SINOENERGY CORPORATION 12% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2012 INDENTURE Dated September 28, 2007 DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED as Trustee DEUTSCHE BANK AG, HONG KONG BRANCH as Paying Agent DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED as Collateral Agent
`Execution
Version
SINOENERGY
CORPORATION
$16,000,000
12%
SENIOR NOTES DUE 2012
______________________________
Dated
September 28, 2007
______________________________
DB
TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
as
Trustee
DEUTSCHE
BANK AG, HONG KONG BRANCH
as
Paying
Agent
DB
TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
as
Collateral Agent
This
INDENTURE dated September 28, 2007 is by and among SINOENERGY CORPORATION,
a
Nevada corporation (the “Company”),
SINOENERGY HOLDING LIMITED, a British Virgin Islands corporation as Guarantor,
DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED, as trustee (the “Trustee”)
and
Collateral Agent and DEUTSCHE BANK AG, HONG KONG BRANCH as Paying
Agent.
The
Company has duly authorized the creation of an issue of 12% Senior Notes due
2012 (the “Notes”)
of the
amount and substantially the tenor hereinafter set forth and, to provide
therefor, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture. All things necessary to make the Notes, when duly issued and executed
by the Company, and authenticated and delivered hereunder, the valid obligations
of the Company, and to make this Indenture a valid and binding agreement of
the
Company, have been done. 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 Notes issued under this Indenture:
ARTICLE
1.
DEFINITIONS
AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section
1.01. Definitions
For
all
purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless
the
context otherwise requires:
“Additional
Amounts”
means,
with respect to any Note, an amount equal to 3.3% of the principal amount of
such Note due and payable by the Company to the holder thereof if a listing
of
the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Market or Nasdaq Capital Market has not
been completed on or before, or such listing has not been maintained as of,
September 28, 2008, such Additional Amounts being due and payable no later
than
October 5, 2008. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “premium” shall
include Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to the Notes.
“Additional
Assets”
means:
(a) any
Property (other than cash, Cash Equivalent and securities) to be owned by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries and used in a Related Business; or
(b) Capital
Stock of a Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Company as a result of the
acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or another Subsidiary of the
Company from any Person other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company;
provided,
however,
that,
in the case of clause (b), such Subsidiary is primarily engaged in a
Related Business.
“Affiliate”
of
any
specified Person means:
(a) any
other
Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct
or
indirect common control with such specified Person, or
(b) any
other
Person who is a director or officer of:
(1) such
specified Person,
(2) any
Subsidiary of such specified Person, or
(3) any
Person described in clause (a) above, or
(c) any
spouse, parent, child, brother or sister of any Person described in (a) or
(b)
above.
1
For
the
purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person,
means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly
or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract
or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings
correlative to the foregoing. For purposes of Section
4.12
and Section
4.14
and the
definition of “Additional Assets” only, “Affiliate” shall also mean any
Beneficial Owner of shares representing 5% or more of the total voting power
of
the Voting Stock (on a fully diluted basis) of the Company or of rights or
warrants to purchase such Voting Stock (whether or not currently exercisable)
and any Person who would be an Affiliate of any such Beneficial Owner pursuant
to the first sentence hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall
Abax Lotus Ltd. or CCIF Petrol Limited or any of their respective Affiliates
be
considered an Affiliate of the Company.
“Agent”
means
any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying
agent.
“Applicable
Procedures”
means,
with respect to any transfer, redemption or exchange of or for beneficial
interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of Euroclear and
Clearstream that apply to such transfer, redemption or exchange.
“Asset
Sale”
means
any sale, lease, transfer, issuance or other disposition (or series of related
sales, leases, transfers, issuances or dispositions) by the Company or any
of
its Subsidiaries, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation
or similar transaction (each referred to for the purposes of this definition
as
a “disposition”), of
(a) any
shares of Capital Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company (other than directors’
qualifying shares), or
(b) any
other
Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries outside of the ordinary
course of business of the Company or such Subsidiary,
other
than, in the case of clause (a) or (b) above,
(1) any
disposition by a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or by the Company
or
one of its Subsidiaries to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary,
(2) any
disposition that constitutes a Permitted Investment or Restricted Payment
permitted by Section
4.10,
(3) any
disposition effected in compliance with the first paragraph of Section
5.01,
(4) any
disposition of inventory of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the
ordinary course of business, or inventory or other property that in the
reasonable judgment of the Company have become uneconomic, obsolete or worn
out,
(5) the
sale
or discount of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise or
collection thereof in the ordinary course of business, and
(6) any
disposition in a single transaction or a series of related transactions of
assets for aggregate consideration of less than $1.0 million.
“Attributable
Debt”
in
respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, at any date of determination,
(a) if
such
Sale and Leaseback Transaction is a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of
Debt
represented thereby according to the definition of “Capital Lease Obligations,”
and
2
(b) in
all
other instances, the present value (discounted at the weighted average interest
rate borne by the Notes, compounded annually in the most recently completed
twelve months) of the total obligations of the lessee for 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).
“Average
Life”
means,
as of any date of determination, with respect to any Debt or Preferred Stock,
the quotient obtained by dividing:
(a) the
sum
of the product of the numbers of years (rounded to the nearest one-twelfth
of
one year) from the date of determination to the dates of each successive
scheduled principal payment of such Debt or redemption or similar payment with
respect to such Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment by
(b) the
sum
of all such payments.
“Bankruptcy
Law”
means
Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of
debtors, or the law of any other jurisdiction relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency, winding up, liquidation, reorganization or relief of
debtors.
“Beneficial
Owner”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange
Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular
“person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such
“person” shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that
such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other
securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only
upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition or passage of time. The terms
“Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding
meaning.
“Board
of Directors”
means
(1) in respect of a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation,
or
(except if used in the definition of “Change of Control”) any duly authorized
committee thereof; and (2) in respect of any other Person, the board or
committee of that Person serving an equivalent function.
“Board
Resolution”
of
a
Person means a copy of a resolution (in form and substance satisfactory to
the
Trustee) certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary (or individual
performing comparable duties) of the applicable Person to have been duly adopted
by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect
on
the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Legal Holiday.
“Capital
Expenditures”
means
expenditures (whether paid in cash or other consideration or accrued as a
liability and including that portion of Capital Lease Obligations which is
capitalized on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries) by the Company and its Subsidiaries that, in conformity with
GAAP,
are included in “additions to property, plant and equipment” or as capitalized
internally developed software or comparable items reflected in the consolidated
balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
“Capital
Lease Obligations”
means
any obligation under a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial
reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP; and the amount of Debt represented
by such obligation shall be the capitalized amount of such obligations
determined in accordance with GAAP; and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be
the
date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior
to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without
payment of a penalty. For purposes of Section
4.11
a
Capital Lease Obligation shall be deemed secured by a Lien on the Property
being
leased.
