Exhibit 4(q)
L&W DRAFT 3/18/98
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SIX FLAGS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
$170,000,000
__% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006
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INDENTURE
Dated as of __________, 1998
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK
as Trustee
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
(a) Trust Indenture
Act Section Indenture Section
310(a)(1)...........................................................7.10
(a)(2) ..........................................................7.10
(a)(3)...........................................................N.A.
(a)(4)...........................................................N.A.
(a)(5)...........................................................7.10
(i)(b)...........................................................7.10
(ii)(c)..........................................................N.A.
311(a)..............................................................7.11
(b)..............................................................7.11
(iii)(c).........................................................N.A.
312(a)..............................................................2.05
(b)..............................................................11.03
(iv)(c)..........................................................11.03
313(a)...........................................................7.06
(b)(1)...........................................................10.03
(b)(2)...........................................................7.07
(v)(c)...........................................................7.06;
11.02
(vi)(d)..........................................................7.06
314(a)..............................................................4.03;
11.02
(A)(b)...........................................................10.02
(c)(1)...........................................................11.04
(c)(2)...........................................................11.04
(c)(3)...........................................................N.A.
(d)..............................................................10.03,
10.04, 10.05
(vii)(e).........................................................11.05
(f)..............................................................NA
315(a)..............................................................7.01
(b)..............................................................7.05,
11.02
(A)(c)...........................................................7.01
(d)..............................................................7.01
(e)..............................................................6.11
316(a)(last sentence)...............................................2.09
(a)(1)(A)........................................................6.05
(a)(1)(B)........................................................6.04
(a)(2)...........................................................N.A.
(b)..............................................................6.07
(B)(c)...........................................................2.12
317(a)(1)...........................................................6.08
(a)(2)...........................................................6.09
(b)..............................................................2.04
318(a)..............................................................11.01
(b)..............................................................N.A.
(c)..............................................................11.01
N.A. means not applicable.
*This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE........................1
Section 1.01. Definitions..................................................1
Section 1.02. Other Definitions...........................................16
Section 1.03..............................................................16
Section 1.04. Rules of Construction.......................................17
ARTICLE 2. THE NOTES........................................................17
Section 2.01. Form and Dating.............................................17
Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication................................18
Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent..................................18
Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.........................18
Section 2.05. Holder Lists................................................19
Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.......................................19
Section 2.07. Replacement Notes...........................................21
Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes...........................................22
Section 2.09. Treasury Notes..............................................22
Section 2.10. Temporary Notes.............................................22
Section 2.11. Cancellation................................................22
Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest..........................................23
ARTICLE 3. REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT........................................23
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee..........................................23
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed...........................23
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption........................................24
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption..............................24
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.................................24
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part......................................25
Section 3.07. Optional Redemption.........................................25
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption........................................26
Section 3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.........26
ARTICLE 4. COVENANTS........................................................27
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes...........................................27
i
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.............................28
Section 4.03. Reports.....................................................28
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate......................................28
Section 4.05. Taxes.......................................................29
Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws..............................29
Section 4.07. Restricted Payments.........................................29
Section 4.08. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting
Subsidiaries................................................32
Section 4.09. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock..33
Section 4.10. Asset Sales.................................................35
Section 4.11. Transactions with Affiliates................................36
Section 4.12. Liens.......................................................37
Section 4.13. Line of Business............................................37
Section 4.14. Corporate Existence.........................................37
Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control..................37
Section 4.16. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions...............38
Section 4.17. Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Equity Interests of
Restricted Subsidiaries.....................................38
Section 4.18. Payments for Consent........................................38
Section 4.19. Pledge and Escrow Agreement Deposit.........................38
ARTICLE 5. SUCCESSORS.......................................................39
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets....................39
Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted...........................39
ARTICLE 6. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES............................................39
Section 6.01. Events of Default...........................................39
Section 6.02. Acceleration................................................41
Section 6.03. Other Remedies..............................................42
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.....................................42
Section 6.05. Control by Majority.........................................42
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.........................................42
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment...............43
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee..................................43
Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim............................43
Section 6.10. Priorities..................................................44
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.......................................44
ARTICLE 7. TRUSTEE..........................................................44
ii
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee...........................................44
Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee...........................................45
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee................................46
Section 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer........................................46
Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults..........................................46
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes..................46
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity..................................47
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee......................................47
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc............................48
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification...............................48
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company...........49
ARTICLE 8. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE.........................49
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance....49
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge..............................49
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.........................................49
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance..................50
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in
` Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.......................51
Section 8.06. Repayment to Company........................................51
Section 8.07. Reinstatement...............................................52
ARTICLE 9. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER.................................52
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes.........................52
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes............................53
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.........................54
Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents...........................54
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes............................54
Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.............................55
ARTICLE 10 COLLATERAL AND SECURITY..........................................55
Section 10.01. Pledge, Escrow and Disbursement Agreement..................55
Section 10.02. Recording and Opinions.....................................55
Section 10.03. Release of Collateral......................................56
Section 10.04. Certificates of the Company................................57
Section 10.05. Authorization of Actions to Be Taken by the Trustee Under
the Pledge and Escrow Agreement............................57
Section 10.06. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the
Pledge and Escrow Agreement................................57
Section 10.07. Termination of Security Interest...........................57
iii
ARTICLE 11. NOTE GUARANTEES.................................................57
Section 11.01. Guarantee..................................................57
Section 11.02. Subordination of Note Guarantee............................58
Section 11.03. Limitation on Guarantor Liability..........................58
Section 11.04. Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee...................59
Section 11.05. Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.........59
Section 11.06. Releases Following Sale of Assets..........................60
ARTICLE 12. MISCELLANEOUS...................................................60
Section 12.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls...............................60
Section 12.02. Notices....................................................60
Section 12.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of
Notes......................................................61
Section 12.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.........61
Section 12.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion..............62
Section 12.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents................................62
Section 12.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers,
Employees and Stockholders.................................62
Section 12.08. Governing Law..............................................62
Section 12.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements..............63
Section 12.10. Successors.................................................63
Section 12.11. Severability...............................................63
Section 12.12. Counterpart Originals......................................63
Section 12.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc...........................63
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A FORM OF NOTE
Exhibit B FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
Exhibit C FORM OF PLEDGE, ESCROW AND DISBURSEMENT AGREEMENT
iv
INDENTURE dated as of __________, 1998 between Premier Parks Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the
"Trustee").
The Company and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each
other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the __% Senior
Notes due 2006 (the "Notes"):
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01. DEFINITIONS.
"Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any specified Person, (i)
Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is
merged with or into or becomes a Subsidiary of such specified Person, including,
without limitation, Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in
contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a
Subsidiary of such specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien
encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly
or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by"
and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that
beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person shall be
deemed to be control.
"Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
"Asset Sale" means (i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other
disposition of any assets or rights (including, without limitation, by way of a
sale and leaseback) other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of
business (provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by Section 4.15 and/or Section
5.01 and not by Section 4.10 hereof), and (ii) the issue or sale by the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Equity Interests of any of the
Company's Restricted Subsidiaries, in the case of either clause (i) or (ii),
whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (a) that
have a fair market value in excess of $5.0 million or (b) for net proceeds in
excess of $5.0 million. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following items shall
not be deemed to be Asset Sales: (i) a transfer of assets by the Company to a
Restricted Subsidiary or by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another
Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted
Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) the
transfer of Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the
Subordinated Indemnity Agreement or the Partnership Parks Agreements, (iv) the
issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to any employee thereof
or as consideration for the acquisition of all or substantially all of the
assets of, or a majority of the Voting Stock of, any Person (or a business unit
or division of such Person) provided that the primary business of such Person
(or such unit or division) is a Permitted Business and (v) a Restricted Payment
that is permitted Section 4.07 hereof.
"Asset Value" of any asset, as of the date of determination thereof,
means the greater of the depreciated book value (as of the end of the fiscal
quarter ended immediately prior to such date of
determination as to which financial statements are available) and the appraised
value of such asset; provided, however, that any such appraisal (i) shall not
have been made more than two years prior to such date of determination and (ii)
shall have been made by a qualified, independent and nationally recognized
appraiser.
"Attributable Debt" in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction
means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate
of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP) of
the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term
of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any
period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the
lessor, be extended).
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or
state law for the relief of debtors.
"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company, or
any authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
"Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination
thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease
that would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in
accordance with GAAP.
"Capital Stock" means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate
stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all
shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however
designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited
liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or
limited) and (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person
the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of
assets of, the issuing Person.
"Cash Equivalents" means (i) United States dollars or foreign
currency, (ii) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by
the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided
that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support
thereof) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of
acquisition, (iii) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with
maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers'
acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank
deposits, in each case with any lender party to the Credit Facilities or with
any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a
Xxxxxxxx Bank Watch Rating of "B" or better, (iv) repurchase obligations with a
term of not more than thirty days for underlying securities of the types
described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above entered into with any financial
institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iii) above, (v)
commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from Xxxxx'x Investors
Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Corporation and in each case maturing within
one year after the date of acquisition, (vi) securities with maturities of six
months or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any
state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political
subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory,
the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision or
taxing authority (as the case may be) are rated at least "A" by Standard &
Poor's Corporation or "A" by Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. and (vii) money
market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of
the kinds described in clauses (i) through (vi) of this definition.
2
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by
way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, or Premier and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any
"person" (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other
than, in case of the Company, to Premier or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
Premier, (ii) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution
of the Company or Premier, (iii) the consummation of any transaction (including,
without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any
"person" becomes the "beneficial owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 35%
of the Voting Stock of Premier, (iv) the consummation of any transaction
(including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which
is that Premier ceases to be the direct or indirect owner of less than 75% of
the voting power of the outstanding Equity Interests of the Company or (v) the
first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the
Company or Premier are not Continuing Directors.
"Company" means Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, and any and all
successors thereto.
"Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus (i)
provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was
included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (ii) Consolidated
Interest Expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period,
to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated
Net Income, plus (iii) depreciation, amortization (including any depreciation or
amortization arising out of purchases by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of Equity Interests in the partners of the Co-Venture Partnerships
and amortization of goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of
prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash
expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents
an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization
of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and
its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such
depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income, minus (iv) non-cash items increasing
such Consolidated Net Income for such period, in each case, on a consolidated
basis and determined in accordance with GAAP (other than accrual of income in
the ordinary course of business in respect of a future cash payment).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture to the contrary,
"Consolidated Cash Flow" of the Company for any period will be deemed to include
100% of the cash distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in respect of such period from the Co-Venture Partnerships,
directly or indirectly, out of the Consolidated Cash Flow of the Co-Venture
Partnerships in respect of such period.
"Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person
for any period, the sum of (i) the consolidated interest expense of such Person
and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued
(including, without limitation, amortization or original issue discount,
non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment
obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital
Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt,
commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter
of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant
to Hedging Obligations) and (ii) the consolidated interest expense of such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period,
and (iii) any interest expense on Indebtedness or Attributable Debt of another
Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries
or secured by a Lien on assets of
3
such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not such guarantee
or Lien is called upon). The term "Consolidated Interest Expense" shall not
include the consolidated interest expense of any Person with respect to (i) any
obligations in respect of the SFEC Zero Coupon Senior Notes so long as (x) the
Pledge and Escrow Agreement is in full force and effect and the Trustee
maintains a valid and perfected security interest in cash or Government
Securities in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate principal amount at
maturity of the SFEC Zero Coupon Senior Notes pursuant to the terms thereof or
(y) the SFEC Zero Coupon Senior Notes shall have been defeased in accordance
with the indenture governing the SFEC Zero Coupon Senior Notes or (ii) any
obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under the Partnership
Parks Agreements, the Marine World Agreements or the Subordinated Indemnity
Agreement.
"Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and prior to any
deduction in respect of dividends on any series of preferred stock of such
Person, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that (i) the Net Income
(but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is
accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included only to the
extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent
Person or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary thereof, (ii) the Net Income of
any Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior
to the date of such acquisition shall be excluded and (iii) the cumulative
effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means, with respect to any Person as of any
date, the sum of (i) the consolidated equity (including stated capital,
additional paid-in capital and retained earnings) of the common stockholders of
such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date plus (ii) the
respective amounts reported on such Person's balance sheet as of such date with
respect to any series of preferred stock (other than Disqualified Stock) that by
its terms is not entitled to the payment of dividends unless such dividends may
be declared and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the year of such
declaration and payment, but only to the extent of any cash received by such
Person upon issuance of such preferred stock, less (x) all write-ups (other than
write-ups resulting from foreign currency translations and write-ups of tangible
assets of a going concern business made within 12 months after the acquisition
of such business) subsequent to the date of this Indenture in the book value of
any asset owned by such Person or a consolidated Subsidiary of such Person, (y)
all investments as of such date in unconsolidated Subsidiaries and in Persons
that are not Subsidiaries (except, in each case, Permitted Investments), and (z)
all unamortized debt discount and expense and unamortized deferred charges as of
such date, all of the foregoing determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any
member of the Board of Directors of the Company who (i) was a member of such
Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture or (ii) was nominated for
election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority
of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such
nomination or election.
"Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" shall be at the address of
the Trustee specified in Section 11.02 hereof or such other address as to which
the Trustee may give notice to the Company.
"Co-Venture Partnerships" means (i) Six Flags Over Georgia, Ltd., a
Georgia Limited Partnership, (ii) Texas Flags, Ltd., a Texas Limited Partnership
and (iii) Fiesta Texas Theme Park, Ltd., a Texas Limited Partnership.
4
"Credit Facilities" means, with respect to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities (including, without
limitation, the Six Flags Credit Facility) or commercial paper facilities with
banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term
loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such
lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders
against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended,
restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in
part from time to time.
"Currency Agreement" means in respect of a Person any foreign
exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement as to
which such Person is a party or a beneficiary.
"Custodian" means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the
Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
"Default" means any event that is or with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default.
"Definitive Note" means a certificated Note registered in the name
of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, in the
form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note
Legend and shall not have the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global
Note" attached thereto.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in
whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as
the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto
appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the
applicable provision of this Indenture.
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or
by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is
exchangeable, at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any
event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund
obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in
whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on
which the Notes mature; provided, however, that any Capital Stock that would
constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right
to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a
Change of Control or an Asset Sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if
the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or
redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase
or redemption complies with Section 4.07.
"Eligible Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness for money borrowed
incurred by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, provided that
such Indebtedness for money borrowed is (other than as permitted by the Six
Flags Credit Facility) contractually pari passu with and secured equally and
ratably with all other Indebtedness for money borrowed of such Restricted
Subsidiaries.
"Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or
other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
5
"Escrow Account" means the escrow account for the initial deposit of
$[175.0] million dollars of the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes and cash
in hand under the Pledge and Escrow Agreement.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Existing Indebtedness" means up to $______ million in aggregate
principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than
Indebtedness under the Six Flags Credit Facility) in existence on the date of
this Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.
"Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the sum, without duplication, of (i) the Consolidated Interest Expense of such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period and (ii) the product of
(a) all dividend payments, whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred
stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividend
payments on any such preferred stock payable solely in Equity Interests of the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, times (b) a fraction, the
numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then
current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person for
the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of such calculation, expressed as
a decimal, in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
"Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means with respect to any Person for
any period, the ratio of (a) the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such
period to (b) the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event
that the referent Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes,
Guarantees or redeems any Indebtedness (other than revolving credit borrowings)
or issues or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the
period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior
to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio is made (the "Calculation Date"), then the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence,
assumption, Guarantee or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance or
redemption of preferred stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of
the applicable four-quarter reference period. In addition, for purposes of
making the computation referred to above, (i) acquisitions that have been made
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers
or consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the
four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or
prior to the Calculation Date shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day
of the four-quarter reference period and Consolidated Cash Flow for such
reference period shall be calculated without giving effect to clause (ii) of the
proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Income, and (ii) the
Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in
accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the
Calculation Date, shall be excluded, and (iii) the Fixed Charges attributable to
discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations
or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, but
only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will
not be obligations of the referent Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
following the Calculation Date.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in
the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and
pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other
statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment
of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time.
6
"Global Note" means the Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto
issued in accordance with Section 2.01 hereof.
"Global Note Legend" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f),
which is required to be placed on the Global Note issued under this Indenture.
"Government Securities" means direct 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.
"guarantee" means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of
negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business),
direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, by way of a
pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in
respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.
"Guarantor" means Premier Parks Inc. and its respective successors
and assigns.
"Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the
obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest
rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest rates.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness
of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or
evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of
credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker's acceptances
or representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of
the purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging Obligations,
except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, if
and to the extent any of the foregoing (other than letters of credit and Hedging
Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person
prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as all Indebtedness of others secured
by a Lien on any asset of such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is
assumed by such Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee
by such Person of any indebtedness of any other Person. The amount of any
Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (i) the accreted value thereof,
in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount, and (ii)
the principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more
than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness. The term
"Indebtedness" shall not include (i) any obligations in respect of the SFEC Zero
Coupon Senior Notes so long as (x) the Pledge and Escrow Agreement is in full
force and effect and the Trustee maintains a valid and perfected security
interest in cash or Government Securities in an amount sufficient to pay the
aggregate principal amount at maturity of such SFEC Zero Coupon Senior Notes
pursuant to the terms thereof or (y) the SFEC Zero Coupon Senior Notes shall
have been defeased in accordance with the indenture governing the SFEC Zero
Coupon Senior Notes or (ii) any obligations of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary under the Partnership Parks Agreements, the Marine World Agreements
or the Subordinated Indemnity Agreement.
"Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from
time to time.
7
"Indirect Participant" means a Person who holds a beneficial
interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
"Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all investments by
such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or
indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations),
advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees and any deposit or advance made pursuant to
any contract entered into in the ordinary course of business), purchases or
other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other
securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as
investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity
Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company (other than
pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Parks Agreements or the Subordinated
Indemnity Agreement) such that, after giving effect to any such sale or
disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company
shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or
disposition equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such
Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the
final paragraph of Section 4.07
"Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by
law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a
Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the
next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on
such payment for the intervening period.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law
(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in
the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under
the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction).
"Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock" means Premier's ___%
Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock.
"Marine World" means the Marine World Joint Powers Authority or any
successor thereto.
"Marine World Agreements" mean (i) the Parcel Lease, dated November
7, 1997, between Marine World and Park Management Corp. ("PMC"), (ii) the
Reciprocal Easement Agreement, dated November 7, 1997, between Marine World and
PMC, (iii) the Revenue Sharing Agreement, dated November 7, 1997, among Marine
World, PMC and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Vallejo (the "Agency"),
(iv) the Purchase Option Agreement, dated as of August 29, 1997, among Marine
World, the Agency, the City of Vallejo and PMC and (v) the 1997 Management
Agreement, dated as of February 1, 1997, between Marine World and PMC, as
amended, in each case, as the same may be modified or amended from time to time
after the date of this Indenture, provided such modification or amendment does
not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material respects.
"Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, the net income
(loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any
reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends,
8
excluding, however, (i) any gain or loss, together with any related provision
for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with any Asset Sale
(including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback
transactions) and (ii) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related
provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss.
"Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale
(including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other
disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of
the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation,
legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any
relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a
result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or
deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to
the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were
the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the
sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.
"Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness (i) as to which neither the
Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of
any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would
constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor
or otherwise), or (c) constitutes the lender and (ii) no default with respect to
which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take
enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon
notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other
Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to
its stated maturity; and (iii) as to which the lenders have been notified in
writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Note Guarantee" means the Guarantee by the Guarantor of the
Company's payment obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, executed
pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.
"Notes" has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this
Indenture.
"Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
"Officer" means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer,
the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the
Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed on behalf of the
Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal
executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the
principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of
Section 11.05 hereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section
11.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.
"Participant" means a Person who has an account with the Depositary.
9
"Partnership Parks Agreements" means (i) the Overall Agreement,
dated as of February 15, 1997, among Six Flags Fund, Ltd. (L.P.), Xxxxxx Family
Trust, SFG, Inc., SFG-I, LLC, SFG-II, LLC, Six Flags Over Georgia, Ltd., SFOG
II, Inc., SFOG II Employee, Inc., SFOG Acquisition A, Inc., SFOG Acquisition B,
L.L.C., Six Flags Over Georgia, Inc., Six Flags Services of Georgia, Inc., Six
Flags Theme Parks Inc. and the Company and the Related Agreements (as defined
therein), (ii) Overall Agreement, dated as of November 24, 1997, among Six Flags
Over Texas Fund, Ltd., Flags' Directors, L.L.C., FD-II, L.L.C., Texas Flags,
Ltd., SFOT Employee, Inc., SFOT Acquisition I, Inc., SFOT Acquisition II, Inc.,
Six Flags Over Texas, Inc., Six Flags Theme Parks Inc. and the Company and the
Related Agreements (as defined therein), and (iii) the Lease Agreement with
Option to Purchase, dated as of March 9, 1996, among Fiesta Texas Theme Park,
Ltd., a Texas Limited Partnership, San Antonio Theme Park, L.P., and Six Flags
San Antonio, L.P. and the Transaction Documents (as defined therein), in each
case, as the same may be modified or amended from time to time after the date of
this Indenture provided such modification or amendment does not adversely affect
the interests of the Holders in any material respect.
"Permitted Business" means any business related, ancillary or
complementary to the businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
on the date of this Indenture.
"Permitted Investments" means an Investment by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary in (i) cash or Cash Equivalents, (ii) the Company, a
Restricted Subsidiary or a Person which will, upon the making of such
Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the primary
business of such Restricted Subsidiary is a Permitted Business; (iii) another
Person if as a result of such Investment such other Person is merged or
consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its
assets (or the assets of any business unit or division of such Person) to, the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Person's (or
such unit's or division's) primary business is a Permitted Business; (iv)
another Person if the aggregate amount of all Investments in all such other
Persons does not exceed $15.0 million at any one time outstanding (with each
Investment being valued as of the date made and without giving effect to
subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that such Person's primary
business is a Permitted Business; (v) promissory notes received as consideration
for an Asset Sale which are secured by a Lien on the asset subject to such Asset
Sale; provided that the aggregate amount of all such promissory notes at any one
time outstanding does not exceed $5.0 million; (vi) non-cash consideration from
an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10;
(vii) assets acquired solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests
(other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; (viii) receivables owing to the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, if created or acquired in the ordinary
course of business; (ix) payroll, travel and similar advances that are made in
the ordinary course of business; (x) loans or advances to employees made in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary; and (xi) stock, obligations or securities received
in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments.
"Permitted Liens" means (a) Liens to secure the Six Flags Credit
Facility; (b) Liens to secure Eligible Indebtedness that was permitted to be
incurred pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.09 of this Indenture; (c) Liens
existing on the Issue Date; (d) Liens on property or shares of Capital Stock of
another Person at the time such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of
such Person; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, incurred or
assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming
such a Restricted Subsidiary; provided further, however, that such Lien may not
extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; (e) Liens on property at the time such Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries acquires the property, including any
10
acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into such Person or a
Restricted Subsidiary of such Person; provided, however, that such Liens are not
created, incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such
acquisition; provided further, however, that the Liens may not extend to any
other property owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (f)
Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary of
such Person owing to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person; (g)
Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as the related Indebtedness is, and
is permitted to be under this Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same type of
property securing such Hedging Obligations; (h) Liens to secure any Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that (x) such new Lien shall be
limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus
improvements on such property) and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at
such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the
outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the
Indebtedness refinanced at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien
and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums,
related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;
(i)(a) mortgages, liens, security interests, restrictions or encumbrances that
have been placed by any developer, landlord or other third party on property
over which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company has easement
rights or on any real property leased by the Company and subordination or
similar agreements relating thereto and (b) any condemnation or eminent domain
proceedings affecting any real property; (j) pledges or deposits by such Person
under workmen's compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar
legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts
(other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a
party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or
deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or appeal
bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested
taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the
ordinary course of business; (k) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers',
warehousemen's and mechanic's Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of
judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall
then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review; (l) Liens for
property taxes not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for non-payment or
which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings; (m)
minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or
rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph
and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions
as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the
business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not
incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate
materially impair the use of such properties in the operation of the business of
such Person; (n) Liens securing Purchase Money Indebtedness; provided, however,
that (i) the Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be
incurred under this Indenture, (ii) the principal amount of any Indebtedness
secured by any such Lien does not exceed the cost of assets or property so
acquired or constructed and (iii) the amount of Indebtedness secured by any such
Lien is not subsequently increased, (o) Liens arising out of the transactions
contemplated by the Partnership Parks Agreements, the Marine World Agreements,
the Subordinated Indemnity Agreement or the Six Flags Agreement; and (p) Liens
incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed $10.0 million at any
one time outstanding.
"Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net
proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or
refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
(other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that: (i) the principal amount
(or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
does not exceed the principal amount of
11
(or accreted value, if applicable), plus accrued interest on, the Indebtedness
so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the
amount of reasonable expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection
therewith); (ii) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity
date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to
Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded; (iii) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes,
such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the
final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on
terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the
documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded; and (iv) such Indebtedness is incurred either by
the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or agency or political subdivision thereof (including any subdivision
or ongoing business of any such entity or substantially all of the assets of any
such entity, subdivision or business).
"Pledge and Escrow Agreement" means the Pledge, Escrow and
Disbursement Agreement, dated as of the date of this Indenture, by and between
the Company and the Trustee governing the disbursement of funds from the Escrow
Account, as amended from time to time in accordance with this Indenture.
"Pledged Collateral" means the Collateral (as defined in the Pledge
and Escrow Agreement) under the Pledge and Escrow Agreement.
"Premier" means Premier Parks Inc., a Delaware corporation.
"Premier Operations" means Premier Parks Operations Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Premier.
"Public Equity Offering" means an underwritten primary public
offering of common stock of any person pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act.
"Purchase Money Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (i) consisting of
the deferred purchase price of property, conditional sale obligations,
obligation under any title retention agreement and other purchase money
obligations, in each case where the maturity of such Indebtedness does not
exceed the anticipated useful life of the asset being financed, and (ii)
incurred to finance the acquisition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company of such asset, including additions and improvements; provided,
however, that any Lien arising in connection with any such Indebtedness shall be
limited to the specified asset being financed or, in the case of real property
or fixtures, including additions and improvements, the real property on which
such asset is attached; and provided further, that such Indebtedness is incurred
within 180 days after such acquisition, addition or improvement by the Company
or Restricted Subsidiary of such asset.
"Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the Trustee, means
any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any
successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
12
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust
matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.
"Restricted Subsidiary" of a Person means any Subsidiary of the
referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Seller Preferred Stock" means Premier's Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Stock issued to the sellers of SFEC common stock pursuant to the Six
Flags Agreement.
"SFEC Zero Coupon Senior Notes" means the Company's Zero Coupon
Senior Notes due 1999.
"SFTP" means Six Flags Theme Parks Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Company.
"Shared Services Agreement" means the Shared Services Agreement
among the Company, Premier and Premier Operations as the same may be modified or
amended from time to time after the date of this Indenture, provided such
modification or amendment does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders
in any material respect.
"Six Flags Acquisition" means the acquisition by Premier by merger
of all of the capital stock of the Company from its current stockholders
pursuant to the Six Flags Agreement.
"Six Flags Agreement" means that certain Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of February 9, 1998, by and among Premier, Premier Parks
Holdings Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, Premier Parks Merger Corporation,
a Delaware Corporation, a certain group of sellers listed therein and the
Company.
"Six Flags Credit Facility" means that $472.0 million senior secured
credit facility between SFTP and _____ dated as of ______, 1998.
"Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that would be a
"significant subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X,
promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on
the date of this Indenture.
"Specified Amount" means, as of any date, (i) the product of (a) the
Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company for the most recently ended four-quarter
period for which financial statements have been filed with the SEC determined on
a pro forma basis after giving effect to all acquisitions or Asset Sales made by
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from the beginning of such
four-quarter period through and including such date of determination (including
any related financing transactions) as if such acquisitions and dispositions had
occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period, times (b) 0.75.
"Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any installment of interest
or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of
interest or principal was scheduled to be paid
13
in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include
any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or
principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
"Strategic Equity Investment" means a cash contribution to the
common equity capital of any Person or a purchase from any Person of common
Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock), in either case by or from a
Strategic Equity Investor and for aggregate cash consideration of at least $25.0
million.
"Strategic Equity Investor" means, as of any date, any Person (other
than an Affiliate of the Company) engaged in a Permitted Business which, as of
the day immediately before such date, had a Total Equity Market Capitalization
of at least $1.0 billion.
"Subordinated Indemnity Agreement" means the Subordinated Indemnity
Agreement, dated as of the date of the consummation of the Six Flags
Acquisition, among Premier, the Company and its subsidiaries, Time Warner Inc.,
Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. and TW-SPV Co., as the same may be
modified or amended from time to time after the date hereof, provided such
modification or amendment does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders
in any material respect.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation,
association or other business entity of which more than 50% (49% in the case of
Walibi, S.A.) of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled
(without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of
directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries
of that Person (or a combination thereof); and (ii) any partnership or limited
liability company (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner
(or equivalent) of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b)
the only general partners of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries
of such Person (or any combination thereof).
