
Trustee may place an appropriate notation on any Note thereafter authenticated.
Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in
exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note
that reflects the changed terms.
SECTION 9.05. Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc. The Trustee shall be
entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of
Counsel stating that the execution of any amendment, supplement or waiver
authorized pursuant to this Article Nine is authorized or permitted by this
Indenture. Subject to the preceding sentence, the Trustee shall sign such
amendment, supplement or waiver if the same does not adversely affect the rights
of the Trustee. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, execute any
such amendment, supplement or waiver that affects the Trustee's own rights,
duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
75
SECTION 9.06. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every
supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to
the requirements of the TIA as then in effect.
ARTICLE TEN
SUBORDINATION OF NOTES
SECTION 10.01. Notes Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness. The
Company and the Trustee each covenants and agrees, and each Holder, by its
acceptance of a Note, likewise covenants and agrees that all Notes shall be
issued subject to the provisions of this Article Ten; and each Person holding
any Note, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange
thereof, accepts and agrees that Senior Subordinated Obligations shall, to the
extent and in the manner set forth in this Article Ten, be subordinated in right
of payment to the prior payment in full, in cash or cash equivalents, of all
existing and future Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the
Company's obligations under the Credit Agreement (including any interest
accruing subsequent to an event specified in Sections 6.01(g) and 6.01(h) of
this Indenture, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim enforceable
against the debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code).
SECTION 10.02. No Payment on Notes in Certain Circumstances. (a) No
direct or indirect payment by or on behalf of the Company of Senior Subordinated
Obligations (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any
defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture), whether
pursuant to the terms of the Notes or upon acceleration or otherwise shall be
made if, at the time of such payment, there exists a default in the payment of
all or any portion of the obligations on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company
and such default shall not have been cured or waived or the benefits of this
sentence waived by or on behalf of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
(b) During the continuance of any other event of default with respect
to any Designated Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may
be accelerated, upon receipt by the Trustee of written notice from the trustee
or other representative for the holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness
(or the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of such Designated
Senior Indebtedness then outstanding), no payment of Senior Subordinated
Obligations (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any
defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture) may be made by
or on behalf of the Company upon or in respect of the Notes for a period (a
"Payment Blockage Period") commencing on the date of receipt of such notice and
ending 179 days thereafter (unless, in each case, such Payment Blockage Period
shall be terminated by written notice to the Trustee from such trustee of, or
other representatives for, such holders or by payment in full in cash or cash
equivalents of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or such event of default has
been cured or waived). Not more than one Payment Blockage Period may be
commenced with respect to the Notes during any period of 360 consecutive days.
Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, there
76
must be 180 consecutive days in any 360-day period in which no Payment Blockage
Period is in effect. No event of default (other than an event of default
pursuant to the financial maintenance covenants under the Credit Agreement) that
existed or was continuing (it being acknowledged that any subsequent action that
would give rise to an event of default pursuant to any provision under which an
event of default previously existed or was continuing shall constitute a new
event of default for this purpose) on the date of the commencement of any
Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness
initiating such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or shall be made, the basis
for the commencement of a second Payment Blockage Period by the representative
for, or the holders of, such Designated Senior Indebtedness, 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.
(c) 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) or 10.02(b) of this Indenture, the Trustee shall promptly
notify the holders of Senior Indebtedness of such prohibited payment and such
payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or
delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective
representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to
which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective
interests may appear, but only to the extent that, upon notice from the Trustee
to the holders of Senior Indebtedness that such prohibited payment has been
made, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or
representatives of a trustee) within 30 days of receipt of such notice from the
Trustee notify the Trustee of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior
Indebtedness, if any, and only the amounts specified in such notice to the
Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and any excess above
such amounts due and owing on Senior Indebtedness shall be paid to the Company.
SECTION 10.03. Payment over Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc. (a)
Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any
kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than with the
money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in
accordance with this Indenture), in connection with 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 or other marshalling of assets for the benefit of creditors, all
amounts due or to become due upon all Senior Indebtedness (including any
interest accruing subsequent to an event specified in Sections 6.01(g) and
6.01(h) of this Indenture, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim
enforceable against the debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code) shall
first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the Holders or the
Trustee on their behalf shall be entitled to receive any payment by (or on
behalf of) the Company on account of Senior Subordinated Obligations, or any
payment to acquire any of the Notes for cash, property or securities, or any
distribution with respect to the Notes of any cash, property or securities.