“Capital
Stock”
means,
with respect to any Person, any shares or other equivalents (however designated)
of any class of corporate stock or partnership interests or any other
participations, rights, warrants, options or other interests in the nature
of an
equity interest in such Person, including Preferred Stock, but excluding any
debt security convertible or exchangeable into such equity
interest.
3
“Capital
Stock Sale Proceeds”
means
the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company from the issuance or sale
(other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan
or trust established by the Company or any such Subsidiary for the benefit
of
their employees) by the Company of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
Stock) after the Issue Date, net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees,
underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage,
consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection with such issuance
or
sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.
“Cash
Equivalents”
means
any of the following:
(a) Investments
in U.S. Government Securities maturing within 365 days of the date of
acquisition thereof;
(b) Investments
in time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits
maturing within 90 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank
or trust company organized under the laws of the United States of America
or any state thereof having capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating
in excess of $500 million and whose long-term debt is rated “A-3” or “A-”
or higher according to Xxxxx’x or S&P (or such similar equivalent rating by
at least one “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined
in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));
(c) repurchase
obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities
of the types described in clause (a) entered into with:
(1) a
bank
meeting the qualifications described in clause (b) above, or
(2) any
primary government securities dealer reporting to the Market Reports Division
of
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York;
(d) Investments
in commercial paper, maturing not more than 90 days after the date of
acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company)
organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America
with a rating at the time as of which any Investment therein is made of “P-1”
(or higher) according to Xxxxx’x or “A-1” (or higher) according to S&P (or
such similar equivalent rating by at least one “nationally recognized
statistical rating organization” (as defined in Rule 436 under the
Securities Act));
(e) direct
obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such
obligations) of any state of the United States of America (including any agency
or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit
of such state are pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the
issuer’s option, provided
that:
(1) the
long-term debt of such state is rated “A-3” or “A-” or higher according to
Xxxxx’x or S&P (or such similar equivalent rating by at least one
“nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in
Rule 436 under the Securities Act)), and
(2) such
obligations mature within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof;
and
(f) time
deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits with (i)
Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction
Bank
and China Merchants Bank or (ii) any other bank or trust company organized
under
the laws of the PRC whose long-term debt is rated as high or higher than any
of
those banks.
“Change
of Control”
means
the occurrence of any of the following events:
4
(a) the
Permitted Holders cease to be the “beneficial owners” (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person will be deemed to
have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such Person has the right to
acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage
of time), directly or indirectly, of at least 25% of the total voting power
of
the Voting Stock of the Company, whether as a result of the issuance of
securities of the Company, any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution
of the Company, any direct or indirect transfer of securities by the Permitted
Holders or otherwise (for purposes of this clause (a), the Permitted Holders
will be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of a specified corporation
held by a parent corporation so long as the Permitted Holders beneficially
own,
directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a majority of the total voting power
of
the Voting Stock of such parent corporation); or
(b) the
sale,
transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition, directly or
indirectly, of all or substantially all the Property of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, considered as a whole (other than a disposition of such Property
as an entirety or virtually as an entirety to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary or
one
or more Permitted Holders), shall have occurred, or the Company merges,
consolidates or amalgamates with or into any other Person (other than one or
more Permitted Holders) or any other Person (other than one or more Permitted
Holders) merges, consolidates or amalgamates with or into the Company, in any
such event pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding Voting Stock
of
the Company is reclassified into or exchanged for cash, securities or other
Property, other than any such transaction where:
(1) the
outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is reclassified into or exchanged for
other Voting Stock of the Company or for Voting Stock of the Surviving Person,
and
(2) the
holders of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction
own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the Voting Stock of
the
Company or the Surviving Person immediately after such transaction and in
substantially the same proportion as before the transaction; or
(c) Continuing
Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors then in office; or
(d) the
shareholders of the Company shall have approved any plan of liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
“Clearstream” means
Clearstream Banking, société
anonyme,
and any
successor thereto.
“Code”
means
the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral”
means
all the collateral described in the Security Documents.
“Collateral
Agent”
means
DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited, and any successor collateral agent appointed
pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
“Commission”
means
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Commodity
Price Protection Agreement”
means,
in respect of a Person, any forward contract, commodity swap agreement,
commodity option agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed
to
protect such Person against fluctuations in commodity prices.
“Common
Depositary”
means,
with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in global form, the Person
specified in Section
2.03(b)
hereof
as the Common Depositary to Euroclear and Clearstream with respect to the Notes,
and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having
become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this
Indenture.
5
“Common
Stock”
means
any stock of any class of the Company which has no preference in respect of
dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and which is not subject
to redemption by the Company.
“Company”
is
defined in the preamble.
“Consolidated
Current Liabilities”
means,
as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of liabilities of the
Issuer and its consolidated Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as
current liabilities (including taxes accrued as estimated), after
eliminating:
(a) all
intercompany items between the Issuer and any Subsidiary or between
Subsidiaries, and
(b) all
current maturities of long-term Debt.
“Consolidated
Interest Expense”
means,
for any period, the total interest expense of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries, plus, to the extent not included in such total interest expense,
and to the extent Incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries, without
duplication,
(a) interest
expense attributable to leases constituting part of a Sale and Leaseback
Transaction and to Capital Lease Obligations,
(b) amortization
of debt discount and debt issuance cost, including commitment fees,
(c) capitalized
interest,
(d) non-cash
interest expense,
(e) commissions,
discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit
and
banker’s acceptance financing,
(f) net
costs
associated with Hedging Obligations (including amortization of fees),
(g) Disqualified
Stock Dividends (other than dividends payable in Capital Stock other than
Disqualified Stock),
(h) Preferred
Stock Dividends (other than dividends payable in Capital Stock other than
Disqualified Stock),
(i) interest
accruing on any Debt of any other Person to the extent such Debt is guaranteed
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and
(j) the
cash
contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar trust, if any
and
to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest
or fees to any Person (other than the Company) in connection with Debt Incurred
by such plan or trust.