"Tax Sharing Agreement" means that certain Tax Sharing Agreement
between Premier, the Company and the other parties named therein as the same may
be modified or amended from time to time after the date of this Indenture,
provided such modification or amendment does not adversely affect the interests
of the Holders in any material respect.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. xx.xx.
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified
under the TIA.
"Total Equity Market Capitalization" of any Person means, as of any
day of determination, the sum of (i) the product of (A) the aggregate number of
outstanding primary shares of common stock of such Person on such day (which
shall not include any options or warrants on, or securities convertible or
exchangeable into, shares of common stock of such Person) multiplied by (B) the
average closing price of such common stock listed on a national securities
exchange or the Nasdaq National Market System over the 20 consecutive business
days immediately preceding such day, plus (ii) the liquidation value of any
outstanding shares of preferred stock of such Person on such day.
"Trustee" means the party named as such in the preamble hereto until
a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this
Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
14
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (i) any Subsidiary (other than SFTP
or any successor to SFTP) that is designated by the Board of Directors as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution; but only to the extent
that such Subsidiary: (a) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; (b)
is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such
agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the
time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company; (c) is a Person with
respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has
any direct or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity
Interests or (y) to maintain or preserve such Person's financial condition or to
cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; (d) has
not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for
any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (e)
has at least one director on its board of directors that is not a director or
executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and has
at least one executive officer that is not a director or executive officer of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. Any such designation by the
Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustees by filing with the
Trustees a certified copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such
designation and an Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation
complied with the foregoing conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07. If, at
any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing
requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of
such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be
incurred as of such date under Section 4.09, the Company shall be in default of
such covenant). The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate
any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such
designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary and such designation shall only be permitted if (i) such Indebtedness
is permitted under Section 4.09, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such
designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period,
and (ii) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such
designation.
"Voting Stock" of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock
of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote by the holder thereof in the
election of the Board of Directors (or comparable body) of such Person.
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any
Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum
of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding principal
amount of such Indebtedness.
"Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary" of any Person means a
Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or
other ownership interests of which (other than directors' qualifying shares)
shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly
Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.
"Wholly Owned Subsidiary" of any Person means a Subsidiary of such
Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of
which (other than directors' qualifying shares)
15
shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries of such Person.
SECTION 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONS.
Defined in
Term Section
"Affiliate Transaction"..............................4.11
"Asset Sale".........................................4.10
"Asset Sale Offer"...................................3.09
"Authentication Order"...............................2.02
"Bankruptcy Law".....................................4.01
"Basket Period"......................................4.07
"Change of Control Offer"............................4.15
"Change of Control Payment"..........................4.15
"Change of Control Payment Date" ....................4.15
"Covenant Defeasance"................................8.03
"Event of Default"...................................6.01
"Excess Proceeds"....................................4.10
"incur"..............................................4.09
"Legal Defeasance" ..................................8.02
"Offer Amount".......................................3.09
"Offer Period".......................................3.09
"Paying Agent".......................................2.03
"Permitted Debt".....................................4.09
"Purchase Date"......................................3.09
"Registrar"..........................................2.03
"Restricted Payments"................................4.07
SECTION 1.03.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the
provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following
meanings:
"indenture securities" means the Notes;
"indenture security Holder" means a Holder of a Note;
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;
"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee;
and
"obligor" on the Notes means the Company and any successor obligor
upon the Notes.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA,
defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA
have the meanings so assigned to them.
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SECTION 1.04. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning
assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) "or" is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the
plural include the singular;
(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;
and
(6) references to sections of or rules under the Securities
Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor
sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.
ARTICLE 2.
THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01. FORM AND DATING.
(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication
shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have
notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or
usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall
be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute,
and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the
Guarantor and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture,
expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However,
to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of
this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be
controlling.
(b) Global Note. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the
form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and
the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto).
Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the
"Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto). Each
Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified
therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal
amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from
time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and
redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any
increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes
represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the
direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder
thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.
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SECTION 2.02. EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION. Two Officers shall sign the Notes
for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. The Company's seal shall be
reproduced on the Notes and may be in facsimile form.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that
office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be
valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual
signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the
Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by two
Officers (an "Authentication Order"), authenticate Notes for original issue up
to the aggregate principal amount stated in paragraph 4 of the Notes. The
aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed such
amount except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the
Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes
whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to
authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An
authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an
Affiliate of the Company.
SECTION 2.03. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT. The Company shall maintain an office
or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for
exchange ("Registrar") and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for
payment ("Paying Agent"). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and
of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more
co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term "Registrar"
includes any co-registrar and the term "Paying Agent" includes any additional
paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without
notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the
name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company
fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the
Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as
Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ("DTC")
to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Note.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar
and Paying Agent and to act as Note Custodian with respect to the Global Note.
SECTION 2.04. PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST. The Company shall require
each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying
Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money
held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or
interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company
in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may
require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company
at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the
Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the
Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the
Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a
separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as
Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the
Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
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SECTION 2.05. HOLDER LISTS. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as
is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and
addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA ss. 312(a). If the
Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least
seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as
the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as
the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of
Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA ss. 312(a).
SECTION 2.06. TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of the Global Note. A Global Note may not be
transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary,
by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the
Depositary, the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a
nominee of such successor Depositary. A Global Note will be exchanged by the
Company for Definitive Notes if (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice
in writing that the Depositary it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as a
depositary and the Company is unable to locate a qualified successor within 90
days or (ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Note
(in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers
a written notice to such effect to the Trustee. Upon the occurrence of either of
the preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in
such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. A Global Note also may
be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and
2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu
of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or
Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form
of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another
Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial
interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in
Section 2.06(b) or (c) hereof.
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Note. The
transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Note shall be
effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture and the rules and procedures of the Depositary. Transfers of
beneficial interests in the Global Note also shall require compliance with
subparagraph (i) below:
(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial
interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note. No written
orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to
effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).
(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Note for
Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note
proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to
transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the
form of a Definitive Note, then the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal
amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to
Section 2.06(g) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a
Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued
in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be
registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or
denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the
Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or
Indirect Participant.
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(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in
the Global Note. A Holder of a Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a
beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a
Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a
Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or
transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Definitive Note and increase
or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Global Note.
(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon
request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder's compliance with the
provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or
exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or
exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the
Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or
by his attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder
shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as
applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section
2.06(e). A Holder of Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who
takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note.
(f) Global Note Legend. The following legend shall appear on the face of
the Global Note issued under this Indenture in substantially the following form,
unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this
Indenture:
"THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE
GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON
AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS
GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION
2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE
TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND
(IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH
THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY."
(g) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of the Global Note. At such time as all
beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for
Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or
cancelled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to
or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.
At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global
Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof
in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive
Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be
reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the
Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such
reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred
to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest
in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly
and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the
Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
(h) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
20
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate the Global Note and
Definitive Notes upon the Company's order or at the Registrar's request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial
interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any
registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental
charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes
or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant
to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 hereof).
(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer
of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part,
except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(iv) The Global Note and Definitive Notes issued upon any
registration of transfer or exchange of a Global Note or Definitive Notes
shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt,
and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Note
or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or
exchange.
(v) The Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the
transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for
redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business
on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange
any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (c) to register
the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next
succeeding Interest Payment Date.
(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of
any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the
Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such
Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on
such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent
or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate the Global Note and Definitive
Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.
(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel
required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to
effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by
facsimile.
SECTION 2.07. REPLACEMENT NOTES
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company
and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss
or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of
an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee's
requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity
bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the
Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any
authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is
replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.
21
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company
and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
SECTION 2.08. OUTSTANDING NOTES.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by
the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for
cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the
Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this
Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note
does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of
the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section
3.07(b) hereof.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to
be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section
4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money
sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such
Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue
interest.
SECTION 2.09. TREASURY NOTES.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount
of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the
Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with the Company, shall be considered as
though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent,
only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 2.10. TEMPORARY NOTES
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the
Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order,
shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in
the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company
considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable
to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the
Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits
of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.11. CANCELLATION.
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for
cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any
Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The
Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for
22
registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and
shall destroy cancelled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of
the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled Notes shall
be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace
Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation.
SECTION 2.12. DEFAULTED INTEREST.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it
shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent
lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are
Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided
in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall notify the Trustee in
writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and
the date of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed
each such special record date and payment date, provided that no such special
record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for
such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the
Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name
and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a
notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the
amount of such interest to be paid.
ARTICLE 3.
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
SECTION 3.01. NOTICES TO TRUSTEE.
If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional
redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee,
at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an
Officers' Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to
which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal
amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.
SECTION 3.02. SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an
offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed
or purchased among the Holders of the Notes in compliance with the requirements
of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are
listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in
accordance with any other method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate;
provided that, no Notes of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. In the
event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be
selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60
days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not
previously called for redemption.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the
Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial
redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of
Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000;
except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire
outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of
$1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence,
provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also
apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.
23
SECTION 3.03. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days
but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or
cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder
whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal
amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon
surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;
(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying
Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment,
interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the
redemption date;
(g) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant
to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of
the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the
redemption date, an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such
notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided
in the preceding paragraph.
SECTION 3.04. EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION
Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03
hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the
redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be
conditional.
SECTION 3.05. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE
One Business Day prior to the redemption date, the Company shall
deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the
redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that
date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any
money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of
the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on,
all Notes to be redeemed.
24
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding
paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on
the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed
on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest
payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person
in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record
date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for
redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding
paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption
date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not
paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes
and in Section 4.01 hereof.
SECTION 3.06. NOTES REDEEMED IN PART.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall
issue and, upon the Company's written request, the Trustee shall authenticate
for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal
amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
SECTION 3.07. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) Except as set forth in clause (b) of this Section 3.07, the Company
shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 3.07
prior to __________, 2002. Thereafter, the Notes will be subject to redemption
at any time at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as
percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid
interest thereon to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the
twelve-month period beginning on ___________ of the years indicated below:
Year Percentage
2002........................................ _______%
2003........................................ _______
2004........................................ _______
2005 and thereafter......................... 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the first 36 months after the
date of original issuance of the Notes, the Company may on any one or more
occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally
issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of ___% of the principal
amount thereof on the redemption date with the net cash proceeds of one or more
Public Equity Offerings by and/or the net cash proceeds of a Strategic Equity
Investment in (i) the Company or (ii) Premier to the extent the net cash
proceeds thereof are contributed to the Company as a capital contribution to the
common equity of the Company; provided that in each case at least 65% of the
aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued remains outstanding
immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (excluding Notes held
by Premier, the Company and its Subsidiaries); and provided, further, that any
such redemption shall occur within 60 days of the date of the closing of each
such Public Equity Offering and/or Strategic Equity Investment.
(c) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to
the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
25
SECTION 3.08. MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
Except as set forth in Sections 4.10 and 4.15, the Company shall not
be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect
to the Notes.
SECTION 3.09. OFFER TO PURCHASE BY APPLICATION OF EXCESS PROCEEDS.
In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company
shall be required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an
"Asset Sale Offer"), it shall follow the procedures specified below.
The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business
Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a
longer period is required by applicable law (the "Offer Period"). No later than
five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the "Purchase
Date"), the Company shall purchase the principal amount of Notes required to be
purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (the "Offer Amount") or, if less than
the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the Asset
Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner
as interest payments are made.
If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on
or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest
shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of
business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to
Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall
send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with
a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials
necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale
Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which
shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:
(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09
and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain
open;
(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;
(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to
accrete or accrue interest;
(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note
accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrete or
accrue interest after the Purchase Date;
(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset
Sale Offer may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may not elect
to have only a portion of such Note purchased;
(f) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset
Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled
"Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Note completed, or
transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a depositary, if appointed by
the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least
three days before the Purchase Date;
26
(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the
Company, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not
later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal
amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such
Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;
(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by
Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes to be
purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed
appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or
integral multiples thereof, shall be purchased); and
(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued
new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes
surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).
On or before the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent
lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the
Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale
Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered,
and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such
Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance
with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying
Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five
days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount
equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by
the Company for purchase, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and
the Trustee, upon written request from the Company shall authenticate and mail
or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any
unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be
promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company
shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase
Date.
Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any
purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions
of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
ARTICLE 4.
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01. PAYMENT OF NOTES.
The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium,
if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the
Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the
date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof,
holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the
Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay
all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.
The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal
to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to
the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest
(without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent
lawful.
27
SECTION 4.02. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.
The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of
New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an
affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and
demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be
served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the
location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any
time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or
all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided,
however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt
written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any
change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section
2.03.
SECTION 4.03. REPORTS.
(a) Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so
long as any Notes are outstanding, each of the Company and Premier shall furnish
to the Holders of Notes (i) all quarterly and annual financial information that
would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and
10-K if the Company and Premier were required to file such forms, including a
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" that describes the financial condition and results of operations of
the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries and Premier and its consolidated
subsidiaries, respectively (showing in reasonable detail, either on the face of
the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto and in Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, the
financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of
the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company) and, with respect to the annual
information only, a report thereon by the Company's and Premier's certified
independent accountants and (ii) all current reports that would be required to
be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company and Premier were required to
file such reports, in each case, within the time periods specified in the SEC's
rules and regulations. In addition, whether or not required by the rules and
regulations of the SEC, the Company and Premier shall file a copy of all such
information and reports with the SEC for public availability within the time
periods specified in the SEC's rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not
accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities analysts
and prospective investors upon request. The Company and Premier shall at all
times comply with TIA ss. 314(a).
SECTION 4.04. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE.
(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end
of each fiscal year, an Officers' Certificate stating that a review of the
activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year
has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view
28
to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled
its obligations under this Indenture and Pledge and Escrow Agreement, and
further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the
best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and
fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and the Pledge and
Escrow Agreement and is not in default in the performance or observance of any
of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture or the Pledge and
Escrow Agreement (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred,
describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have
knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect
thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and
remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of
or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a
description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to
take with respect thereto.
(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial
statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03(a) above shall be accompanied by a
written statement of the Company's independent public accountants (who shall be
a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination
necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to
their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated
any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has
occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being
understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to
any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.
(c) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding,
deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default
or Event of Default, an Officers' Certificate specifying such Default or Event
of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with
respect thereto.
SECTION 4.05. TAXES.