Before any payment may be made by, or on behalf of, the Company on any Senior
Subordinated Obligations (other
77
than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust
established in accordance with this Indenture) in connection with any such
dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment or
distribution of assets or securities for the Company of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders or the Trustee on
their behalf would be entitled, but for the provisions of this Article Ten,
shall be made by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy,
liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person making such payment or
distribution, or by the Holders or the Trustee if received by them or it,
directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the
basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or
their representatives or to any trustee or trustees under any other indenture
pursuant to which any such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their
respective interests appear, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior
Indebtedness 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 Indebtedness.
(b) To the extent any payment of Senior Indebtedness (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 or other
similar Person, the Senior Indebtedness or part thereof originally intended to
be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment
had not occurred. To the extent the obligation to repay any Senior Indebtedness
is declared to be fraudulent, invalid, or otherwise set aside under any
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then
the obligation so declared fraudulent, invalid or otherwise set aside (and all
other amounts that would come due with respect thereto had such obligation not
been so affected) shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as Senior
Indebtedness for all purposes hereof as if such declaration, invalidity or
setting aside had not occurred.
(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provision
prohibiting such payment or distribution, any payment or distribution of assets
or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property
or securities, shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder at a time when
such payment or distribution is prohibited by Section 10.03(a) of this Indenture
and before all obligations in respect of Senior Indebtedness are paid in full,
in cash or cash equivalents, such payment or distribution shall be received and
held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the
holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of such
respective amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their
representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to
which any such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective
interests appear, for application to the payment of Senior Indebtedness
remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness 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
Indebtedness.
78
(d) For purposes of this Section 10.03, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include, so long as the effect of this clause
is not to cause the Notes to be treated in any case or proceeding or similar
event described in this Section 10.03 as part of the same class of claims as the
Senior Indebtedness or any class of claims pari passu with, or senior to, the
Senior Indebtedness for any payment or distribution, securities of the Company
or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or
readjustment that are subordinated, at least to the extent that the Notes are
subordinated, to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness then outstanding;
provided that (1) if a new corporation results from such reorganization or
readjustment, such corporation assumes the Senior Indebtedness and (2) the
rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of
such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. 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 sale,
conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of
its property and assets to another corporation upon the terms and conditions
provided in Article Five of this Indenture (including in connection with the
Acquisition) shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding up, liquidation or
reorganization for the purposes of this Section 10.03 if such other corporation
shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer,
lease or other disposition, comply (to the extent required) with the conditions
stated in Article Five of this Indenture.
SECTION 10.04. Subrogation. (a) Upon the payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness in cash or cash equivalents, the Holders shall be subrogated to the
rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or
distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company made on such Senior
Indebtedness until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes
shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or
distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or
securities to which the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled
except for the provisions of this Article Ten, and no payment pursuant to the
provisions of this Article Ten to the holders of Senior Indebtedness by Holders
or the Trustee on their behalf shall, as between the Company, its creditors
other than holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders, be deemed to be a
payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness. It is
understood that the provisions of this Article Ten are intended solely for the
purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the
holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.
(b) If any payment or distribution to which the Holders would
otherwise have been entitled but for the provisions of this Article Ten shall
have been applied, pursuant to the provisions of this Article Ten, to the
payment of all amounts payable under Senior Indebtedness, then, and in such
case, the Holders shall be entitled to receive from the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness any payments or distributions received by such holders of Senior
Indebtedness in excess of the amount required to make payment in full, in cash
or cash equivalents, of such Senior Indebtedness of such holders.