“Consolidated
Net Income”
means,
for any period, the net income (loss) of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries; provided,
however,
that
there shall not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:
(a) any
net
income (loss) of any Person (other than the Company) if such Person is not
a
Subsidiary of the Company, except that:
(1) subject
to the exclusions contained in clauses (c), (d) and (e) below, equity of
the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries in the net income of any such
Person for such period shall be included in such Consolidated Net Income up
to
the aggregate amount of cash distributed by such Person during such period
to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a dividend or other distribution
(subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution to such Subsidiary,
to
the limitations contained in clause (b) below), and
6
(2) the
equity of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries in a net loss of any
such Person for such period shall be included in determining such Consolidated
Net Income,
(b) any
net
income (loss) of any Subsidiary of the Company if such Subsidiary is subject
to
restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making
of distributions, directly or indirectly, to the Company, except
that:
(1) subject
to the exclusions contained in clauses (c), (d) and (e) below, the equity of
the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries in the net income of any such
Subsidiary for such period shall be included in such Consolidated Net Income
up
to the aggregate amount of cash distributed by such Subsidiary during such
period to the Company or another of its Subsidiaries as a dividend or other
distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution to
another Subsidiary of the Company, to the limitation contained in this clause),
and
(2) the
equity of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries in a net loss of any
such Subsidiary for such period shall be included in determining such
Consolidated Net Income,
(c) any
gain
(but not loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Property
of
the Company or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries (including pursuant to
any
Sale and Leaseback Transaction) that is not sold or otherwise disposed of in
the
ordinary course of business,
(d) any
extraordinary gain or loss,
(e) the
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles, and
(f) any
non-cash compensation expense realized for grants of performance shares, stock
options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of the Company
or
any of its Subsidiaries, provided
that
such shares, options or other rights can be redeemed at the option of the holder
only for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified
Stock).
“Consolidated
Net Tangible Assets”
means,
as of any date of determination, the sum of the amounts that would appear on
a
consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its consolidated Subsidiaries
as
the total assets (less accumulated depreciation and amortization, allowances
for
doubtful receivables, other applicable reserves and other properly deductible
items) of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, after giving effect to purchase
accounting and after deducting therefrom Consolidated Current Liabilities and,
to the extent otherwise included, the amounts of (without duplication):
(a) the
excess of cost over fair market value of assets or businesses acquired;
(b) any
revaluation or other write-up in book value of assets subsequent to the last
day
of the fiscal quarter of the Issuer immediately preceding the Issue Date
as a
result of a change in the method of valuation in accordance with GAAP;
(c) unamortized
debt discount and expenses and other unamortized deferred charges, goodwill,
patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses,
organization or developmental expenses and other intangible items;
(d) minority
interests in consolidated Subsidiaries held by Persons other than the Issuer
or
any Subsidiary;
7
(e) treasury
stock; and
(f) cash
or
securities set aside and held in a sinking or other analogous fund established
for the purpose of redemption or other retirement of Capital Stock to the
extent
such obligation is not reflected in Consolidated Current
Liabilities.
“Consolidated
Net Worth”
means
the total of the amounts shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company
and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent Fiscal Quarter of the
Company ending at least 45 days prior to the taking of any action for the
purpose of which the determination is being made, as:
(a) the
par
or stated value of all outstanding Capital Stock of the Company, plus
(b) paid-in
capital or capital surplus relating to such Capital Stock, plus
(c) any
retained earnings or earned surplus, less:
(1) any
accumulated deficit, and
(2) any
amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock. or any equity security convertible
into or exchangeable for Debt, the cost of treasury stock and the principal
amount of any promissory notes receivable from the sale of Capital Stock of
the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, each item to be determined in conformity
with GAAP.
“Consolidated
Subsidiary Debt to Consolidated Net Tangible Asset
Ratio”
means
the ratio of (a) the aggregate amount of outstanding Debt of the Company’s
consolidated Subsidiaries (other than any Debt owed by a Subsidiary of the
Company to the Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary) to (b) the sum of the
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company (as reflected in the Company’s
consolidated balance sheet) as of the end of the Fiscal Quarter.
“Continuing
Directors”
means,
as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors who (a)
was a member of the Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture or (b)
was
nominated for election to the Board of Directors by, or whose election was
ratified with the approval of, a majority of the Continuing Directors who were
members of the Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or
election.
“Convertible
Note Guarantees”
means
the guarantee by one or more of the Guarantors of the Convertible Notes pursuant
to the terms of the indenture governing the terms of the Convertible
Notes.
“Convertible
Notes”
means
the Company’s 3.0 % Senior Convertible Notes due 2012 issued pursuant to that
certain indenture dated September 28, 2007 by and among the Company, DB Trustees
(Hong Kong) Limited as Trustee, Collateral Agent and Conversion Agent and
Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch as Paying Agent.
“Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee”
shall
be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section
14.01
hereof,
or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the
Company.
“Credit
Facilities”
means,
with respect to the WFOE, one or more debt or commercial paper facilities with
banks or other institutional lenders in the PRC providing for revolving credit
loans, term loans, receivables or inventory financing (including through the
sale of receivables or inventory to such lenders or to special purpose,
bankruptcy remote entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such
receivables or inventory) or trade letters of credit, in each case together
with
any Refinancings thereof by any lender or syndicate of lenders.
“Currency
Exchange Protection Agreement”
means,
in respect of a Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement,
currency option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect
such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
8
“Debt”
means,
with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without
duplication):
(a) the
principal of and premium (if any) in respect of:
(1) debt
of
such Person for money borrowed, and
(2) debt
evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the
payment of which such Person is responsible or liable;
(b) all
Capital Lease Obligations of such Person and all Attributable Debt in respect
of
Sale and Leaseback Transactions entered into by such Person;
(c) all
obligations of such Person representing the deferred purchase price of Property,
all conditional sale obligations of such Person and all obligations of such
Person under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable
arising in the ordinary course of business);
(d) all
obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter
of
credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction (other than
obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than
obligations described in (a) through (c) above) entered into in the ordinary
course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are
not
drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed
no
later than the third Business Day following receipt by such Person of a demand
for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit);
(e) the
amount of all obligations of such Person with respect to the Repayment of any
Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Subsidiary of such Person, any
Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);
(f) all
obligations of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above of
other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of which,
in
either case, such Person is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly,
as
obligor, guarantor or otherwise, including by means of any guarantee;
(g) all
obligations of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of
other Persons secured by any Lien on any Property of such Person (whether or
not
such obligation is assumed by such Person), the amount of such obligation being
deemed to be the lesser of the Fair Market Value of such Property and the amount
of the obligation so secured; and
(h) to
the
extent not otherwise included in this definition, Hedging Obligations of such
Person.
The
amount of Debt of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance,
or
the accreted value of such Debt in the case of Debt issued with original issue
discount, at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above
and
the maximum liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to
the
obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date. The amount of Debt
represented by a Hedging Obligation shall be equal to:
(1) zero
if
such Hedging Obligation has been Incurred pursuant to clause (e), (f) or (g)
of
the second paragraph of Section
4.09
or
(2) the
notional amount of such Hedging Obligation if not Incurred pursuant to such
clauses.