The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to
pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental
levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings
or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material
respect to the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 4.06. STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so)
that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever
claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law
wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the
covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each of the
Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives
all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by
resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power
herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of
every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
SECTION 4.07. RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or make
any other payment or distribution on
29
account of any Equity Interests of the Company (including, without limitation,
any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the
Company) or to the direct or indirect holders of any Equity Interests of the
Company in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable
in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company); (ii)
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without
limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the
Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of
the Company; (iii) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem,
defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness of the Company
that is subordinated to the Notes, except a payment of interest or principal at
Stated Maturity; or (iv) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and
other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively
referred to as "Restricted Payments"), unless, at the time of and after giving
effect to such Restricted Payment:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
or would occur as a consequence thereof; and
(b) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after
giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at
the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to
incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09; and
(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all
other Restricted Payments declared or made after the date of this Indenture
(excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii) and (iii) of the next
succeeding paragraph) shall not exceed, at the date of determination, the sum,
without duplication, of (i) an amount equal to the Company's Consolidated Cash
Flow for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the
first fiscal quarter commencing after the date of this Indenture to the end of
the Company's most recently ended full fiscal quarter for which financial
statements have been filed with the SEC (the "Basket Period") less the product
of 1.4 times the Company's Consolidated Interest Expense for the Basket Period,
plus (ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company after
the date of this Indenture as a contribution to its common equity capital or
from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than
Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale after the date of this Indenture
of Disqualified Stock or debt securities of the Company that have been converted
into such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock
or convertible debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company and any sale
of Equity Interests of the Company the net cash proceeds of which are applied
pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately succeeding paragraph), plus (iii) to
the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the date of this
Indenture is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the
lesser of (A) the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted
Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (B) the initial amount of
such Restricted Investment, plus (iv) to the extent that any Unrestricted
Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the date of this
Indenture, the fair market value of the Company's or its Restricted
Subsidiary's, as the case may be, Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date
of such redesignation.
The foregoing provisions shall not prohibit: (i) the payment of any
dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at said date
of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this
Indenture; (ii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness or Equity Interests of the Company
in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent
sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the
Company (other than Disqualified Stock); provided that the amount of any such
net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase,
retirement,
30
defeasance or other acquisition shall be excluded from clause (c)(ii) of the
preceding paragraph; (iii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other
acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness with the net cash proceeds from an
incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; (iv) so long as no Event of
Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result
therefrom), (a) the purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of partnership interests
held by the partners in the limited partners of the Co-Venture Partnerships, the
co-general partner of the Co-Venture Partnerships or, in each case, their
successors, in accordance with and in the manner required or permitted by the
terms of the Partnership Parks Agreements and (b) dividends or other
distributions to Premier to enable Premier or its Restricted Subsidiaries to
purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire partnership interests held by the
limited partners or co-general partner in the Co-Venture Partnerships, or their
successors, in accordance with and in the manner required or permitted by the
terms of the Partnership Parks Agreements; (v) so long as no Event of Default or
Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom), (a)
any transactions pursuant to or contemplated by, and payments made in connection
with, and in accordance with the terms of, the Partnership Parks Agreements and
(b) dividends or other distributions to Premier to enable Premier or its
Restricted Subsidiaries to engage in any transactions pursuant to or
contemplated by, and make any payments in connection with, and in accordance
with the terms of, the Partnership Parks Agreements; (vi) so long as no Event of
Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result
therefrom), (a) any transactions pursuant to or contemplated by, and payments
made in connection with, and in accordance with the terms of, the Subordinated
Indemnity Agreement and (b) dividends or other distributions to Premier to
enable Premier or its Restricted Subsidiaries to engage in any transactions
pursuant to or contemplated by, and make any payments in connection with, and in
accordance with the terms of, the Subordinated Indemnity Agreement; (vii) in the
event Premier issues common stock in exchange for or upon conversion of Seller
Preferred Stock or Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock, dividends to Premier
to allow Premier to make cash payments made in lieu of the issuance of
fractional shares of common stock, not to exceed $250,000 in the aggregate in
any fiscal year; (viii) so long as no Event of Default or Default shall have
occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom), the payment of dividends
or other distributions to Premier to enable Premier to pay dividends on the
Seller Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms thereof as in effect on the
date of this Indenture; (ix) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or
retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company from employees,
former employees, directors or former directors of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (or permitted transferees of such employees, former
employees, directors or former directors); provided, however, that the aggregate
amount of such repurchases shall not exceed $2.5 million in any twelve-month
period; (x) so long as no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be
continuing (or would result therefrom), any payment by the Company to Premier to
permit Premier to pay any federal, state, local or other taxes that are then
actually due and owing by Premier; provided that such amounts do not exceed the
amounts that, without recognizing any tax attribute carryforwards or carrybacks,
would otherwise be due and owing if the Company were an independent taxpayer;
and (xi) so long as no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be
continuing (or would result therefrom), any payment made pursuant to the Shared
Services Agreement.
The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be
an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such designation would not cause a Default;
provided that in no event shall the business currently operated by SFTP be
transferred to or held by an Unrestricted Subsidiary. For purposes of making
such determination, all outstanding Investments held by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid in cash) in the Subsidiary
so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments at the time of such
designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under
the first paragraph of this covenant. All such outstanding Investments will be
deemed to
31
constitute Investments in an amount equal to the fair market value of such
Investments at the time of such designation. Such designation will only be
permitted if such Restricted Payment would be permitted at such time and if such
Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the
fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or
securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair
market value of any non-cash Restricted Payment shall be determined by the Board
of Directors of the Company whose resolution with respect thereto shall be
delivered to the Trustee, such determination to be based upon an opinion or
appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of
national standing if such fair market value exceeds $10.0 million. Not later
than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the
Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is
permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by
this Section 4.07 were computed, together with a copy of any fairness opinion or
appraisal required by this Indenture.
SECTION 4.08. DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to
exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Subsidiary to (i)(a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or
(2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its
profits, or (b) pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) transfer any of its properties or assets to
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. However, the foregoing
restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by
reason of (a) Existing Indebtedness as in effect on the date of this Indenture,
(b) the Partnership Parks Agreements, the Marine World Agreements or the
Subordinated Indemnity Agreement, (c) the Six Flags Credit Facility as in effect
on the date of this Indenture, (d) Eligible Indebtedness that was permitted to
be incurred pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.09; provided that such
Eligible Indebtedness is no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to
such dividends and other payment restrictions than those contained in the Six
Flags Credit Facility, as the same was in effect on the date of this Indenture,
(e) this Indenture and the Notes, (f) applicable law, (g) any instrument
governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition
(except to the extent such Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in
contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not
applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than
the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that,
in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of
this Indenture to be incurred, (h) customary non-assignment provisions in
leases, licenses or other contracts entered into in the ordinary course of
business, (i) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary
course of business that impose restrictions of the nature described in clause
(iii) above on the property so acquired, (j) any agreement for the sale of a
Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary
pending its sale, (k) obligations otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to
the provisions of Section 4.12 that limits the right of the obligee to dispose
of the assets securing such obligations, (l) provisions with respect to the
disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements
and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business,
(m) Permitting Refinancing Indebtedness so long as such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness is no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such
dividend and other payment restrictions than those
32
contained in the Indebtedness refinanced thereby and (n) restrictions on cash or
other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in
the ordinary course of business.
SECTION 4.09. INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise
become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to
(collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and that the
Company shall not issue any Disqualified Stock and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that the
Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue shares of
Disqualified Stock and the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries may incur
Indebtedness if the Company's Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio at the time of
incurrence of such Indebtedness or the issuance of such Disqualified Stock after
giving pro forma effect thereto as if the same had occurred at the beginning of
the most recently ended four full fiscal quarter period of the Company for which
financial statements have been filed with the SEC, would have been at least 2.0
to 1.
The Company shall not incur any Indebtedness that is contractually
subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company unless
such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the
Notes on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness
of the Company shall be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of
payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company solely by virtue of being
unsecured.
The provisions of the first paragraph of this Section 4.09 will not
apply to the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness
(collectively, "Permitted Debt"):
(i) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of
additional term Indebtedness under Credit Facilities in an aggregate
principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $200.0 million
less the aggregate amount of all mandatory or scheduled repayments of the
principal of any such additional term Indebtedness (other than repayments
that are immediately reborrowed) that have actually been made since the
date of this Indenture;
(ii) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
of additional revolving credit Indebtedness and letters of credit pursuant
to Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount (with letters of
credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum
potential liability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
thereunder) at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Specified Amount
as of such date of incurrence; provided that, that the aggregate principal
amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (ii) is
reduced to an outstanding balance of $1.0 million or less for at least 30
consecutive days in each fiscal year;
(iii) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
of the Existing Indebtedness;
(iv) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness represented by
the Notes;
(v) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations,
mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case incurred
for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost
of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the
business of the Company or
33
such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
$20.0 million at any time outstanding;
(vi) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the
net proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance or replace
Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness and Indebtedness
incurred pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above) that was permitted by
this Indenture to be incurred;
(vii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (i) if the
Company is the obligor on any such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is
expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all
Obligations with respect to the Notes and (ii)(A) any subsequent issuance
or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness
being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
thereof and (B) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a
Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof
shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such
Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may
be, that was not permitted by this clause (vii);
(viii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of (a) Hedging Obligations that are incurred for the purpose
of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any floating rate
Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be
incurred and (b) Currency Agreements that do not increase the Indebtedness
of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries 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;
(ix) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, letters of
credits, surety or appeal bonds, prior to any drawing thereunder, for or
in connection with pledges, deposits or payments made or given in the
ordinary course of business;
(x) the guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this
Section 4.09 (including, without limiting the generality of the forgoing,
the guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of Existing
Indebtedness);
(xi) the incurrence by the Company's Unrestricted Subsidiaries of
Non-Recourse Debt, provided, however, that if any such Indebtedness ceases
to be Non-Recourse Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event shall be
deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company that was not permitted by this clause (xi); and
(xii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount
(or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or
replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (xii), not to
exceed $40.0 million.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in
the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of
the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (xii) above or
is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section
34
4.09, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of
Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09 and such item of
Indebtedness will be treated as having been incurred pursuant to one or more of
such clauses and/or pursuant to the first paragraph hereof, as the Company shall
specify. In connection with the Six Flags Acquisition and the related offerings
occurring on the date of this Indenture, the Company shall be permitted to incur
a portion of the Indebtedness to be incurred on that date pursuant to the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio set forth in the first paragraph of this Section 4.09 to
the extent permitted by such Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio calculated without
regard to any Permitted Debt incurred on such date. Accrual of interest,
accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on
any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and
the payment of dividends on preferred stock in the form of additional shares of
the same class of preferred stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of
Indebtedness or an issuance of preferred stock for purposes of this Section
4.09; provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed
Chareges of the Company as accrued.
SECTION 4.10. ASSET SALES
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to consummate an Asset Sale unless (i) the Company (or the
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of
such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (evidenced by a
resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate
delivered to the Trustees) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or
otherwise disposed of and (ii) at least 75% of the consideration therefor
received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash;
provided that the amount of (x) any liabilities (as shown on the Company's or
such Restricted Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet), of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that
are by their terms subordinate to the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee
of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability or, in the case of
the sale of Capital Stock, that are assumed by the transferee by operation of
law and (y) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are promptly (subject to
ordinary settlement periods) converted by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received), shall be deemed to be
cash for purposes of this provision.
Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset
Sale, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary may apply such Net
Proceeds (a) to repay or repurchase Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company (and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto in
the case of revolving credit borrowings), (b) to the acquisition of all or
substantially all of the assets of, or a majority of the Voting Stock of,
another Person (or business unit or division of such Person); provided, that the
primary business of such Person (or unit or division) is a Permitted Business,
(c) to fund obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under the
Partnership Parks Agreements or the Subordinated Indemnity Agreement, (d) to the
acquisition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by
Persons other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (e) to the making
of a capital expenditure or (f) to the acquisition of other long-term assets
that are used or useful in a Permitted Business. Pending the final application
of any such Net Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may
temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest such Net
Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net
Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the
first sentence of this paragraph will be deemed to constitute "Excess Proceeds."
When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company
will be required to make an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of
other pari passu Indebtedness of the Company containing provisions similar to
those
35
set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with
the proceeds of sales of assets (an "Asset Sale Offer") to purchase the maximum
principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness of the Company
that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in
an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase, in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Indenture and such other Indebtedness. To the
extent that any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale
Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise
prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and
such other Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount
of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other
Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of such offer
to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
SECTION 4.11. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or
assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract,
agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit
of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an "Affiliate Transaction"), unless
(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the
Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been
obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary with an unrelated Person and (ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee
(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate
Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $1.0 million, a
resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate
certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above and
that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors and (b) with respect to any
Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving
aggregate consideration in excess of $10.0 million, an opinion as to the
fairness to the Holders of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of
view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national
standing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following items shall not be deemed
to be Affiliate Transactions: (i) any employment agreement entered into by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business, or any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in
cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment or
indemnification arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved
by the Board of Directors, or the grant of stock options or similar rights to
employees and directors of the Company pursuant to plans approved by the Board
of Directors, (ii) transactions between or among the Company and/or its
Restricted Subsidiaries, (iii) payment of reasonable directors fees to Persons
who are not otherwise employees of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries,
(iv) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business, (v)
Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 4.07, (vi) transactions
pursuant to or contemplated by, and in accordance with, the terms of the
Subordinated Indemnity Agreement, (vii) transactions pursuant to or contemplated
by, and in accordance with the terms of, the Shared Services Agreement, (viii)
transactions pursuant to or contemplated by, and in accordance with the terms
of, the Tax Sharing Agreement, (ix) transactions pursuant to and payments in
connection with, and, in each case, in accordance with, the terms of the
Partnership Parks Agreements and (x) transactions pursuant to or contemplated
by, and in accordance with, the Marine World Agreements.
36
SECTION 4.12. LIENS.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or suffer to exist
any Lien securing trade payables, Attributable Debt or Indebtedness on any asset
now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens.
SECTION 4.13. LINE OF BUSINESS.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except
to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
SECTION 4.14. CORPORATE EXISTENCE.
Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be
done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its
corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each
of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents
(as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such
Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises
of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the
corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the
Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer
desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material
respect to the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 4.15. OFFER TO REPURCHASE UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make an
offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to each Holder of Notes to repurchase all or
any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's
Notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount
thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of
purchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail
a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that
constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase Notes pursuant to
the procedures required by this Indenture and described in such notice. The
Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act
and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws
and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes as a
result of a Change of Control.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent
lawful, (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered
pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an
amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or
portions thereof so tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the
aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the
Company. The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so tendered
the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly
authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder
a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes
surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a principal
amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company will
37
publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as
practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
SECTION 4.16. LIMITATION ON SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided that
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may enter into a sale and
leaseback transaction if (i) the Company could have (a) incurred Indebtedness in
an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such sale and leaseback
transaction pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the
first paragraph of Section 4.09 or pursuant to clause (vi) of the second
paragraph of Section 4.09 and (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness
pursuant to Section 4.12, (ii) the gross cash proceeds of such sale and
leaseback transaction are at least equal to the fair market value (as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers'
Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the property that is the subject of
such sale and leaseback transaction and (iii) the transfer of assets in such
sale and leaseback transaction is permitted by, and the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance
with, Section 4.10 hereof.