79
SECTION 10.05. Obligations of Company Unconditional. (a) Nothing
contained in this Article Ten or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Notes is
intended to or shall impair, as among the Company and the Holders, the
obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the
Holders the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes 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 and creditors of
the Company other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, nor shall
anything herein or therein prevent the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf
from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default
under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Ten of
the holders of the Senior Indebtedness.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing
contained in this Article Ten will restrict the right of the Trustee or the
Holders to take any action to declare the Notes to be due and payable prior to
their Stated Maturity pursuant to Section 6.01 of this Indenture or to pursue
any rights or remedies hereunder; provided, however, that all Senior
Indebtedness then due and payable or thereafter declared to be due and payable
shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the Holders or
the Trustee are entitled to receive any direct or indirect payment from the
Company of Senior Subordinated Obligations.
SECTION 10.06. Notice to Trustee. (a) The Company shall give prompt
written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would
prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Notes
pursuant to the provisions of this Article Ten. The Trustee shall not be charged
with the knowledge of the existence of any default or event of default with
respect to any Senior Indebtedness or of any other facts that would prohibit the
making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall
have received notice in writing at its Corporate Trust Office to that effect
signed by an Officer of the Company, or by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or
trustee or agent thereof; and prior to the receipt of any such written notice,
the Trustee shall, subject to Article Seven, be entitled to assume that no such
facts exist; provided that, if the Trustee shall not have received the notice
provided for in this Section 10.06 at least two Business Days prior to the date
upon which, by the terms of this Indenture, any monies shall become payable for
any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any Note), then, notwithstanding anything herein
to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive any
monies from the Company and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were
received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be
received by it on or after such prior date except for an acceleration of the
Notes prior to such application. Nothing contained in this Section 10.06 shall
limit the right of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to recover payments as
contemplated by this Article Ten. The foregoing shall not apply if the Paying
Agent is the Company. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to
it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or itself to be a holder
of any Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of, or other representative
of, such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of
such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such
holder.
80
(b) 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 Indebtedness 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 amount of Senior Indebtedness
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 to the
Trustee, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial
determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
SECTION 10.07. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of
Liquidating Agent. Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities
referred to in this Article Ten, the Trustee and the Holders 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 similar Person making such
payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders for the
purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such
distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness 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 10.08. Trustee's Relation to Senior Indebtedness. (a) The
Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in
this Article Ten with respect to any Senior Indebtedness that 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 Indebtedness and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive
the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any of its rights as such holder.
(b) With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, 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 Indebtedness 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 Indebtedness (except as provided in
Sections 10.02(c) and 10.03(c) of this Indenture) and shall not be liable to any
such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or
distribute to Holders of Notes or to the Company or to any other person cash,
property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be
entitled by virtue of this Article Ten or otherwise.
SECTION 10.09. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions
of the Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness. No right of any present or
future holders of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as provided
in this Article Ten will 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 that any
such
81
holder may have or otherwise be charged with. The provisions of this Article Ten
are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable directly by, the
holders of Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 10.10. Holders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination
of Notes. Each Holder by his acceptance of any Notes authorizes and expressly
directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or
appropriate to effectuate 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 property and assets of the
Company, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its Notes in the form
required in those proceedings. If the Trustee does not file a proper claim or
proof in indebtedness in the form required in such proceeding at least 30 days
before the expiration of the time to file such claim or claims, each holder of
Senior Indebtedness is hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on
behalf of the Holders.
SECTION 10.11. Not to Prevent Events of Default. The failure to make a
payment on account of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes by
reason of any provision of this Article Ten will not be construed as preventing
the occurrence of an Event of Default.
SECTION 10.12. Trustee's Compensation Not Prejudiced. Nothing in this
Article Ten will apply to amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to other sections
of this Indenture, including Section 7.07.
SECTION 10.13. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions. Without in any
way limiting the generality of Section 10.09, the holders of Senior Indebtedness
may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the
Trustee or the Holders, without incurring responsibility to the Holders and
without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Ten or
the obligations hereunder of the Holders to the holders of Senior Indebtedness,
do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of
payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness
or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior
Indebtedness is outstanding or secured; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise
deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior
Indebtedness; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of
Senior Indebtedness; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights
against the Company and any other Person.