“Default”
means
any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an
Event of Default.
9
“Definitive
Note”
means
a
certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in
accordance with Section
2.06
or
2.10
hereof,
in substantially the form of Exhibit
A
hereto
except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have
the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached
thereto.
“Disqualified
Stock”
means
any Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that by its terms
(or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which
it is
exchangeable, in either case at the option of the holder thereof) or
otherwise:
(a) matures
or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,
(b) is
or may
become redeemable or repurchaseable at the option of the holder thereof, in
whole or in part, or
(c) is
convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof for Debt or
Disqualified Stock,
on
or
prior to, in the case of clause (a), (b) or (c), the first anniversary of
the Stated Maturity of the Notes.
“Disqualified
Stock Dividends”
means
all dividends with respect to Disqualified Stock of the Company held by Persons
other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary. The amount of any such dividend shall
be
equal to the quotient of such dividend divided by the difference between one
and
the maximum statutory federal income tax rate (expressed as a decimal number
between 1 and 0) then applicable to the Company.
“Distribution
Compliance Expiration Date”
means
the 41st day after the after the later of (i) the day on which the Notes were
first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation
S
under the Securities Act) and (ii) the Issue Date.
“Domestic
Subsidiary”
means
any Subsidiary of the Company other than (a) a Foreign Subsidiary or
(b) a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary.
“EBITDA”
means,
for any period, an amount equal to, for the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries:
(a) the
sum
of Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus the following to the extent
reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period:
(1) the
provision for taxes based on income or profits or utilized in computing net
loss,
(2) Consolidated
Interest Expense,
(3) depreciation,
(4) amortization
of intangibles, and
(5) any
other
non-cash items (other than any such non-cash item to the extent that it
represents an accrual of, or reserve for, cash expenditures in any future
period), minus
(b) all
non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period.
10
Notwithstanding
the foregoing clause (a), the provision for taxes and the depreciation,
amortization and non-cash items of a Subsidiary of the Company shall be added
to
Consolidated Net Income to compute EBITDA only to the extent (and in the same
proportion) that the net income of such Subsidiary was included in calculating
Consolidated Net Income and only if a corresponding amount would be permitted
at
the date of determination to be dividended to the Company by such Subsidiary
without prior approval (that has not been obtained), pursuant to the terms
of
its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders,
statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to such Subsidiary
or
its shareholders.
“Euroclear”
means
Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., and any successor thereto.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, as in effect from time to time.
“Fair
Market Value”
means,
with respect to any Property at the time of determination, the price that could
be negotiated in an arm’s-length free market transaction, for cash, between a
willing seller and a willing buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure
or
compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair Market Value shall be determined,
except as otherwise provided,
(a) if
such
Property has a Fair Market Value equal to or less than $1.0 million, by any
Officer of the Company, or
(b) if
such
Property has a Fair Market Value in excess of $1.0 million, by a majority
of the Board of Directors and evidenced by a Board Resolution or an Independent
Financial Advisor and evidenced by a written opinion from such Independent
Financial Advisor if such Property has a Fair Market Value in excess of
$3.0 million, dated within 30 days of the relevant transaction, delivered
to the Trustee.
“Fiscal
Quarter”
means
each of the three month periods ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31.
“Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio”
means,
as of any date of determination, the ratio of:
(a) the
aggregate amount of EBITDA for the most recent four consecutive Fiscal Quarters
ending prior to such determination date to
(b) Consolidated
Interest Expense for such four Fiscal Quarters;
provided,
however,
that:
(1) if
(A) since
the
beginning of such period the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has Incurred
any
Debt that remains outstanding or Repaid any Debt, or
(B) the
transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio
is an Incurrence or Repayment of Debt,
Consolidated
Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving effect on
a
pro
forma basis
to
such Incurrence or Repayment as if such Debt was Incurred or Repaid on the
first
day of such period, provided
that,
in
the event of any such Repayment of Debt, EBITDA for such period shall be
calculated as if the Company or such Subsidiary had not earned any interest
income actually earned during such period in respect of the funds used to Repay
such Debt, and provided
further
that the
amount of Debt Incurred under revolving credit facilities shall be deemed to
be
the average daily balance of such Debt during such period (or any shorter period
in which such facilities are in effect) and
11
(2) if
(A) since
the
beginning of such period the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall have
made
any Asset Sale or an Investment (by merger or otherwise) in any Subsidiary
of
the Company (or any Person which becomes a Subsidiary of the Company) or an
acquisition of Property which constitutes all or substantially all of an
operating unit of a business,
(B) the
transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio
is such an Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition, or
(C) since
the
beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Subsidiary
of
the Company or was merged with or into the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company since the beginning of such period) shall have made such an Asset Sale,
Investment or acquisition,
then
EBITDA for such period shall be calculated after giving pro
forma
effect
to such Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition as if such Asset Sale, Investment
or acquisition had occurred on the first day of such period.
If
any
Debt bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro
forma
effect,
the interest expense on such Debt shall be calculated as if the base interest
rate in effect for such floating rate of interest on the date of determination
had been the applicable base interest rate for the entire period (taking into
account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Debt if such Interest
Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). In the event
the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Company is sold during the period,
the Company shall be deemed, for purposes of clause (1) above, to have
Repaid during such period the Debt of such Subsidiary to the extent the Company
and its continuing Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Debt after such
sale.
“Foreign
Subsidiary”
means
any Subsidiary of the Company which is not organized under the laws of the
United States of America or any State thereof or the District of
Columbia.
“GAAP”
means
United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the
Issue
Date, including those set forth in:
(a) the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants,
(b) the
statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board,
(c) such
other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment
of
the accounting profession, and
(d) the
rules
and regulations of the Commission governing the inclusion of financial
statements (including pro
forma financial
statements) in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13
of
the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting
bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the
Commission.
All
ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture will be
computed in conformity with GAAP.
“Global
Note Legend”
means
the legend set forth on all Global Notes issued under this
Indenture.
12
“Global
Notes”
means
the global Notes in the form of Exhibit
A
hereto
issued in accordance with Article
2
hereof.
“Governmental
Approval”
means
any authorization of or by, consent of, approval of, license from, ruling of,
permit from, tariff by, rate of, certification by, exemption from, filing with
(except any filing relating to the perfection of security interests), variance
from, claim of, order from, judgment from, decree of, publication to or by,
notice to, declaration of or with or registration by or with any Governmental
Authority, whether tacit or express.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any federal, state, national, provincial, municipal, local, territorial or
other
government department, ministry (including local counterparts thereof),
commission, board, agency, regulatory authority, instrumentality, judicial
or
administrative body, domestic or foreign.