SECTION 4.17. LIMITATION ON ISSUANCES AND SALES OF EQUITY INTERESTS OF
RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES.
The Company (i) shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company to, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose
of any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to any
Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and
other than transactions contemplated by the Partnership Parks Agreements and the
Subordinated Indemnity Agreement), unless (a)(1) such transfer, conveyance,
sale, lease or other disposition is of all the Equity Interests in such
Restricted Subsidiary or (2) after giving effect thereto, such Restricted
Subsidiary will still constitute a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) the cash Net
Proceeds from such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition are
applied in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof, and (ii) will not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to issue any of its Equity Interests (other
than, if necessary, shares of its Capital Stock constituting directors'
qualifying shares) to any Person other than to the Company or a Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company if, after giving effect thereto, such
Restricted Subsidiary will not be a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the
Company.
SECTION 4.18. PAYMENTS FOR CONSENT.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or
indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of
interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder of any Notes for or as an inducement
to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this
Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or is
paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the
time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent,
waiver or agreement.
SECTION 4.19. PLEDGE AND ESCROW AGREEMENT DEPOSIT.
Upon consummation of the initial sale of the Notes offered hereby on
the date hereof, the Company shall deposit $[175.0] million of the net proceeds
from the sale of the Notes and cash in hand, in the Escrow Account with the
Trustee. The Escrow Account shall be governed by the terms of the Pledge and
Escrow Agreement attached as Exhibit C hereto.
38
ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS
SECTION 5.01. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS.
The Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into (whether or
not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease,
convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or
assets in one or more related transactions, to another corporation, Person or
entity unless (i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the entity or the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing
under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of
Columbia; (ii) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the entity or Person to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition
shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes,
this Indenture, the Pledge and Escrow Agreement pursuant to a supplemental
Indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; (iii) immediately
after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists; and (iv) except in
the case of a merger of the Company with or into a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company, the Company or the entity or Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition
shall have been made (A) will have Consolidated Net Worth immediately after the
transaction equal to or greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company
immediately preceding the transaction, provided that this clause (A) shall not
apply to a merger of the Company with or into its direct parent or with or into
a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of its direct parent and (B) will, both at the time of
such transaction and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such
transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,
be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section
4.09 hereof.
SECTION 5.02. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation
formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is
made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date
of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the
provisions of this Indenture referring to the "Company" shall refer instead to
the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may exercise every right
and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such
successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that
the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the
principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of
the Company's assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
An "Event of Default" occurs if:
39
(a) the Company defaults in the payment when due of interest on the Notes
and such default continues for a period of 30 days;
(b) the Company defaults in the payment when due of principal of or
premium, if any, on the Notes when the same becomes due and payable, upon
redemption (including in connection with an offer to purchase) or otherwise;
(c) the Company fails to comply (i) for a period of 30 days with any of
the provisions of Section 4.10, 4.15 or 4.19 hereof or (ii) with any of the
provisions of Article Four or Section 5.01 hereof for 30 days after notice to
the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class;
(d) the Company fails to observe or perform any other covenant,
representation, warranty or other agreement in this Indenture, the Notes, the
Note Guarantee or the Pledge and Escrow Agreement for 60 days after notice to
the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class;
(e) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary fails to pay Indebtedness
within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of
any Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default and the total
amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated at any time exceeds $10.0
million;
(f) a final judgment or final judgments for the payment of money are
entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such judgment or judgments remain
undischarged for a period (during which execution shall not be effectively
stayed) of 60 days, provided that the aggregate of all such undischarged
judgments exceeds $10.0 million;
(g) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that constitutes a
Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a
whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the
meaning of Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an
involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or
substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;
(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any
Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
that constitutes a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted
Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary in an involuntary case;
40
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary that constitutes a Significant Subsidiary or any group of
Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that constitutes a Significant
Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole,
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary that constitutes a Significant Subsidiary or any group of
Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive
days;
(i) the Company shall materially breach any representation, warranty or
agreement set forth in the Pledge and Escrow Agreement, or a material default by
the Company in the performance of any covenant set forth in the Pledge and
Escrow Agreement, or repudiation by the Company of its obligations under the
Pledge and Escrow Agreement, or the Pledge and Escrow Agreement shall be held in
any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any
reason to be in full force and effect; or
(j) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in
any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any
reason to be in full force and effect or the Guarantor, or any Person acting on
behalf of the Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under such
Guarantor's Note Guarantee.
SECTION 6.02. ACCELERATION.
If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in
clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 hereof with respect to the Company, any
Restricted Subsidiary that constitutes a Significant Subsidiary or any group of
Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25%
in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to
be due and payable immediately. Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall
become due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event
of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with
respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary that constitutes a Significant
Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would
constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes shall be due and
payable immediately without further action or notice. The Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to
the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its
consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree
and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest
or premium that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been
cured or waived.
If an Event of Default occurs on or after ____________, 2002 by
reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf
of the Company with the intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the
Company would have had to pay if the Company then had elected to redeem the
Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, then, upon acceleration of the Notes, an
equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately due and payable, to the
extent permitted by law, anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the
contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default occurs prior to __________,
2002 by reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on
behalf of the Company with the intention of avoiding the prohibition on
redemption of the Notes prior to such date, then, upon acceleration of the
Notes, an additional premium shall also become and be
41
immediately due and payable in an amount, for each of the years beginning on
______ of the years set forth below, as set forth below (expressed as a
percentage of the amount that would otherwise be due but for the provisions of
this paragraph plus accrued interest, if any, to the date of payment):
Year Percentage
---- ----------
1998..............................................._______%
1999..............................................._______%
2000..............................................._______%
2001..............................................._______%
SECTION 6.03. OTHER REMEDIES.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may
pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if
any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of
the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess
any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or
omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or
remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are
cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 6.04. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders
of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its
consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes
(including in connection with an offer to purchase) (provided, however, that the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related
payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver,
such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom
shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
SECTION 6.05. CONTROL BY MAJORITY.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power
conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that
conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly
prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the
Trustee in personal liability.
SECTION 6.06. LIMITATION ON SUITS.
A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this
Indenture or the Notes only if:
(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
42
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested,
provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss,
liability or expense;
(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after
receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of
indemnity; and
(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction
inconsistent with the request.
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the
rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over
another Holder of a Note.
SECTION 6.07. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF NOTES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of
any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and
interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note
(including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be
impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 6.08. COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs
and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name
and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of
principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and
interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such
further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of
collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
SECTION 6.09. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.
The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other
papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims
of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the
Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall
be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other
property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such
judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to
the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of
such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to
it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and
any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in
any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall
be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions,
dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be
entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan
of reorganization or arrangement or
43
otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or
the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the
claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.10. PRIORITIES.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article or the
Pledge and Escrow Agreement, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due
under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and
liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and
expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes
for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for
principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent
jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment
to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.
SECTION 6.11. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by
it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party
litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the
court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to
the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant.
This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a
Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE 7.
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01. DUTIES OF TRUSTEE.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee
shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and
use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent man would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the
express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only
those duties that are specifically set forth in this
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Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be
read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness
of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished
to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture.
However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to
determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this
Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent
action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of
this Section;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made
in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it
takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction
received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this
Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a),
(b), and (c) of this Section.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the
request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee
security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by
it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in
trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
SECTION 7.02. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to
be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The
Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an
Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be
liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on
such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with
counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall
be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in
reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be
responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.
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(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to
take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand,
request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by
an Officer of the Company.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of
the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
SECTION 7.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the
owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not
Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting
interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for
permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like
rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.
SECTION 7.04. TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER.
The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation
as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be
accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money
paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction under any provision of this
Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money
received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be
responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or
any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this
Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.
SECTION 7.05. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it
is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of
the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the
case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if
any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long
as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that
withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 7.06. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES.
Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following
the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the
Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such
reporting date that complies with TIA ss. 313(a) (but if no event described in
TIA ss. 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting
date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA ss.
313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by
TIA ss. 313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of
Notes shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock
exchange on which the Notes are listed in
46
accordance with TIA ss. 313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee
when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.
SECTION 7.07. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable
compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The
Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly
upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or
made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall
include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's
agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses,
liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the
costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including
this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by
the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with
the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to
the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its
negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any
claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the
Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company
shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The
Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees
and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made
without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the
Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or
collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and
interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event
of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) hereof occurs, the expenses and
the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents
and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
Bankruptcy Law.
The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA ss. 313(b)(2) to
the extent applicable.
SECTION 7.08. REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's
acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from
the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of Notes of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the
Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may
remove the Trustee if:
47
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for
relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its
property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a
successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the
retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or
the Holders of Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Trustee.
If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who
has been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with
Section 7.10, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor
Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the
successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee
under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its
succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer
all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums
owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided
for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant
to this Section 7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall
continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
SECTION 7.09. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers
all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another
corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the
successor Trustee.
SECTION 7.10. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of
America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by
federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at
least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of
condition.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the
requirements of TIA ss. 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA
ss. 310(b).
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SECTION 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.
The Trustee is subject to TIA ss. 311(a), excluding any creditor
relationship listed in TIA ss. 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been
removed shall be subject to TIA ss. 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE 8.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.01. OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.
The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced
by a resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time, elect to
have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon
compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Eight.
SECTION 8.02. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been
discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on the
date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal
Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be
deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the
outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be "outstanding" only for
the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture
referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other
obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of
and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive
until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of
outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section
8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments
are due, (b) the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under Article
2 and Section 4.02 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities
of the Trustee hereunder and the Company's obligations in connection therewith
and (d) this Article Eight. Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the
Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the
prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.
SECTION 8.03. COVENANT DEFEASANCE.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its
obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10,
4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18 and 4.19 hereof with respect to the
outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04
are satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant Defeasance"), and the Notes shall
thereafter be deemed not "outstanding" for the purposes of any direction,
waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any
thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed
"outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such
Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this
purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes,
the Company may omit to comply with
49
and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set
forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any
reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in
any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and
such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default
under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this
Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the
Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this
Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(d) through 6.01(f) hereof shall not
constitute Events of Default.
SECTION 8.04. CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.
The following shall be the conditions to the application of either
Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for
the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable
Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the
outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable
redemption date, as the case may be;
(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has
received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a
ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the
applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based
thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the
outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the
outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting
from the incurrence of Indebtedness all or a portion of the proceeds of which
will be used to defease the Notes pursuant to this Article Eight concurrently
with such incurrence) or insofar as Sections 6.01(g) or 6.01(h) hereof is
concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of
deposit;
(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or
instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
bound;
50
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
(which may be subject to customary exceptions) to the effect that on the 91st
day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of
any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent
of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the
intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of
the Company; and
(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant
Defeasance have been complied with.
SECTION 8.05. DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN TRUST;
OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable
Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the
Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section
8.05, the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the
outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in
accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment,
either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as
Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all
sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and
interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee
or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable
Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal
and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other
charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request
of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as
provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under
Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be
required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance.
SECTION 8.06. REPAYMENT TO COMPANY.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then
held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if
any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such
principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be
paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be
discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as a
secured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all
liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money,
and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease;
provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required
to make any such repayment, may
51
at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times
and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains
unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than
30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance
of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 8.07. REINSTATEMENT.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States
dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or
8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court
or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such
application, then the Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes
shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to
Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03
hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any
payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the
reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights
of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the
Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 9.
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 9.01. WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company, the
Guarantor and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Pledge and
Escrow Agreement, the Note Guarantee or the Notes without the consent of any
Holder of a Note:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of
certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article 2 hereof (including the
related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any
Holder;
(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company's or Guarantor's
obligations to the Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Company or
Guarantor pursuant to Article 5 or Article 11 hereof;
(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal
rights hereunder of any Holder of the Note;
(e) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain
the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
(f) to allow the Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a
Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its
Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section
7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company and
52
the Guarantor in the execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture
authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further
appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the
Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental
Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture
or otherwise.
SECTION 9.02. WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES.
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the
Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including Sections 3.09, 4.10
and 4.15 hereof) and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent
of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection
with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and,
subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of
Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment
default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance
with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent
of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a
tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes). Without the
consent of at least 75% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding
(including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer
for, or purchase of, such Notes), no waiver or amendment to either this
Indenture or the Pledge and Escrow Agreement may make any change in the
provisions of Section 4.19 or Article 10 hereof or the Pledge and Escrow
Agreement that adversely affects the rights of any Holder of Notes. Section 2.08
hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be "outstanding" for
purposes of this Section 9.02.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its
Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the
Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by
the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall
join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture
unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case
the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into
such amended or supplemental Indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes
under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment
or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance
thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes
effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a
notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of
the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in
any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a
single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with
any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of
each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not
(with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an
amendment, supplement or waiver;
53
(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or
alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes
except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof;
(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest,
including default interest, on any Note;
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration
of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted
from such acceleration);
(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;
(f) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a
payment required by Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof);
(g) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to
waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments
of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;
(h) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in the foregoing
amendment and waiver provisions; or
(i) release the Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note
Guarantee or this Indenture or change the Note Guarantee in any way that would
adversely affect the Holders, except in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture.
SECTION 9.03. COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall
be set forth in a amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA
as then in effect.
SECTION 9.04. REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a
consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a
Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences
the same debt as the consenting Holder's Note, even if notation of the consent
is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder
of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written
notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes
effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance
with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
SECTION 9.05. NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF NOTES.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment,
supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in
exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment,
supplement or waiver.
54
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall
not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
SECTION 9.06. TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC.
The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental Indenture
authorized pursuant to this Article Nine if the amendment or supplement does not
adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.
The Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board
of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture,
the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof)
shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required
by Section 11.04 hereof, an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel
stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture.
ARTICLE 10
COLLATERAL AND SECURITY
SECTION 10.01. PLEDGE, ESCROW AND DISBURSEMENT AGREEMENT.