SECTION 10.14. 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 Section 10.02 or 10.03,
from making payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the
Notes, or from depositing with the Trustee any money for such payments, or (ii)
the application by the Trustee of any money deposited with it for the
82
purpose of making such payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest
on the Notes to the holders entitled thereto unless, at least two Business Days
prior to the date upon which such payment becomes due and payable, the Trustee
shall have received the written notice provided for in Section 10.02(b) of this
Indenture (or there shall have been an acceleration of the Notes prior to such
application) or in Section 10.06 of this Indenture. The Company shall give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation
or reorganization of the Company.
SECTION 10.15. Consent of Holders of Senior Indebtedness Under the
Credit Agreement. The provisions of this Article Ten (including the definitions
contained in this Article and references to this Article contained in this
Indenture) shall not be amended in a manner that would adversely affect the
rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, and no
such amendment shall become effective unless the holders of Senior Indebtedness
under the Credit Agreement shall have consented (in accordance with the
provisions of the Credit Agreement) to such amendment. The Trustee shall be
entitled to receive and rely on an Officer's Certificate stating that such
consent has been given.
SECTION 10.16. Trust Moneys Not Subordinated. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of U.S.
Government Obligations held in trust under Article Eight by the Trustee for the
payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall not be
subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior Indebtedness (provided that, at
the time deposited, such deposit did not violate any then outstanding Senior
Indebtedness), and none of the Holders shall be obligated to pay over any such
amount to any holder of Senior Indebtedness.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.01. Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Prior to the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement, this Indenture shall incorporate and be governed
by the provisions of the TIA that are required to be part of and to govern
indentures qualified under the TIA. After the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, this Indenture shall be subject to the provisions of the TIA that are
required to be a part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be
governed by such provisions.
SECTION 11.02. Notices. Any notice or communication shall be
sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first
class mail addressed as follows:
if to the Company:
-----------------
Extended Stay America, Inc.
000 X. Xxx Xxxx Xxxx.
00
Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with copies to:
--------------
Xxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxx
Three First National Plaza
70 West Madison Street, Suite 3300
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: D. Xxxx XxXxxxxx
if to the Trustee:
-----------------
Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company
Xxx X&X Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed to him
at his address as it appears on the Security Register by first class mail and
shall be sufficiently given to him if so mailed within the time prescribed.
Copies of any such communication or notice to a Holder shall also be mailed to
the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in
it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. Except for a
notice to the Trustee, which is deemed given only when received, and except as
otherwise provided in this Indenture, if a notice or communication is mailed in
the manner provided in this Section 11.02, it is duly given, whether or not the
addressee receives it.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice
may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either
before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such
notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such
filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in
reliance upon such waiver.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by
reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail,
then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
84
SECTION 11.03. 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:
(i) an Officers' Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the
signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture
relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(ii) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such
Counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
SECTION 11.04. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each
certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(i) a statement that each person signing such certificate or opinion
has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating
thereto;
(ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation upon which the statement or opinion contained in such
certificate or opinion is based;
(iii) a statement that, in the opinion of each such person, he has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to
express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been complied with; and
(iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such
person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided,
however, that, with respect to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may
rely on an Officers' Certificate or certificates of public officials.
SECTION 11.05. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar. The
Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The
Paying Agent or Registrar may make reasonable rules for its functions.
SECTION 11.06. Payment Date Other Than a Business Day. If an
Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date, Excess
Proceeds Payment Date, Stated Maturity or date of maturity of any Note shall not
be a Business Day, then payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
such Note, as the case may be, need not be made on such date, but may be made on
the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on
the Interest Payment Date, Change of Control Payment Date, Excess Proceeds
Payment Date, or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity or date of maturity
of such Note; provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and
after such Interest
85
Payment Date, Change of Control Payment Date, Excess Proceeds Payment Date,
Redemption Date, Stated Maturity or date of maturity, as the case may be.
SECTION 11.07. Governing Law. The laws of the State of New York shall
govern this Indenture and the Notes. The Trustee, the Company and the Holders
agree 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 or the
Notes.