“guarantee”
means
any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly
guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person and any obligation, direct or
indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:
(a) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of)
such
Debt of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership
arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods,
securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement
conditions or otherwise), or
(b) entered
into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee against loss
in
respect thereof (in whole or in part);
provided,
however,
that the
term “guarantee” shall not include:
(1) endorsements
for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business, or
(2) a
contractual commitment by one Person to invest in another Person for so long
as
such Investment is reasonably expected to constitute a Permitted Investment
under clause (a), (b) or (c) of the definition of “Permitted Investment.”
The
term
“guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning. The term “guarantor”
shall mean any Person guaranteeing any obligation.
“Guarantee”
means
the Guarantee of the Notes by each of the Guarantors pursuant to Article
9
and in
the form of the Guarantee attached as Exhibit
B
and any
additional Guarantee of the Notes to be executed by any Subsidiary of the
Company pursuant to Section
4.16.
“Guarantor”
means
each Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to Section
4.17
or who
otherwise executes and delivers a supplemental indenture (in form satisfactory
to the Trustee) to the Trustee providing for a Guarantee; provided
that any
Person constituting a Guarantor as described above shall cease to constitute
a
Guarantor when its respective Guarantee is released in accordance with the
terms
of this Indenture.
“Hedging
Obligation”
of
any
Person means any obligation of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate
Agreement, Currency Exchange Protection Agreement, Commodity Price Protection
Agreement or any other similar agreement or arrangement.
“Holder”
or
“holder”
means,
in respect of a Note, a Person in whose name such a Note is registered in the
Security Register.
13
“Incur”
means,
with respect to any Debt or other obligation of any Person, to create, issue,
incur (by merger, conversion, exchange or otherwise), extend, assume, Guarantee
or become liable in respect of such Debt or other obligation or the recording,
as required pursuant to GAAP or otherwise, of any such Debt or obligation on
the
balance sheet of such Person (and “Incurrence” and “Incurred” shall have
meanings correlative to the foregoing); provided,
however,
that a
change in GAAP that results in an obligation of such Person that exists at
such
time, and is not theretofore classified as Debt, becoming Debt shall not be
deemed an Incurrence of such Debt; provided
further,however,
that any Debt or other obligations of a Person existing at the time such Person
becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or
otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Subsidiary at the time it
becomes a Subsidiary; and provided
further, however,
that
solely for purposes of determining compliance with Section
4.09,
amortization of debt discount shall not be deemed to be the Incurrence of Debt,
provided
that in
the case of Debt sold at a discount, the amount of such Debt Incurred shall
at
all times be the aggregate principal amount at Stated Maturity.
“Indenture”
means
this instrument, as originally executed or as it may from time to time be
supplemented or amended in accordance with Article
8
hereof.
“Independent
Financial Advisor”
means
an investment banking firm of international standing or any third party
appraiser of international standing, provided
that
such firm or appraiser is not an Affiliate of the Company.
“Interest”
means,
when used with reference to the Notes, any interest payable under the terms
of
the Notes.
“Interest
Payment Dates”
shall
have the meaning set forth in paragraph 1 of each Note.
“Interest
Period”
means
the period commencing on and including an Interest Payment Date and ending
on
and excluding the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, with the exception
that
the first Interest Period shall commence on and include the Issue Date and
end
on and include March 28, 2008.
“Interest
Rate Agreement”
means,
for any Person, any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement,
interest rate collar agreement or other similar agreement designed to protect
against fluctuations in interest rates.
“Investment”
by
any
Person means any direct or indirect loan (other than advances to customers
in
the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on
the
balance sheet of such Person), advance or other extension of credit or capital
contribution (by means of transfers of cash or other Property to others or
payments for Property or services for the account or use of others, or
otherwise) to, or Incurrence of a Guarantee of any obligation of, or purchase
or
acquisition of Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities
or
evidence of Debt issued by, any other Person.
In
determining the amount of any Investment made by transfer of any Property other
than cash, such Property shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time
of
such Investment.
“Investor
Rights Agreement”
means
the Investor Rights Agreement dated the date hereof by and among (i) the
Company, the Guarantor, the WFOE, certain Subsidiaries of the Company identified
in a schedule thereto, Xx. XXXX Xxxxxxxx, a resident of Qingdao in the PRC,
Mr.
XXXXX Xx, a resident of Qingdao Province in the PRC, and (ii) Abax Lotus Ltd.
and CCIF Petrol Limited.
“Issue
Date”
means
_________, 2007.
“Legal
Holiday”
means
a
Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New
York, the PRC, the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee
is
located or any other place of payment on the Notes are authorized by law,
regulation or executive order to remain closed for all or a portion of a
business day.
“Leverage
Ratio”
means
the ratio of:
14
(a) the
outstanding Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis,
to
(b) EBITDA
for the most recently completed four Fiscal Quarters;
if:
(1)
(A) since
the
beginning of such period the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has Incurred
any
Debt that remains outstanding or Repaid any Debt, or
(B) the
transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Leverage Ratio is an
Incurrence or Repayment of Debt,
Consolidated
Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving effect on
a
pro
forma basis
to
such Incurrence or Repayment as if such Debt was Incurred or Repaid on the
first
day of such period, provided
that,
in
the event of any such Repayment of Debt, EBITDA for such period shall be
calculated as if the Company or such Subsidiary had not earned any interest
income actually earned during such period in respect of the funds used to Repay
such Debt, and provided
further
that the
amount of Debt Incurred under revolving credit facilities shall be deemed to
be
the average daily balance of such Debt during such period (or any shorter period
in which such facilities are in effect) and
(2) if
(a) since
the
beginning of such period, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall have
made
any Asset Sale or an Investment (by merger or otherwise) in any Subsidiary
of
the Company (or any Person that becomes such a Subsidiary) or an acquisition
of
Property,
(b) the
transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Leverage Ratio is such
an
Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition, or
(c) since
the
beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Subsidiary
of
the Company or was merged with or into the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
since the beginning of such period) shall have made such an Asset Sale,
Investment or acquisition,
EBITDA
for such period shall be calculated after giving pro
forma
effect
to such Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition as if such Asset Sale, Investment
or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period.