The due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest, if
any, on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an
interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or
otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest (to the extent
permitted by law), if any, on the Notes and performance of all other obligations
of the Company to the Holders of Notes or the Trustee under this Indenture and
the Notes, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, shall be secured as
provided in the Pledge and Escrow Agreement which the Company has entered into
simultaneously with the execution of this Indenture and which is attached as
Exhibit C hereto. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance thereof, consents and
agrees to the terms of the Pledge and Escrow Agreement (including, without
limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Escrow
Funds) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in
accordance with its terms and authorizes and directs the Trustee to enter into
the Pledge and Escrow Agreement and to perform its obligations and exercise its
rights thereunder in accordance therewith. The Company shall deliver to the
Trustee copies of all documents pursuant to the Pledge and Escrow Agreement, and
shall do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be necessary or
proper, or as may be required by the provisions of the Pledge and Escrow
Agreement, to assure and confirm to the Trustee the security interest in the
Escrow Funds contemplated hereby, by the Pledge and Escrow Agreement or any part
thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available
for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes secured hereby,
according to the intent and purposes herein expressed. The Company shall take,
or shall cause its Subsidiaries to take, upon request of the Trustee, any and
all actions reasonably required to cause the Pledge and Escrow Agreement to
create and maintain, as security for the Obligations of the Company hereunder, a
valid and enforceable perfected first priority Lien in and on all the Pledged
Collateral, in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of Notes,
superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons and subject to no other
Liens than Permitted Liens.
SECTION 10.02. RECORDING AND OPINIONS.
(a) The Company shall furnish to the Trustee simultaneously with the
execution and delivery of this Indenture an Opinion of Counsel either (i)
stating that in the opinion of such counsel all
55
action has been taken with respect to the recording, registering and filing of
this Indenture, financing statements or other instruments necessary to make
effective the Lien intended to be created by the Pledge and Escrow Agreement,
and reciting with respect to the security interests in the Pledged Collateral,
the details of such action, or (ii) stating that, in the opinion of such
counsel, no such action is necessary to make such Lien effective.
(b) The Company shall furnish to the Trustee on May 1 in each year
beginning with May 1, 1998, an Opinion of Counsel, dated as of such date, either
(i) (A) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, action has been taken with
respect to the recording, registering, filing, re-recording, re-registering and
refiling of all supplemental indentures, financing statements, continuation
statements or other instruments of further assurance as is necessary to maintain
the Lien of the Pledge and Escrow Agreement and reciting with respect to the
security interests in the Pledged Collateral the details of such action or
referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are given, (B)
stating that, based on relevant laws as in effect on the date of such Opinion of
Counsel, all financing statements and continuation statements have been executed
and filed that are necessary as of such date and during the succeeding 12 months
fully to preserve and protect, to the extent such protection and preservation
are possible by filing, the rights of the Holders of Notes and the Trustee
hereunder and under the Pledge and Escrow Agreement with respect to the security
interests in the Pledged Collateral, or (ii) stating that, in the opinion of
such counsel, no such action is necessary to maintain such Lien and assignment.
(c) The Company shall otherwise comply with the provisions of TIA
ss.314(b).
SECTION 10.03. RELEASE OF COLLATERAL.
(a) Subject to subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 10.03, Pledged
Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created by the
Pledge and Escrow Agreement at any time or from time to time in accordance with
the provisions of the Pledge and Escrow Agreement or as provided hereby.
(b) No Pledged Collateral shall be released from the Lien and security
interest created by the Pledge and Escrow Agreement pursuant to the provisions
of the Pledge and Escrow Agreement unless there shall have been delivered to the
Trustee the certificate required by this Section 10.03.
(c) At any time when a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing and the maturity of the Notes shall have been accelerated (whether
by declaration or otherwise) and the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or
Event of Default, no release of Pledged Collateral pursuant to the provisions of
the Pledge and Escrow Agreement shall be effective as against the Holders of
Notes.
(d) The release of any Pledged Collateral from the terms of this Indenture
and the Pledge and Escrow Agreement shall not be deemed to impair the security
under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof if and to the
extent the Pledged Collateral is released pursuant to the terms of the Pledge
and Escrow Agreement. To the extent applicable, the Company shall cause TIA ss.
313(b), relating to reports, and TIA ss. 314(d), relating to the release of
property or securities from the Lien and security interest of the Pledge and
Escrow Agreement and relating to the substitution therefor of any property or
securities to be subjected to the Lien and security interest of the Pledge and
Escrow Agreement, to be complied with. Any certificate or opinion required by
TIA ss. 314(d) may be made by an Officer of the Company except in cases where
TIA ss. 314(d) requires that such certificate or opinion be made by an
independent Person, which Person shall be an independent engineer, appraiser or
other expert selected or approved by the Trustee in the exercise of reasonable
care.
56
SECTION 10.04. CERTIFICATES OF THE COMPANY.
(a) The Company shall furnish to the Trustee, prior to each proposed
release of Pledged Collateral pursuant to the Pledge and Escrow Agreement, (i)
all documents required by TIA ss. 314(d) and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel, which
may be rendered by internal counsel to the Company, to the effect that such
accompanying documents constitute all documents required by TIA ss. 314(d). The
Trustee may, to the extent permitted by Sections 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, accept as
conclusive evidence of compliance with the foregoing provisions the appropriate
statements contained in such documents and such Opinion of Counsel.
SECTION 10.05. AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY THE TRUSTEE UNDER THE
PLEDGE AND ESCROW AGREEMENT.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, the
Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders of
Notes, take, on behalf of the Holders of Notes, all actions it deems necessary
or appropriate in order to (a) enforce any of the terms of the Pledge and Escrow
Agreement and (b) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of
the Obligations of the Company hereunder. The Trustee shall have power to
institute and maintain such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to
prevent any impairment of the Pledged Collateral by any acts that may be
unlawful or in violation of the Pledge and Escrow Agreement or this Indenture,
and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee may deem expedient to preserve or
protect its interests and the interests of the Holders of Notes in the Pledged
Collateral (including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to
restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other
governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise
invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order
would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests
of the Holders of Notes or of the Trustee).
SECTION 10.06. AUTHORIZATION OF RECEIPT OF FUNDS BY THE TRUSTEE UNDER THE PLEDGE
AND ESCROW AGREEMENT.
The Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of
the Holders of Notes distributed under the Pledge and Escrow Agreement, and to
make further distributions of such funds to the Holders of Notes according to
the provisions of this Indenture.
SECTION 10.07. TERMINATION OF SECURITY INTEREST.
Upon the payment in full of all Obligations of the Company under
this Indenture and the Notes, or upon Legal Defeasance, the Trustee shall
release the Liens pursuant to this Indenture and the Pledge and Escrow
Agreement.
ARTICLE 11.
NOTE GUARANTEE
SECTION 11.01. GUARANTEE.
Subject to this Article 11, the Guarantor hereby, unconditionally
guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee
and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity
and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the
Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of and interest on the
Notes will be
57
promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption
or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the
Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the
Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or
performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case
of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other
obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in
accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount
so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the
Guarantor shall be obligated to pay the same immediately. The Guarantor agrees
that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the
Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any
waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions
hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action
to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. The Guarantor hereby
waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court
in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever
and covenant that this Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete
performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.
If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise
to return to the Company, the Guarantor or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or
other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the
Guarantor, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note
Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full
force and effect.
The Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of
subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed
hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. The Guarantor
further agrees that, as between the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders
and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations
guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the
purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other
prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations
guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of
such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or
not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for
the purpose of this Note Guarantee.
SECTION 11.02. SUBORDINATION OF NOTE GUARANTEE.
The Obligations of the Guarantor under its Note Guarantee pursuant
to this Article 11 shall be junior and subordinated to all indebtedness that is
not specifically by its terms made pari passu with or junior to the Note
Guarantee of the Guarantor.
SECTION 11.03. LIMITATION ON GUARANTOR LIABILITY.
The Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby
confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of
the Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of
Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent
Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any
Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders
and the Guarantor hereby
58
irrevocably agree that the obligations of the Guarantor under its Note Guarantee
and this Article 11 shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving
effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of
the Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, result in the obligations of
the Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or
conveyance.
SECTION 11.04. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF NOTE GUARANTEE.
To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01, the
Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in
the form included in Exhibit B shall be endorsed by an Officer of the Guarantor
on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture
shall be executed on behalf of the Guarantor by its President or one of its Vice
Presidents.
The Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in
Section 11.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure
to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.
If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note
Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the
Note on which a Note Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee shall be valid
nevertheless.
The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication
thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth
in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
SECTION 11.05. GUARANTORS MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ON CERTAIN TERMS.
The Guarantor may not consolidate with or merge with or into
(whether or not the Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person whether or
not affiliated with the Guarantor unless:
(a) subject to Section 11.05 hereof, the Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Guarantor)
unconditionally assumes all the obligations of the Guarantor, pursuant to a
supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee, under the Notes, the Indenture and the Note Guarantee on the terms set
forth herein or therein; and
(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default
or Event of Default exists.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and
upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed
and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the
Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of
all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the
Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the
Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor.
Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note
Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which
theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the
Trustee. All the Note Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same
legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Note Guarantee theretofore
and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though
all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.
59
Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding
clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the
Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the
Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the
property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the
Company or another Guarantor.
SECTION 11.06. RELEASES FOLLOWING SALE OF ASSETS.
In the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets of
the Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other
disposition of all of the capital stock of the Guarantor, then the Guarantor (in
the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or
otherwise, of all of the capital stock of the Guarantor) or the corporation
acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Guarantor) will be released and relieved
of any obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds of
such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof.
Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by
the Company in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture,
including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof, the Trustee shall execute any
documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of the Guarantor
from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.
If the Guarantor is not released from its obligations under its Note
Guarantee the Guarantor shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of
and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of the Guarantor under
this Indenture as provided in this Article 11.
ARTICLE 12.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 12.01. TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts
with the duties imposed by TIA ss. 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 12.02. NOTICES.
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the
others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first
class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex,
telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the
others' address
If to the Company:
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile number: (405) ___________
Telephone number: (000) 000-0000
60
With a copy to:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxx Marks & Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile number: (000) 000-0000
Telephone number: (000) 000-0000
If to the Trustee:
The Bank of New York
______________________
______________________
Facsimile number:
Attention:
The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders)
shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if
personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to
the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first
class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight
air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register
kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to
any Person described in TIA ss. 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA.
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall
not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above
within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee
receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall
mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
SECTION 12.03. COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF NOTES WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF NOTES.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA ss. 312(b) with other
Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The
Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of
TIA ss. 312(c).
SECTION 12.04. CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to
take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
61
(a) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05
hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent
and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been satisfied; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05
hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions
precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
SECTION 12.05. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate
provided pursuant to TIA ss. 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA
ss. 314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has
read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made
such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
satisfied; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such
condition or covenant has been satisfied.
SECTION 12.06. RULES BY TRUSTEE AND AGENTS.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting
of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set
reasonable requirements for its functions.
SECTION 12.07. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND
STOCKHOLDERS.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator
or stockholder of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture or the Pledge and
Escrow Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such
obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and
releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for issuance of the Notes.
SECTION 12.08. GOVERNING LAW.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED
TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF
ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
62
SECTION 12.09. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture,
loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other
Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret
this Indenture.
SECTION 12.10. SUCCESSORS.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall
bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind
its successors.
SECTION 12.11. SEVERABILITY.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 12.12. COUNTERPART ORIGINALS.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each
signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same
agreement.
SECTION 12.13. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the
Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of
reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in
no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[Signatures on following page]
63
SIGNATURES
Dated as of ____________, 1998
SIX FLAGS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
BY: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
Attest:
______________________________
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
BY: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
Attest:
______________________________
Authorized Signatory
Date:
64
EXHIBIT A
(Face of Note)
================================================================================
(a) CUSIP ________________
__% Senior Notes due 2006
No. ________ $ ____________
SIX FLAGS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
promises to pay to __________________________________________________________ or
registered assigns,
the principal sum of _____________________________________________________
Dollars on ___________, 2006.
Interest Payment Dates: ____________, and ____________
Record Dates: ____________, and ____________
DATED: ____________, 1998
SIX FLAGS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
BY: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
This is one of the
Notes referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture:
The Bank of New York,
as Trustee
By: _____________________________
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(Back of Note)
___% Senior Notes due 2006
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITORY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE
GOVERNING THIS NOTES OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL
OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE,
(III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT
TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO
A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to
them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. INTEREST. Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of
this Note at ___% per annum from , 1998 until maturity. The Company will pay
interest semi-annually on and of each year, or if any such day is not a Business
Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an "Interest Payment Date").
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 the date of issuance;
provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if
this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof
and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such
next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first
Interest Payment Date shall be ______, 1998. The Company shall pay interest
(including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on
overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate
that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it shall pay interest
(including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on
overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace
periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months.
2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes
(except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes
at the close of business on the or next preceding the Interest Payment Date,
even if such Notes are cancelled after such record date and on or before such
Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with
respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal,
premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained
for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the
option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the
Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided
that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required
with respect to principal of and interest, premium on, the Global Note and all
other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions
to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts.
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3. PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, The Bank of New York, the
Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company
may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The
Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.
4. INDENTURE AND PLEDGE AND ESCROW AGREEMENT. The Company issued the
Notes under an Indenture dated as of , 1998 ("Indenture") between the Company
and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture
and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code xx.xx. 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to
all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a
statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with
the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the indenture shall
govern and be controlling. The Notes are obligations of the Company limited to
$170.0 million in aggregate principal amount. The Notes are secured by a pledge
of Government Securities pursuant to the Pledge and Escrow Agreement referred to
in the Indenture.
5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the
Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to __________, 2002.
Thereafter, the Company shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or
in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption
prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable redemption date, if
redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on __________ of the years
indicated below:
Year Percentage
---- ----------
2002..................................... _______%
2003..................................... _______%
2004..................................... _______%
2005 and thereafter...................... 100.000 %
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph 5, during the first 36 months after the date of original issuance of
the Notes, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture at
a redemption price of ____% of the principal amount thereof on the redemption
date with the net cash proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings and/or
the net cash proceeds of a Strategic Equity Investment (i) the Company or (ii)
Premier to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the
Company as a capital contribution to the common equity of the Company; provided
that in each case at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of maturity of
the Notes originally issued remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence
of each such redemption (excluding the Notes held by Premier, the Company and
its Subsidiaries); and provided, further, that any such redemption shall occur
within 60 days of the date of the closing of each such Public Equity Offering
and/or Strategic Equity Investment.
6. MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be
required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to
the Notes.
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0. XXXXXXXXXX AT OPTION OF HOLDER.
(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company shall be required
to make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all or any part
(equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's Notes at a
purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the
"Change of Control Payment"). Within 30 days following any Change of Control,
the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures
governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.
(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset
Sales, when the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the
Company shall commence an offer to all Holders of Notes (as "Asset Sale Offer")
pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal
amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer
price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date fixed for the closing
of such offer in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To
the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale
Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company (or such Subsidiary) may use
such deficiency for general corporate purposes. If the aggregate principal
amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess
Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata
basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will
receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date
and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled
"Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes.
8. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed at
least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in
denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole
multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be
redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or
portions thereof called for redemption.
9. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as
provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents
and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law
or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company
need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days
before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record
date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
10. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be
treated as its owner for all purposes.
11. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain exceptions,
the Indenture, the Pledge and Escrow Agreement or the Notes may be amended or
supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class, and any existing
default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be
waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes voting as a single class. However, without the consent of
at least 75% in principal amount of the
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Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender
offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, such Notes), no waiver or amendment
to either the Indenture or the Pledge and Escrow Agreement may make any change
in the provisions of Section 4.19 or Article 10 of the Indenture or the Pledge
and Escrow Agreement that adversely affects the rights of any Holder of Notes.
Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes may be
amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to
provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated
Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to Holders of
the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that would
provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that
does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such
Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or
maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
12. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default include: (i) default
for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes; (ii) default in
payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when the same
becomes due and payable at maturity, upon redemption (including in connection
with an offer to purchase) or otherwise, (iii) failure by the Company to comply
(A) for a period of 30 days with any of the provisions of Section 4.10, 4.15 or
4.19 of the Indenture and (B) with any of the provisions of Article Four or
Section 5.01 of the Indenture for 30 days after notice to the Company by the
Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Notes then outstanding voting as a single class; (iv) failure by the Company for
60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least
25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class
to comply with certain other agreements in the Indenture, the Notes, the Note
Gurantee or the Pledge and Escrow Agreement; (v) default under certain other
agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company which default results in the
acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity; (vi) certain
final judgments for the payment of money that remain undischarged for a period
of 60 days; (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (viii) the breach of certain
representations, warranties or agreements set forth in the Pledge and Escrow
Agreement, or a material default by the Company in the performance of any
covenant set forth in the Pledge and Escrow Agreement, or repudiation by the
Company of its obligations under the Pledge and Escrow Agreement, or the Pledge
and Escrow Agreement shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be
unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and
effect; and (ix) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee is
held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease
for any reason to be in full force and effect or the Guarantor, or any Person
acting on behalf of the Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under
such Guarantor's Note Guarantee. If any Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become
due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the
Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain
limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee
may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event
of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of
principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their
interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes
then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of
the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences
under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the
payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required
to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the
Indenture, and the Company
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is required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver
to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
13. TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual or
any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform
services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the
Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
14. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or
for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or
their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance
of the Notes.
15. AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated
by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
16. ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name
of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN NET (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).
17. CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made
as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers placed thereon.
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and
without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Secretary
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ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer
this Note to
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint
--------------------------------------------------------
to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute
another to act for him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: ____________________
Your Signature: ______________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the face of this Note)
Signature Guarantee.
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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:
|_| Section 4.10 |_| Section 4.15
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the
amount you elect to have purchased: $________
Date: ____________________ Your Signature: ___________________________
(Sign exactly as your name
appears on the Note)
Tax Identification No: ____________________
Signature Guarantee.
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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an
interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part
of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note,
have been made:
Principal Amount
Amount of Amount of of
decrease in increase in this Global Note Signature of
Principal Amount Principal Amount following such authorized officer of
of of decrease (or Trustee or Note
Date of Exchange this Global Note this Global Note increase) Custodian
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------------
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EXHIBIT B
FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
For value received, the Guarantor, Premier Parks, Inc. (which term
includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, unconditionally
guaranteed on a fully subordinated basis, to the extent set forth in the
Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture dated as of __________,
1998 (the "Indenture") among Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, Premier Parks
Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"), (a) the due and
punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes
(as defined in the Indenture), whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption
or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal and
premium, and, to the extent permitted by law, interest, and the due and punctual
performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the
Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any
extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other
obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed
in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantor to the
Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the
Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture and reference
is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee.
Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound
by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee, on behalf of such
Holder, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the
subordination of this Note Guarantee as provided in the Indenture and (c)
appoints the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such Holder for such purpose; provided,
however, that the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note Guarantee shall cease to
be so subordinated and subject in right of payment upon any defeasance of this
Note in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
Premier Parks Inc.
By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
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L&W DRAFT 3/18/98
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SENIOR NOTES
PLEDGE, ESCROW AND DISBURSEMENT AGREEMENT
by and between
SIX FLAGS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
as Trustee
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THIS PLEDGE, ESCROW AND DISBURSEMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated
as of __________, 1998, is by and between SIX FLAGS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
(the "Company") and The Bank of New York, as trustee under the Indenture
referred to below (the "Trustee").
RECITALS
A. The Senior Notes. Pursuant to that certain Indenture (the "Indenture"),
dated as of ______________, 1998, by and between the Company and the Trustee,
the Company will issue $170,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of ___% Senior
Notes due 2006 (collectively, the "Senior Notes"). Immediately after receipt of
payment for the Senior Notes (the "Deposit Time"), the Company will deposit
$175,000,000.00 (the "Escrow Funds"), into a segregated cash collateral trust
account with the Trustee at its office at ____________, New York, New York, in
the name of The Bank of New York, as Trustee, "Escrow Account for Senior Notes"
(such account is herein referred to as the "Escrow Account"). The Escrow Account
and all balances and investments from time to time therein shall be under the
sole control and dominion of the Trustee, for the benefit of the Trustee and the
ratable benefit of the Holders of the Senior Notes.
B. Purpose. The parties hereto desire to set forth their agreement with
regard to the administration of the Escrow Account, the creation of a security
interest in the Collateral (as defined herein) and the conditions upon which
funds will be released from the Escrow Account.
C. Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have
the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Security Interest.
(a) Pledge and Assignment of Collateral. The Company hereby
irrevocably pledges, assigns and sets over to the Trustee, and grants to the
Trustee, for the benefit of the Trustee and the ratable benefit of the Holders
of the Senior Notes, a first priority continuing security interest in all of the
Company's right, title and interest in and to all of the following, whether now
owned or existing or hereafter acquired or created (collectively, the
"Collateral"):
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(i) all funds from time to time held in the Escrow Account,
including, without limitation, the Escrow Funds and all certificates and
instruments, if any, from time to time representing or evidencing the
Escrow Account or the Escrow Funds;
(ii) all investments of funds in the Escrow Account, which all shall
constitute Government Securities, and whether held by or registered in the
name of the Trustee or otherwise and all certificates and instruments, if
any, from time to time representing or evidencing any such Government
Securities;
(iii) all notes, certificates of deposit, deposit accounts, checks
and other instruments evidencing such Government Securities from time to
time hereafter delivered to or otherwise possessed by the Trustee, for or
on behalf of the Company, in substitution for or in addition to any or all
of the then existing Collateral;
(iv) all interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property
from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect
of or in exchange for any or all of the then existing Collateral; and
(v) all proceeds of any of the foregoing, including, without
limitation, cash proceeds.
(b) Secured Obligations. This Agreement secures the due and punctual
payment and performance of all Obligations of the Company, whether now or
hereafter existing, under the Senior Notes and the Indenture including, without
limitation, interest and premium, if any, accrued on the Senior Notes after the
commencement of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the
Company to the extent permitted by applicable law (collectively, the "Secured
Obligations").
(c) Delivery of Collateral. All certificates or instruments, if any,
representing or evidencing the Collateral shall be held by or on behalf of the
Trustee pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable form for transfer by delivery,
or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignments
in blank, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. All
securities in uncertificated or book-entry form and all security entitlements,
if any, in each case representing or evidencing the Collateral shall be
registered in the name of the Trustee (or any of its nominees) as the registered
owner thereof by book-entry or as otherwise appropriate so as to properly
identify the interest of the Trustee therein. In addition, the Trustee shall
have the right, at any time following the occurrence of an Event of Default, to
transfer to or to register in the name of the Trustee or any of its nominees any
or all other Collateral. Except as otherwise provided herein, all Collateral
shall be deposited and held in the Escrow Account. The Trustee shall have the
right at any time to exchange certificates or instruments representing
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or evidencing all or any portion of the Collateral for certificates or
instruments of smaller or larger denominations in the same aggregate amount.
(d) Further Assurances. Prior to, contemporaneously herewith, and at
any time and from time to time hereafter, the Company will, at the Company's
expense, execute and deliver to the Trustee such other instruments and
documents, and take all further action as it deems necessary or advisable or as
the Trustee may reasonably request including an Opinion of Counsel, upon which
the Trustee may conclusively rely, to confirm or perfect the security interest
of the Trustee granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable the
Trustee to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect
to any Collateral and the Company will take all necessary action to preserve and
protect the security interest created hereby as a first priority, perfected Lien
and encumbrance upon the Collateral. The Company will pay all costs incurred in
connection with any of the foregoing.
(e) Establishing and Maintaining Accounts. So long as this Agreement
is in full force and effect:
(i) the Company shall establish and maintain the Escrow Account with
the Trustee in New York, New York. The Collateral shall at all times be
subject to the sole dominion and control of the Trustee, which shall hold
the Collateral and administer the Escrow Account subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement. The Company shall have no right of
withdrawal from the Escrow Account nor any other right or power with
respect to the Collateral, except as expressly provided herein; and
(ii) it shall be a term and condition of the Escrow Account,
notwithstanding any term or condition to the contrary in any other
agreement relating to the Escrow Account and except as otherwise provided
by the provisions of Article 3 of this Agreement, that no amount in the
Escrow Account (including, without limitation, interest on or other
proceeds of the Escrow Account or on any Government Securities held
therein) shall be paid or released to or for the account of, or withdrawn
by or for the account of, the Company or any other person or entity other
than the Trustee or its designated agent.
(f) Transfers and Other Liens. Until termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 8, the Company agrees that it will not (i) sell, assign (by
operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with
respect to, any of the Collateral or (ii) create or permit to exist any Lien
upon or with respect to any of the Collateral, except for the security interest
under this Agreement.
(g) Trustee Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. In addition to all of the
powers granted to the Trustee pursuant to Article 7 of the Indenture, the
Company hereby irrevocably appoints the Trustee as the Company's
attorney-in-fact, coupled with an interest, with full
4
authority in the place and stead of the Company and in the name of the Company
or otherwise, from time to time in the Trustee's discretion to take any action
and to execute any instrument which the Trustee may deem necessary or advisable
to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation, to
receive, endorse and collect all instruments made payable to the Company
representing any interest payment, dividend or other distribution in respect of
the Collateral or any part thereof and to give full discharge for the same, and
the expenses of the Trustee incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by
the Company.
(h) Trustee May Perform. Without limiting the authority granted
under Section 1(g) and except with respect to the failure of the Company to
deliver investment instructions, which shall be governed by Section 2(b) hereof,
if the Company fails to perform any agreement contained herein, the Trustee may,
but shall not be obligated to, itself perform, or cause performance of, such
agreement, and the expenses of the Trustee incurred in connection therewith
shall be payable by the Company. In the event that the Trustee performs pursuant
to this Section 1(h), the Company shall indemnify the Trustee in the manner
provided in Section 7.07 of the Indenture.
2. Investment and Liquidation of Funds in Escrow Account. Funds deposited
in the Escrow Account shall be invested and reinvested by the Trustee on the
following terms and conditions:
(a) Investments. The Company shall immediately deposit all Escrow
Funds into the Escrow Account. Funds deposited in the Escrow Account may,
subject to the provisions of Articles 2 and 3 of this Agreement, be invested and
reinvested in the name of and by the Trustee, at the written direction of the
Company, in direct 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 ("Government
Securities").
(b) Investment Instructions. If the Company fails to give written
investment instructions to the Trustee by 12:00 noon (New York time) on any
Business Day on which there is uninvested cash and/or maturing Government
Securities in the Escrow Account, the Trustee is hereby unconditionally
instructed and authorized and directed to invest any such cash or the proceeds
of any maturing Government Securities in the Escrow Account in Government
Securities maturing on the next Business Day. The Company's failure to give such
investment instructions shall not constitute a default or an event of default
hereunder.
(c) Interest. All interest earned on funds invested in Government
Securities shall be held in the Escrow Account and reinvested in accordance with
the terms hereof and will be subject to the security interest granted hereunder
to the Trustee.
(d) Limitation of Trustee's Liability. In no event shall the Trustee
have any liability to the Company or any other Person for investing the funds
from time to time in the Escrow Account in accordance with the provisions of
this Article 2, regardless of whether greater
5
income or a higher yield could have been obtained had the Trustee invested such
funds in different Government Securities, or for any loss (including breakage
costs or loss of principal) associated with the sale or liquidation of
Government Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in each
case other than with respect to gross negligence or willful misconduct of the
Trustee.
(e) Liquidation of Funds. In liquidating any Government Securities
in accordance with Article 3 of this Agreement, the Company may, so long as no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, direct the Trustee as to which
Government Securities shall be liquidated.
3. Disposition of Collateral Upon Defeasance Payment.
(a) Release of Escrow Funds for Defeasance Payment. So long as no
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if the Company delivers
to the Trustee a duly completed and executed Defeasance Payment Certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, the Trustee shall, within five
(5) Business Days after its receipt of such Defeasance Payment Certificate,
liquidate such amount of Government Securities in the Escrow Account as may be
necessary to obtain in cash the amount requested in such Defeasance Payment
Certificate. Upon receipt of the foregoing, unless a Trust Officer of the
Trustee has actual knowledge that any statement in such Defeasance Payment
Certificate is untrue (and provided that, after application of the funds
requested in the applicable Defeasance Payment Certificate, the Company would be
in compliance with Section 4(d) hereof), the Trustee shall transfer the amount
set forth in such Defeasance Payment Certificate in immediately available funds
in accordance with the terms of such Defeasance Payment Certificate.
(b) Termination of Security Interest. Upon transfer by the Trustee
of the Escrow Funds to the Paying Agent as set forth in Section 3(a), the
security interest evidenced by this Agreement in the Collateral in the Escrow
Account will terminate and be of no further force and effect. Furthermore, upon
any other release of any Collateral from the Escrow Account in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement, the security interest evidenced by this Agreement
in such Collateral so released will terminate and be of no further force and
effect.
4. Representations and Warranties. The Company hereby represents and
warrants to the Trustee and the Holders of the Senior Notes that:
(a) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Agreement are within the Company's corporate powers, have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action, and do not contravene, or constitute a
default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of the
certificate of incorporation of the Company or of any agreement, judgment,
injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Company or result
in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any assets of the Company, except
for the security interests granted under this Agreement.
6
(b) The Company is the record and beneficial owner of the
Collateral, free and clear of any Lien or claims of any person or entity (except
for the security interests granted under this Agreement). No financing statement
covering the Collateral is on file in any public office other than the financing
statements filed pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally or general principles of equity and commercial
reasonableness.