SECTION 11.08. 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 Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or
debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
SECTION 11.09. No Recourse Against Others. No recourse for the
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Notes,
or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse
under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company contained in
this Indenture, or in any of the Notes, or because of the creation of any
Indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator or
against any past, present or future partner, shareholder, other equityholder,
officer, director, employee or controlling person, as such, of the Company or of
any successor Person, either directly or through the Company or any successor
Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the
enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly
understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a
condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and
the issue of the Notes.
SECTION 11.10. Successors. All agreements of the Company in this
Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the
Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
SECTION 11.11. Duplicate Originals. The parties may sign any number
of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of
them together represent the same agreement.
SECTION 11.12. Separability. In case any provision in this Indenture
or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 11.13. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. The Table of
Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of
this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to
be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the
terms and provisions hereof.
86
SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to
be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC.
By:
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS
TRUST COMPANY
By:
-------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
87
EXHIBIT A
---------
[FACE OF NOTE]
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC.
9.15% Senior Subordinated Note due 2008
[CUSIP] [CINS] [__________]
No. $_________
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company",
which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to),
for value received, promises to pay to [_____________], or its registered
assigns, the principal sum of [____________] ($[____]) on March 15, 2008.
Interest Payment Dates: March 15, and September 15, commencing
September 15, 1998.
Regular Record Dates: March 1 and September 1.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
A-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed
manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.
Date: [____________] EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC.
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
(Trustee's Certificate of Authentication)
This is one of the 9.15% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 described in the
within-mentioned Indenture.
MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS
TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
By:
---------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
A-3
[REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC.
9.15% Senior Subordinated Note due 2008
1. Principal and Interest.
The Company will pay the principal of this Note on March 15, 2008.
The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this
Note on each Interest Payment Date, as set forth below, at the rate per annum
shown above.
Interest will be payable semiannually (to the holders of record of the
Notes at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1 immediately
preceding the Interest Payment Date) on each Interest Payment Date, commencing
September 15, 1998.
If an exchange offer registered under the Securities Act is not
consummated, or a shelf registration statement under the Securities Act with
respect to resales of the Notes is not declared effective by the Commission, on
or before September 10, 1998 in accordance with the terms of the Registration
Rights Agreement dated March 10, 1998 between the Company and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx &
Co. Incorporated, Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation, Bear,
Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc., and Salomon Brothers Inc, the annual interest rate borne by
the Notes shall be permanently increased by 0.5% from the rate shown above
accruing from September 10, 1998, payable in cash semiannually, in arrears, on
each March 15 and September 15, commencing March 15, 1999. The Holder of this
Note is entitled to the benefits of such Registration Rights Agreement.
Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which
interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from March 10, 1998;
provided that, if there is no existing default in the payment of interest and
this Note is authenticated between a Regular Record Date referred to on the face
hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from
such Interest Payment Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months.
The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and premium, if
any, and interest on overdue installments of interest, to the extent lawful, at
a rate per annum that is 2% in excess of the rate otherwise payable.
2. Method of Payment.
The Company will pay interest (except defaulted interest) on the
principal amount of the Notes as provided above on each March 15 and September
15 to the persons who are Holders (as reflected in the Security Register at the
close of business on such March 1 and
A-4
September 1 immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date), in each case, even
if the Note is cancelled on registration of transfer or registration of exchange
after such record date; provided that, with respect to the payment of principal,
the Company will make payment to the Holder that surrenders this Note to a
Paying Agent on or after March 15, 2008.
The Company will pay principal, premium, if any, and as provided
above, interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is
legal tender for payment of public and private debts. However, the Company may
pay principal, premium, if any, and interest by its check payable in such money.
It may mail an interest check to a Holder's registered address (as reflected in
the Security Register). If a payment date is a date other than a Business Day at
a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day
that is a Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar.
Initially, the Trustee will act as authenticating agent, Paying Agent
and Registrar. The Company may change any authenticating agent, Paying Agent or
Registrar without notice. The Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any
of them may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.
4. Indenture; Limitations.
The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of March 10,
1998 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and Manufacturers and Traders Trust
Company, as trustee (the "Trustee"). Capitalized terms herein are used as
defined in the Indenture unless otherwise indicated. The terms of the Notes
include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by
reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all such terms,
and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a
statement of all such terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the
event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the
Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.