If
any
Debt bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro
forma
effect,
the interest expense on such Debt shall be calculated as if the base interest
rate in effect for such floating rate of interest on the date of determination
had been the applicable base interest rate for the entire period (taking into
account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Debt if such Interest
Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). In the event
the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Company is sold during the period,
the Company shall be deemed, for purposes of clause (1) above, to have
Repaid during such period the Debt of such Subsidiary to the extent the Company
and its continuing Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Debt after such
sale.
“Lien”
means,
with respect to any Property of any Person, any mortgage or deed of trust,
pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest,
lien,
charge, easement (other than any easement not materially impairing usefulness
or
marketability), encumbrance, preference, priority or other security agreement
or
preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever on or with respect
to
such Property (including any Capital Lease Obligation, conditional sale or
other
title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as
any
of the foregoing or any Sale and Leaseback Transaction).
15
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
a
material adverse effect on (a) the property, business, operations, financial
condition, liabilities or capitalization of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (b) the ability of any such Person to perform its payment
obligations or any of its material obligations under any of the Security
Documents or the Restructuring Agreements to which such Person is a party,
(c)
the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents or the
Restructuring Agreements, (d) the material rights and remedies of the Trustee
or
the Collateral Agent under any of the Security Documents or (e) the timely
payment of any principal or premium of, or interest on, any of the
Notes.
“Moody’s”
means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business
thereof.
“Net
Available Cash”
from
any Asset Sale means cash payments received therefrom (including any cash
payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note
or
installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but
excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the
acquiring Person of Debt or other obligations relating to the Property that
is
the subject of such Asset Sale or received in any other non-cash form), in
each
case net of:
(a) all
legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses
incurred, and all U.S. federal, state, national, provincial, foreign and local
taxes required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP, as a consequence of
such
Asset Sale,
(b) all
payments made on or in respect of any Debt that is secured by any Property
subject to such Asset Sale, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such
Property, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent
to such Asset Sale, or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from
such Asset Sale,
(c) all
distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest
holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale, and
(d) the
deduction of appropriate amounts provided by the seller as a reserve, in
accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the Property
disposed of in such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries after such Asset Sale.
“Note
Obligations”
means
the Notes, the Guarantees and all other obligations of any obligor under this
Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents.
“Notes”
is
defined in the preamble.
“Obligations”
means
all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Debt.
“Officer”
means,
with respect to the Company, its Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President or any Vice President (whether or not designated by
a
number or numbers or word or words added before or after the title “Vice
President”), the Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer or any Assistant
Treasurer, or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary.
“Officers’
Certificate”
means
a
certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, signed by two
Officers of the Company, at least one of whom shall be the principal executive
officer or principal financial officer of the Company, and which certificate
meets the requirements of Section
14.04
hereof
and is delivered to the Trustee.
“Opinion
of Counsel”
means
a
written opinion, in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, from legal
counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee and which meets the requirements of
Section
14.04
hereof.
16
“Participant”
means,
with respect to Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with
Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively.
“Permitted
Holders”
means
Xx. XXXX Xxxxxxxx and Mr. XXXXX Xx, each a resident of the City of Qingdao
in
the PRC, and their respective estates, spouses, ancestors and lineal
descendants, the legal representatives of any of the foregoing and the trustees
of any bona fide trusts of which the foregoing are the sole beneficiaries or
the
grantors, or any Person of which the foregoing “beneficially owns” (as defined
in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), individually or collectively with
any of the foregoing, at least 80% of the total voting power of the Voting
Stock
of such Person.
“Permitted
Investment”
means
any Investment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in:
(a) the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries engaged in a Related Business,
(b) any
Person that will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Subsidiary of
the
Company, provided
that the
primary business of such Subsidiary is a Related Business;
(c) any
Person if as a result of such Investment such Person is merged or consolidated
with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its Property
to,
the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, provided
that
such Person’s primary business is a Related Business;
(d) Cash
Equivalents;
(e) receivables
owing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, if created or acquired in
the
ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with
customary trade terms; provided,
however,
that
such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Company
or
such Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;
(f) payroll,
travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time
of
such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses under GAAP and that are
made
in the ordinary course of business;
(g) loans
and
advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practices of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be,
provided
that
such loans and advances do not exceed $200,000 in the aggregate at any one
time
outstanding;
(h) stock,
obligations or other securities received in settlement of debts created in
the
ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries
or in satisfaction of judgments;
(i)
any
Person to the extent such Investment represents the non-cash portion of the
consideration received in connection with (A) an Asset Sale consummated in
compliance with Section
4.12
or (B)
any disposition of Property not constituting an Asset Sale; and
(j) Hedging
Obligations by the Company or any Guarantor that are otherwise permitted to
be
incurred under this Indenture, and which were entered into for financial
management of interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or commodity
prices and are directly related to transactions entered into by such Person
in
the ordinary course of its business, and not for speculative
purposes.
“Permitted
Liens”
means:
(a) Liens
in
favor of the Company or the Guarantors;
17
(b) Liens
securing, or created for the benefit of securing, the Notes, the Guarantees,
the
Convertible Notes and the Convertible Note Guarantees;
(c) Liens
to
secure Debt permitted to be Incurred under clause (b) of the second
paragraph of Section
4.09
and
other obligations thereunder, provided
that any
such Lien is limited to the accounts receivable and inventory of the PRC
Subsidiary;
(d) Liens
to
secure Debt permitted to be Incurred under clause (c) of the second
paragraph of Section
4.09
and
other obligations thereunder; provided
that
any
such Lien may not extend to any Property of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than the Property acquired, constructed or leased with
the
proceeds of such Debt and any improvements or accessions to such
Property;
(e) Liens
for
taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on the Property of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries if the same shall not at the time be
delinquent or thereafter can be paid without penalty, or are being contested
in
good faith and by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently
concluded, provided
that any
reserve or other appropriate provision that shall be required in conformity
with
GAAP shall have been made therefor;
(f) Liens
imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens and other
similar Liens, on the Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising
in the ordinary course of business and securing payment of obligations that
are
not more than 60 days past due or are being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings;
(g) Liens
on
the Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries Incurred in the ordinary
course of business to secure performance of obligations with respect to
statutory or regulatory requirements, performance or return-of-money bonds,
surety bonds or other obligations of a like nature and Incurred in a manner
consistent with industry practice, in each case which are not Incurred in
connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit
or
the payment of the deferred purchase price of Property and which do not in
the
aggregate impair in any material respect the use of Property in the operation
of
the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(h) Liens
on
Property at the time the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acquired such
Property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with
or into the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided,
however,
that
any such Lien may not extend to any other Property of the Company or any of
its
Subsidiaries; provided
further, that
such
Liens shall not have been Incurred in anticipation of or in connection with
the
transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which such Property was
acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(i) Liens
on
the Property of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the
Company; provided,
however,
that
any such Lien may not extend to any other Property of the Company or any other
Subsidiary of the Company that is not a direct Subsidiary of such Person;
provided
further, that
any
such Lien was not Incurred in anticipation of or in connection with the
transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which such Person became
a
Subsidiary of the Company;
(j) pledges
or deposits by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under workers’
compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good
faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for
the
payment of Debt) or leases to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is
party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of the Company,
or
deposits for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course
of business;
18
(k) utility
easements, building restrictions and such other encumbrances or charges against
real Property as are of a nature generally existing with respect to properties
of a similar character;
(l)
Liens
existing on the Issue Date not otherwise described in clauses (a) through
(k) above; and
(m) Liens
on
the Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to secure any
Refinancing, in whole or in part, of any Debt secured by Xxxxx referred to
in
clause (h), (i) or (l) above; provided,
however,
that
any such Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same Property that secured
the original Lien (together with improvements and accessions to such Property),
and the aggregate principal amount of Debt (and other obligations thereunder)
that is secured by such Lien shall not be increased to an amount greater than
the sum of:
(1)
|
the
outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, the committed amount,
of the
Debt (and other obligations thereunder) secured by Xxxxx described
under
clause (h), (i) or (l) above, as the case may be, at the time
the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and
|
(2)
|
an
amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums
and
defeasance costs, incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary in connection
with such Refinancing.