(d) The pledge of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement creates
a valid and perfected first priority security interest in and to the Collateral,
securing the payment of the Secured Obligations for the benefit of the Trustee
and the ratable benefit of the Holders of Senior Notes, enforceable as such
against all creditors of the Company and any persons purporting to purchase any
of the Collateral from the Company other than as permitted by the Indenture.
(e) Except as set forth in Section 4(d) above, no consent of any
other Person and no consent, authorization, approval, or other action by, and no
notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is
required either (1) for the pledge by the Company of the Collateral pursuant to
this Agreement or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement
by the Company or (2) for the exercise by the Trustee of the rights provided for
in this Agreement or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this
Agreement.
(f) No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any
arbitrator or governmental authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened by or against the Company with respect to this Agreement or
any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(g) The pledge of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement is not
prohibited by any applicable law or governmental regulation, release,
interpretation or opinion of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System or other regulatory agency (including, without limitation, Regulations G,
T, U and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System).
5. Covenants. The Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee and the
Holders of Senior Notes from and after the date of this Agreement until the
Termination Date as follows:
(a) The Company (i) will not (A) sell or otherwise dispose of, or
grant any option or warrant with respect to, any of the Collateral or (B) create
or permit to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of the Collateral
(except for the Lien created pursuant to this Agreement) and (ii) except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, at all times will be the sole beneficial
owner of the Collateral.
7
(b) The Company will not (a) enter into any agreement or
understanding that purports to or may restrict or inhibit the Trustee's rights
or remedies hereunder, including, without limitation, the Trustee's right to
sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement or (b) fail to pay or discharge any tax, assessment or levy of any
nature not later than five days prior to the date of any proposed sale under any
judgment, writ or warrant of attachment with regard to the Collateral.
(c) The Company will use, within 30 Business Days of receipt
thereof, the Escrow Funds released hereunder only for a Defeasance Payment,
which shall legally defease or redeem the Company's Zero Coupon Senior Notes due
1999. As used in this Agreement, the term "Defeasance Payment" means (i) a
payment sufficient to repay in full all outstanding obligations under the
Company's Zero Coupon Senior Notes due 1999 at maturity or (ii) a payment
pursuant to Section 4.01(ii) of the indenture governing the Company's Zero
Coupon Senior Notes due 1999 sufficient to effect a covenant defeasance of such
notes pursuant to such indenture.
6. Remedies upon Default. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing:
(a) The Trustee may, without notice to the Company and at any time
or from time to time, liquidate all Government Securities and transfer all funds
in the Escrow Account to the Paying Agent to apply such funds in accordance with
Section 2.04 of the Indenture.
(b) The Trustee may also exercise in respect of the Collateral, in
addition to the other rights and remedies provided for herein or in the
Indenture or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured
party after a default under the Uniform Commercial Code in effect at that time
in the State of New York (the "Code") (whether or not the Code applies to the
affected Collateral).
(c) Any cash held by the Trustee as Collateral and all proceeds
received by the Trustee in respect of any sale or liquidation of, collection
from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral may, in the
discretion of the Trustee, be held by the Trustee as collateral for, and/or then
or at any time thereafter be applied (after payment of any costs and expenses
incurred in connection with any sale, liquidation or disposition of or
realization upon the Collateral and the payment of any amounts payable to the
Trustee) in whole or in part by the Trustee for the ratable benefit of the
Holders of the Senior Notes against all or any part of the Secured Obligations
in such order as the Trustee shall elect. Any surplus of such cash or cash
proceeds held by the Trustee and remaining after payment in full of all the
Secured Obligations and the costs and expenses incurred by and amounts payable
to the Trustee hereunder or under the Indenture shall be paid over to the
Company or to whomsoever shall be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.
8
For the avoidance of doubt, if any Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Trustee shall not release any Collateral to, or
at the direction of, the Company.
7. Indemnity and Authority of the Trustee.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loses,
liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance of administration of its duties under this Agreement, including the
costs and expenses of enforcing this Agreement against the Company (including
this Section 7) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the
Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the
exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the
extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its gross
negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any
claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the
Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company
shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The
Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees
and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made
without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The obligations of the Company under this Section 7 shall survive
the satisfaction and discharge of this Agreement.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event
of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) of the Indenture occurs, the
expenses and compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of
its agent and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration
under any Bankruptcy Law.
The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any Officer's Certificate or
Opinion of Counsel it receives pursuant to Section 7.02 of the Indenture.
8. Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in
and to the Collateral and such security interest shall, unless otherwise
provided in the Indenture or in this Agreement, remain in full force and effect
until the Company makes a Defeasance Payment (the "Termination Date"). This
Agreement shall be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, and
shall inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Trustee hereunder, to
the benefit of the Trustee, the Holders of Senior Notes and their respective
successors, transferees and assigns.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 9(c) hereof, this Agreement
shall terminate upon the Termination Date. At such time, the Trustee shall, at
the written request of the Company, reassign and redeliver to the Company all of
the Collateral hereunder that has not
9
been sold, disposed of, retained or applied by the Trustee in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement and the Indenture. Such reassignment and redelivery
shall be without warranty (either express or implied) by or recourse to the
Trustee, except as to the absence of any prior assignments by or encumbrances
created by the Trustee on its interest in the Collateral, and shall be at the
expense of the Company.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Waiver. Either party hereto may specifically waive any breach of
this Agreement by any other party, but no such waiver shall be deemed to have
been given unless such waiver is in writing, signed by the waiving party, and
specifically designates the breach waived, nor shall any such waiver constitute
a continuing waiver of similar or other breaches.
(b) Severability. In case any provision of this Agreement 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.
(c) Survival of Provisions. All representations, warranties and
covenants of the Company contained herein shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, and shall terminate only upon the termination of
this Agreement; provided, however that the Company's obligations pursuant to
Section 7 hereof shall survive the termination of this Agreement (including any
termination under applicable bankruptcy laws) or the resignation or removal of
the Trustee.
(d) Assignment. This Agreement shall inure to and be binding upon
the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided,
however, that the Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder
without the express prior written consent of the Trustee, acting at the
direction of the Holders as provided in the Indenture.
(e) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and the Indenture
contain the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersede any and all prior agreements, understandings and
commitments with respect thereto, whether oral or written; provided, however,
that this Agreement is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all terms
and conditions of its acceptance of the trust under the Indenture, as fully as
if said terms and conditions were set forth at length herein. This Agreement may
be amended only by a writing signed by duly authorized representatives of both
parties. The Trustee may execute an amendment to this Agreement only if the
requisite consent of the Holders of the Senior Notes required by Section 9.02 of
the Indenture has been obtained, unless no such consent is required by such
Section 9.02 of the Indenture.
(f) Notices. Any notice or communication by the Company or the
Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or
mailed by first class mail
10
(registered or certified return receipt requested), telex, telecopier or
overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others' address:
If to the Company:
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile number: (405) ________
Telephone number: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxx Marks & Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile number: (000) 000-0000
Telephone number: (000) 000-0000
If to the Trustee:
The Bank of New York
_____________________
_____________________
Attention: ___________________
Facsimile number: (212) ___________
Telephone number: (212) ___________
The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other that those sent to Holders)
shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if
personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to
the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
(g) Expenses. The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time
such compensation for its acceptance of this Agreement and services hereunder as
the Company and the Trustee have separately agreed. The Trustee's compensation
shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express
trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee
11
promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses
incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such
expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses
of the Trustee's agents and counsel.
(h) Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Trustee and the
Holders of Senior Notes and security interests hereunder, and all obligations of
the Company hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a)
any lack of validity or enforceability of the Indenture or any other agreement
or instrument relating thereto; (b) any change in the time, manner or place of
payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Secured Obligations, or
any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the
Indenture; (c) any exchange, surrender, release or non-perfection of any Liens
on any other collateral for all or any of the Secured Obligations; or (d) to the
extent permitted by applicable law, any other circumstance which might otherwise
constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Company in respect of
the Secured Obligations or of this Agreement.
(i) Counterpart Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies
of this Agreement. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them
represent the same agreement.
(j) Limitation by Law. All rights, remedies and powers provided
herein may be exercised only to the extent that they will not render this
Agreement not entitled to be recorded, registered or filed under provisions of
any applicable law.
(k) Rights of Holders of Senior Notes. No Holder of Senior Notes
shall have any independent rights hereunder other than those rights granted to
individual Holders of Senior Notes pursuant to Section 6.07 of the Indenture;
provided that nothing in this subsection shall limit any rights granted to the
Trustee under the Senior Notes or the Indenture.
(l) GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF DAMAGES.
(i) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND INTERPRETED UNDER
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF,
CONNECTED WITH, RELATED TO, OR INCIDENTAL TO THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED
BETWEEN THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE HOLDERS OF SENIOR NOTES IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, AND WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT,
EQUITY OR OTHERWISE, SHALL BE RESOLVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL
LAWS (AS OPPOSED TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS) AND DECISIONS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
(ii) THE COMPANY AGREES THAT THE TRUSTEE SHALL, IN ITS
CAPACITY AS TRUSTEE OR IN THE NAME AND ON BEHALF OF ANY HOLDER OF SENIOR
NOTES, HAVE THE RIGHT, TO THE EXTENT
12
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, TO PROCEED AGAINST THE COMPANY OR ITS
PROPERTY IN A COURT IN ANY LOCATION REASONABLY SELECTED IN GOOD FAITH (AND
HAVING PERSONAL OR IN REM JURISDICTION OVER THE COMPANY OR ITS PROPERTY,
AS THE CASE MAY BE) TO ENABLE THE TRUSTEE TO REALIZE ON SUCH PROPERTY, OR
TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT OR OTHER COURT ORDER ENTERED IN FAVOR OF THE
TRUSTEE. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT ANY COUNTERCLAIMS,
SETOFFS OR CROSS CLAIMS IN ANY PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY THE TRUSTEE TO
REALIZE ON SUCH PROPERTY OR TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT OR OTHER COURT ORDER IN
FAVOR OF THE TRUSTEE, EXCEPT FOR SUCH COUNTERCLAIMS, SETOFFS OR
CROSSCLAIMS WHICH, IF NOT ASSERTED IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING, COULD NOT
OTHERWISE BE BROUGHT OR ASSERTED. THE COMPANY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION THAT IT
MAY HAVE TO THE LOCATION OF THE COURT IN WHICH THE TRUSTEE HAS COMMENCED A
PROCEEDING DESCRIBED IN THIS PARAGRAPH INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY
OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON
CONVENIENS.
(iii) THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE EACH WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO HAVE
A JURY PARTICIPATE IN RESOLVING ANY DISPUTE, WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT,
TORT, OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED TO OR
INCIDENTAL TO THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THEM IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS AGREEMENT. INSTEAD, ANY DISPUTES RESOLVED IN COURT WILL BE RESOLVED
IN A BENCH TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY.
(iv) THE COMPANY AGREES THAT NEITHER THE TRUSTEE NOR ANY
HOLDER OF SENIOR NOTES SHALL HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE COMPANY (WHETHER
SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) FOR LOSSES SUFFERED BY THE
COMPANY IN CONNECTION WITH, ARISING OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO, THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED AND THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED BY THIS
AGREEMENT, OR ANY ACT, OMISSION OR EVENT OCCURRING IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH, UNLESS IT IS DETERMINED BY A FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT
OF A COURT THAT IS BINDING ON THE TRUSTEE OR SUCH HOLDER OF SENIOR NOTES,
AS THE CASE MAY BE, THAT SUCH LOSSES WERE THE RESULT OF ACTS OR OMISSIONS
ON THE PART OF THE TRUSTEE OR SUCH HOLDER OF SENIOR NOTES, AS THE CASE MAY
BE, CONSTITUTING BAD FAITH, GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.
(v) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND EXCEPT AS
OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE COMPANY
13
WAIVES ALL RIGHTS OF NOTICE AND HEARING OF ANY KIND PRIOR TO THE EXERCISE
BY THE TRUSTEE OR ANY HOLDER OF SENIOR NOTES OF ITS RIGHTS DURING THE
CONTINUANCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT TO REPOSSESS THE COLLATERAL WITH
JUDICIAL PROCESS OR TO REPLEVY, ATTACH OR LEVY UPON THE COLLATERAL OR
OTHER SECURITY FOR THE SECURED OBLIGATIONS. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, THE COMPANY WAIVES THE POSTING OF ANY BOND OTHERWISE
REQUIRED OF THE TRUSTEE OR ANY HOLDER OF SENIOR NOTES IN CONNECTION WITH
ANY JUDICIAL PROCESS OR PROCEEDING TO OBTAIN POSSESSION OF, REPLEVY,
ATTACH OR LEVY UPON THE COLLATERAL OR OTHER SECURITY FOR THE SECURED
OBLIGATIONS, TO ENFORCE ANY JUDGMENT OR OTHER COURT ORDER ENTERED IN FAVOR
OF THE TRUSTEE OR ANY HOLDER OF SENIOR NOTES, OR TO ENFORCE BY SPECIFIC
PERFORMANCE, TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER OR PRELIMINARY OR PERMANENT
INJUNCTION, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENT BETWEEN THE
COMPANY ON THE ONE HAND AND THE TRUSTEE AND/OR THE HOLDERS OF SENIOR NOTES
ON THE OTHER HAND.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and
delivered this Pledge, Escrow and Disbursement Agreement as of the day
first written above.
COMPANY: SIX FLAGS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
TRUSTEE: THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT A
[Form of]
Defeasance Payment Certificate
PREMIER PARKS INC.
Date: ________________
The undersigned executive officers of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby certify, pursuant to Section 3(a)
of the Pledge, Escrow and Disbursement Agreement, dated as of __________, 1998
(the "Escrow Agreement"), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York,
as trustee (the "Trustee"), under the Indenture dated as of _________, 1998 (the
"Indenture"), between the Company and the Trustee, that:
1. This request for release of funds constitutes a Defeasance Payment
Certificate (as defined in the Indenture) and has been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action and does not contravene, or constitute a default
under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or the certificate of
incorporation of the Company or of the Escrow Agreement, the Indenture or any
other agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding
upon the Company or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any
assets of the Company.
2. No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture.
3. The Company will use the Escrow Funds released hereby within 30
Business Days to legally defease or redeem its Zero Coupon Senior Notes due
1999.
The Company hereby requests the Trustee to liquidate $_________ worth of
Government Securities in the Escrow Account by not later than 12:00 noon (New
York time) on ________, _____ and to transfer $___________ in immediately
available funds to the Paying Agent for payment to _______________ at
________________.
A-1
Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings
set forth in the Indenture.
By: __________________________________
Name: ________________________________
Title: _______________________________
By: __________________________________
Name: ________________________________
Title: _______________________________
A-2