The Notes are unsecured, general obligations of the Company. The
Indenture limits the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes to
$200,000,000.
5. Redemption.
The Notes will be redeemable, at the Company's option, in whole or in
part, at any time on or after March 15, 2003 and prior to maturity, upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior notice mailed by first-class mail to
each Holder's last address as it appears in the Security Register, at the
following Redemption Prices (expressed in percentages of their principal
amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date
(subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date
that is on or prior to the
A-5
Redemption Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date), if
redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on March 15 of the applicable
year set forth below:
Redemption
Year Price
---- -----------
2003 104.575%
2004 103.050
2005 101.525
2006 and thereafter 100.000
In addition, at any time prior to March 15, 2001, the Company may
redeem up to 35% of the principal amount of the Notes with the proceeds of one
or more sales by the Company of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
Stock), at any time or from time to time in part, at a Redemption Price
(expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 109.15%, plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the Redemption Date (subject to the rights of Holders of
record on the relevant Regular Record Date that is prior to the Redemption Date
to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date); provided that at least
$130 million aggregate principal amount of Notes remains outstanding after each
such redemption and that notice of such redemption is mailed within 60 days
after the consummation of such sale or sales.
Notes in original denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in
part. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or
portions of Notes called for redemption, unless the Company defaults in the
payment of the Redemption Price.
6. Repurchase upon Change of Control.
Upon the occurrence of any Change of Control, each Holder shall have
the right to require the repurchase of its Notes by the Company in cash pursuant
to the offer described in the Indenture at a purchase price equal to 101% of the
principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date
of purchase (the "Payment Date").
A notice of such Change of Control will be mailed within 30 days after
any Change of Control occurs to each Holder at his last address as it appears in
the Security Register. Notes in original denominations larger than $1,000 may
be sold to the Company in part. On and after the Payment Date, interest ceases
to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes surrendered for purchase by the Company,
unless the Company defaults in the payment of the purchase price.
7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of
$1,000 of principal amount and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder
may register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture.
The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate
endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any
A-6
taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need
not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes selected for redemption.
Also, it need not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes for a period of
15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed is made.
8. Persons Deemed Owners.
A Holder shall be treated as the owner of a Note for all purposes.
9. Unclaimed Money.
If money for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest
remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will pay the
money back to the Company at its request. After that, Holders entitled to the
money must look to the Company for payment, unless an abandoned property law
designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and such Paying
Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
10. Discharge Prior to Redemption or Maturity.
If the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government
Obligations sufficient to pay the then outstanding principal of, premium, if
any, and accrued interest on the Notes (a) to redemption or maturity, the
Company will be discharged from the Indenture and the Notes, except in certain
circumstances for certain sections thereof, and (b) to the Stated Maturity, the
Company will be discharged from certain covenants set forth in the Indenture.
11. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be
amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority
in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and any existing default or
compliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of
at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Without
notice to or the consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or
supplement the Indenture or the Notes to, among other things, cure any
ambiguity, defect or inconsistency and make any change that does not materially
and adversely affect the rights of any Holder.
12. Restrictive Covenants.
The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, among other things, to Incur additional
Indebtedness, make Restricted Payments, use the proceeds from Asset Sales,
engage in transactions with Affiliates or merge, consolidate or transfer
substantially all of its assets. Within 45 days after the end of each fiscal
quarter (105 days after the end of the last fiscal quarter of each year), the
Company must report to the Trustee on compliance with such limitations.
A-7
13. Successor Persons.
When a successor person or other entity assumes all the obligations of
its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture, the predecessor person will
be released from those obligations.