|
(n) Liens
to secure cash
collateral in respect of Hedging Obligations; provided
that
such Liens in the aggregate shall not initially exceed $1.0
million.
“Permitted
Refinancing Debt”
means
any Debt that Refinances any other Debt, including any successive Refinancings,
so long as:
(a) such
Debt
is in an aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue
discount, an aggregate issue price) not in excess of the sum of:
(1) the
aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, the
aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Debt being Refinanced,
and
(2) an
amount
necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and defeasance costs,
related to such Refinancing,
(b) the
Average Life of such Debt is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the
Debt being Refinanced,
(c) the
Stated Maturity of such Debt is no earlier than the Stated Maturity of the
Debt
being Refinanced,
(d) the
new
Debt shall not be senior in right of payment to the Debt that is being
Refinanced (as if such Refinanced Debt was outstanding), and
(e) the
new
Debt, the proceeds of which are used to Refinance the Notes or any Debt that
is
pari
passu
with or
subordinate to the Notes or a Guarantee, shall only be permitted if (A) in
case
the Notes are refinanced in part or the Debt to be Refinanced is pari
passu
with the
Notes or a Guarantee, such new Debt, by its terms or by terms of any agreement
or instrument pursuant to which such new Debt is outstanding, is expressly
made
pari
passu
with, or
subordinate in right of payment to, the remaining Notes or such Guarantee,
or
(B) in case the Debt to be Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to
the
Notes or a Guarantee, such new Debt, by its terms or by the terms of any
agreement or instrument to which such new Debt is issued or remains outstanding,
is expressly made subordinate in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantee
at least to the extent that the Debt to be Refinanced is subordinated to the
Notes or the Guarantee;
19
provided,
however,
that
Permitted Refinancing Debt shall not include the Debt of any Subsidiary that
is
not a Guarantor, if such Debt is used to Refinance Debt of the Company or a
Subsidiary.
“Person”
means
a
corporation, an association, a partnership, a limited liability company, an
individual, a joint venture, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated
organization or a government or an agency or a political subdivision
thereof.
“PRC”
means
the People’s Republic of China, exclusive of Taiwan, Macau and Hong
Kong.
“Predecessor
Note” of
any
particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the
same Debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and any Note authenticated
and delivered under Section
2.07
in lieu
of a lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same Debt
as
the lost, destroyed or stolen Note.
“Preferred
Stock”
means
any Capital Stock of a Person, however designated, which entitles the holder
thereof to a preference with respect to the payment of dividends, or as to
the
distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or
dissolution of such Person, over shares of any other class of Capital Stock
issued by such Person.
“Preferred
Stock Dividends”
means
all dividends with respect to Preferred Stock of the Company’s Subsidiaries held
by Persons other than the Company or any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.
The
amount of any such dividend shall be equal to the quotient of such dividend
divided by the difference between one and the maximum statutory federal income
rate (expressed as a decimal number between 1 and 0) then applicable to the
issuer of such Preferred Stock.
“pro
forma”
means,
with respect to any calculation made or required to be made pursuant to the
terms hereof, a calculation performed in accordance with Article 11 of
Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or Item 310 of Regulation
S-B promulgated under the Securities Act, as the case may be, as interpreted
in
good faith by the Board of Directors or the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors after consultation with the independent certified public accountants
of the Company, or otherwise a calculation made in good faith by the Board
of
Directors or the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors after consultation
with the independent certified public accountants of the Company, as the case
may be.
“Property”
means,
with respect to any Person, any interest of such Person in any kind of property
or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including
intellectual property rights and Capital Stock in, and other securities of,
any
other Person. For purposes of any calculation required pursuant to this
Indenture, the value of any Property shall be its Fair Market
Value.
“Qualifying
IPO”
means
a
listing of the Common Stock on Nasdaq’s Capital Market or Global
Market.
“Refinance”
means,
in respect of any Debt, to refinance, extend, renew, refund or Repay (in whole
or in part), or to issue other Debt, in exchange or replacement for (in whole
or
in part), such Debt. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” shall have correlative
meanings.
“Regular
Record Date”
for
the
interest payable on any Interest Payment Date means the applicable date
specified as a “Record Date” on the face of the Note.
“Related
Business”
means
the design, manufacture and marketing of non-standard pressurized containers
for
compressed natural gas (“CNG”) storage and transportation products; the design,
manufacture and marketing of CNG vehicle fuel conversion equipment; construction
services for CNG filling stations; and operation of CNG filling
stations.
20
“Repay”
means,
in respect of any Debt, to repay, prepay, repurchase, redeem, legally defease
or
otherwise retire such Debt. “Repayment” and “Repaid” shall have correlative
meanings. For purposes of Section
4.12
and the
definitions of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” and “Leverage Ratio,” Debt shall be
considered to have been Repaid only to the extent the related loan commitment,
if any, shall have been permanently reduced in connection therewith.
“Representative
Amount”
means
a
principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 for a single transaction in the
relevant market at the relevant time.
“Repurchase
Amount”
means,
with respect to the Convertible Notes, the Repurchase Amount as defined in
the
indenture governing the Convertible Notes.