14. Defaults and Remedies.
The following events constitute "Events of Default" under the
Indenture: (a) default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any, on)
any Note when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration,
redemption or otherwise, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the
subordination provisions set forth in Article Ten; (b) default in the payment of
interest on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, and such default
continues for a period of 30 days, whether or not such payment is prohibited by
the subordination provisions set forth in Article Ten; (c) default in the
performance or breach of the provisions of the Indenture applicable to mergers,
consolidations and transfers of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company or the failure to make or consummate an Offer to Purchase in accordance
with Section 4.10 or 4.11 of the Indenture; (d) the Company defaults in the
performance of or breaches any other covenant or agreement of the Company in the
Indenture or under the Notes (other than a default specified in clause (a), (b)
or (c) above) and such default or breach continues for a period of 30
consecutive days after written notice by the Trustee or the Holders of 25% or
more in aggregate principal amount of the Notes; (e) there occurs with respect
to any issue or issues of Indebtedness of the Company or any Significant
Subsidiary having an outstanding principal amount of $15 million or more in the
aggregate for all such issues of all such Persons, whether such Indebtedness now
exists or shall hereafter be created, (I) an event of default that has caused
the holder thereof to declare such Indebtedness to be due and payable prior to
its Stated Maturity and such Indebtedness has not been discharged in full or
such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled within 30 days of such
acceleration and/or (II) the failure to make a principal payment at the final
(but not any interim) fixed maturity and such defaulted payment shall not have
been made, waived or extended within 30 days of such payment default; (f) any
final judgment or order (not covered by insurance) for the payment of money in
excess of $15 million in the aggregate for all such final judgments or orders
against all such Persons (treating any deductibles, self-insurance or retention
as not so covered) shall be rendered against the Company or any Significant
Subsidiary and shall not be paid or discharged, and there shall be any period of
60 consecutive days following entry of the final judgment or order that causes
the aggregate amount for all such final judgments or orders outstanding and not
paid or discharged against all such Persons to exceed $15 million during which a
stay of enforcement of such final judgment or order, by reason of a pending
appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; (g) a court having jurisdiction in
the premises enters a decree or order for (A) relief in respect of the Company
or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, (B)
appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
sequestrator or similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or
for all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company or
A-8
any Significant Subsidiary or (C) the winding up or liquidation of the affairs
of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary and, in each case, such decree or
order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;
or (h) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (A) commences a voluntary case
under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
hereafter in effect, or consents to the entry of an order for relief in an
involuntary case under any such law, (B) consents to the appointment of or
taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
sequestrator or similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or
for all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company or any of
its Significant Subsidiaries or (C) effects any general assignment for the
benefit of creditors.
If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of
the Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable. If a bankruptcy or
insolvency default with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
occurs and is continuing, the Notes automatically become due and payable.
Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the
Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it before it
enforces the Indenture or the Notes. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of
at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may direct
the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.
15. Subordination.
The payment of the Notes will, to the extent set forth in the
Indenture, be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full, in
cash or cash equivalents, of all Senior Indebtedness.
16. Trustee Dealings with Company.
The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other
capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from and perform services for the
Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its
Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.
17. No Recourse Against Others.
No incorporator or any past, present or future partner, stockholder,
other equity holder, officer, director, employee or controlling person as such,
of the Company or of any successor Person shall have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim
based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The
waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.
18. Authentication.
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This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee or authenticating agent
signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.
19. Abbreviations.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an
assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the
entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as
tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian) and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors
Act).
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and
without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to Extended Stay
America, Inc., 000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000,
Attention: Chief Financial Officer.
A-10
[FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE]
FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned registered holder hereby sell(s),
assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
Insert Taxpayer Identification No.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please print or typewrite name and address including zip code of assignee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and
appointing _______________ attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the
Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
[THE FOLLOWING PROVISION TO BE INCLUDED
ON ALL NOTES OTHER THAN EXCHANGE NOTES,
UNLEGENDED OFFSHORE GLOBAL NOTES AND
UNLEGENDED OFFSHORE PHYSICAL NOTES]
In connection with any transfer of this Note occurring prior to the date
which is the earlier of (i) the date the shelf registration statement is
declared effective or (ii) the end of the period referred to in Rule 144(k)
under the Securities Act, the undersigned confirms that without utilizing any
general solicitation or general advertising that:
[Check One]
-----------
[ ] (a) this Note is being transferred in compliance with the exemption from
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 provided by Rule 144A
thereunder.
or
--
[ ] (b) this Note is being transferred other than in accordance with (a) above
and documents are being furnished which comply with the conditions of
transfer set forth in this Note and the Indenture.
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If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or other Registrar shall
not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any Person other than the
Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of
registration set forth herein and in Section 2.08 of the Indenture shall have
been satisfied.
Date:
--------------- -----------------------------------------------------
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must
correspond with the name as written upon the face of
the within-mentioned instrument in every particular,
without alteration or any change whatsoever.
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (a) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this
Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole
investment discretion and that it and any such account is a "qualified
institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of
1933 and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and
acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the
undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request
such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the
undersigned's foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from
registration provided by Rule 144A.
Date:
-------------------- -----------------------------------------------
NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer
A-12
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you wish to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to
Section 4.10 or Section 4.11 of the Indenture, check the Box: [_]
If you wish to have a portion of this Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.11 of the Indenture, state the amount:
$___________________.
Date:
----------------------------
Your Signature:
-------------------------------------------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)
Signature Guarantee:
---------------------------------------------------------
EXHIBIT B
---------
Form of Certificate
-------------------
[________________, ____]
Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company
Xxx X&X Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
Re: Extended Stay America, Inc. (the "Company")
9.15% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2008 (the "Notes")
----------------------------------
Dear Sirs:
This letter relates to U.S. $ _________ principal amount of Notes
represented by a Note (the "Legended Note") which bears a legend outlining
restrictions upon transfer of such Legended Note. Pursuant to Section 2.02 of
the Indenture dated as of March 10, 1998 (the "Indenture") relating to the
Notes, we hereby certify that we are (or we will hold such securities on behalf
of) a person outside the United States to whom the Notes could be transferred in
accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities
Act of 1933. Accordingly, you are hereby requested to exchange the legended
certificate for an unlegended certificate representing an identical principal
amount of Notes, all in the manner provided for in the Indenture.
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are
irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested
party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with
respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the
meanings set forth in Regulation S.
Very truly yours,
[Name of Holder]
By:
--------------------------------------------
Authorized Signature
EXHIBIT C
---------
Form of Certificate to Be
Delivered in Connection with
Transfers to Non-QIB Accredited Investors
-----------------------------------------
[____________, ____]
Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company
Xxx X&X Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
Re: Extended Stay America, Inc. (the "Company")
9.15% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2008 (the "Notes")
----------------------------------
Dear Sirs:
In connection with our proposed purchase of $__________________
aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that:
1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes is subject
to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture dated as of
March 10, 1998 (the "Indenture"), relating to the Notes, and the undersigned
agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes
except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act").
2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been
registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes may not be offered or
sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf
and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated,
that if we should sell any Notes, we will do so only (A) to the Company or any
subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to
a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional
"accredited investor" (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes
(or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the
Company a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter, (D) outside
the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the
Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule
144 under the Securities Act, or (F) pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act, and
C-2
we further agree to provide to any person purchasing any of the Notes from us a
notice advising such purchaser that resales of the Notes are restricted as
stated herein.
3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of any Notes, we will
be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal
opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to
confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We
further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the
foregoing effect.
4. We are an institutional "accredited investor" (as defined in Rule
501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have
such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable
of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and
any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of
our or its investment.
5. We are acquiring the Notes purchased by us for our own account or
for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional "accredited
investor") as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are
irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested
party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with
respect to the matters covered hereby.
Very truly yours,
[Name of Transferee]
By:
-------------------------------------------
Authorized Signature
EXHIBIT D
---------
Form of Certificate to Be Delivered
in Connection with Transfers
Pursuant to Regulation S
-----------------------------------
[____________, ____]
Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company
Xxx X&X Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
Re: Extended Stay America, Inc. (the "Company")
9.15% Senior Subordinated Notes|
due 2008 (the "Notes")
----------------------------------
Dear Sirs:
In connection with our proposed sale of U.S.$________________
aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been
effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities
Act of 1933 and, accordingly, we represent that:
(1) the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United
States;
(2) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was
outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably
believed that the transferee was outside the United States;
(3) no directed selling efforts have been made by us in the United
States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of
Regulation S, as applicable; and
(4) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the
registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.
D-2
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are
irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested
party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with
respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the
meanings set forth in Regulation S.
Very truly yours,
[Name of Transferor]
By:
---------------------------------
Authorized Signature