“Responsible
Officer,”
when
used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust
Department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) with direct
responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Restricted
Payment”
means:
(a) any
dividend or distribution (whether made in cash, securities or other Property)
declared or paid on or with respect to any shares of Capital Stock of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including any payment in connection with
any
merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any of its Subsidiaries),
except for any dividend or distribution that is made solely to the Company
or
any of its Subsidiaries (and, if such Subsidiary is not a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary, to the other shareholders of such Subsidiary on a pro
rata basis
or
on a basis that results in the receipt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
of dividends or distributions of greater value than it would receive on a
pro
rata basis)
or
any dividend or distribution payable solely in shares of Capital Stock (other
than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(b) the
purchase, repurchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement for value of any
Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than from the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries) or any securities exchangeable for or
convertible into any such Capital Stock, including the exercise of any option
to
exchange any Capital Stock (other than for or into Capital Stock of the Company
that is not Disqualified Stock);
(c) the
purchase, repurchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement for value, prior
to
the date for any scheduled maturity, sinking fund or amortization or other
installment payment, of any Subordinated Obligation (other than the purchase,
repurchase or other acquisition of any Subordinated Obligation purchased in
anticipation of satisfying a scheduled maturity, sinking fund or amortization
or
other installment obligation, in each case due within one year of the date
of
acquisition); or
(d) any
Investment (other than Permitted Investments) in any Person.
“RMB”
means
the lawful currency of the PRC.
“S&P”
means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc., or any
successor to the rating agency business thereof.
“Sale
and Leaseback Transaction”
means
any direct or indirect arrangement relating to Property now owned or hereafter
acquired whereby the Company or any of its Subsidiaries transfers such Property
to another Person and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries leases it from
such
Person.
“Securities
Act”
means
the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, as in effect from time to time.
21
“Security
Documents”
means
that certain share pledge agreement dated the date hereof for creation of share
pledge on certain equity interests in Sinoenergy Holding Limited, a British
Virgin Islands corporation, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit
of
the holders of Note Obligations, whenever incurred, and also for the benefit
of
the present and future holders of all other Note Obligations and any document
perfecting such security interests, and any one or more security agreements,
pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust or other
grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any
other Obligor creating a Lien upon property owned or to be acquired by the
Company or such other Obligor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit
of the holders of Note Obligations, whenever incurred, and also for the benefit
of the present and future holders of all other Note Obligations and any document
perfecting such security interests pursuant to the terms of Article
10
hereof.
“Senior
Debt”
of
the
Company means:
(a) all
obligations consisting of the principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid
interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition
in
bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not such
post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding) in respect of:
(1) Debt
of
the Company for borrowed money, and
(2) Debt
of
the Company evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments
permitted under this Indenture for the payment of which the Company is
responsible or liable;
(b) all
Capital Lease Obligations of the Company and all Attributable Debt in respect
of
Sale and Leaseback Transactions entered into by the Company;
(c) all
obligations of the Company
(1) for
the
reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or
similar credit transaction,
(2) under
Hedging Obligations, or
(3) issued
or
assumed as the deferred purchase price of Property and all conditional sale
obligations of the Company and all obligations under any title retention
agreement permitted under this Indenture; and
(d) all
obligations of other Persons of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and
(c)
for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as
Guarantor;
provided,
however,
that
Senior Debt shall not include:
(A) Debt
of
the Company that is by its terms subordinate in right of payment to the
Notes, including any
Subordinated Obligations;
(B) any
Debt
Incurred in violation of the provisions of this Indenture;
(C) accounts
payable or any other obligations of the Company to trade creditors created
or
assumed by the Company in the ordinary course of business in connection with
the
obtaining of materials or services (including guarantees thereof or instruments
evidencing such liabilities);
(D) any
liability for U.S. federal, state, national, provincial, local or other taxes
owed or owing by the Company;
22
(E) any
obligation of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries; or
(F) any
obligations with respect to any Capital Stock of the Company.
To
the
extent that any payment of Senior Debt (whether by or on behalf of the Company
as proceeds of security or enforcement or any right of setoff or otherwise)
is
declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid
to a
trustee, receiver or other similar party under any bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or similar law, then if such payment is recovered by, or paid
over
to, such trustee, receiver or other similar party, the Senior Debt or part
thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated
and
outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.
“Senior
Debt” of any Guarantor has a correlative meaning.
“Significant
Subsidiary”
means
any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” of the Company within
the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission.
“Stated
Maturity”
means,
with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Debt
(including, without limitation, a scheduled repayment or a scheduled sinking
fund payment), the date on which the payment of interest or principal was
scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Debt, and
will
not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such
interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment
hereof.
“Subordinated
Obligation”
means
any Debt of the Company or any Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue
Date
or thereafter Incurred) that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to
the
Notes or the applicable Guarantee pursuant to a written agreement to that
effect.
“Subsidiary,”
with
respect to any Person, means (i) any corporation of which the outstanding
Capital Stock having a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election
of directors under ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly
or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, by such Person or (ii) any
other Person of which a majority of the voting interest under ordinary
circumstances is at the time, directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, owned by such Person.
“Surviving
Person”
means
the surviving Person formed by a merger, consolidation or amalgamation and,
for
purposes of Section
5.01,
a
Person to whom all or substantially all of the Property of the Company or a
Guarantor is sold, transferred, assigned, leased, conveyed or otherwise
disposed.
“Taxes”
means
any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of
whatever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf
of the Governmental Authorities.
“Trading
Day”
shall
mean (x) if the applicable security is quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market, a day on which trades may be made thereon or (y) if the applicable
security is not so listed, admitted for trading or quoted, any day other than
a
Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New
York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close.
“Trustee”
means
the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument
until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean such successor
Trustee.
“U.S.
Government Securities”
means
direct obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such
obligations) of the United States of America (including any agency or
instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit
of
the United States of America are pledged and which are not callable or
redeemable at the issuer’s option.
23
“Voting
Stock”
of
any
Person means all classes of Capital Stock or other interests (including
partnership interests) of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled
(without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election
of
directors, managers or trustees thereof.
“WFOE”
means
Qingdao Sinogas General Machinery Company, Ltd., a wholly foreign-owned limited
liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC.
“Wholly
Owned Subsidiary”
means,
at any time, a Subsidiary all the Voting Stock of which (except directors’
qualifying shares) is at such time owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company
and its other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.
Section
1.02. Other
Definitions.
Defined in | |
Term
|
Section
|
“Additional
Tax Amounts”
|
4.32
|
“Acceleration
Notice”
|
6.02
|
“Affiliate
Transaction”
|
4.14
|
“Allocable
Excess Proceeds”
|
4.12
|
“Asset
Sale Offer”
|
4.12
|
“Authentication
Order”
|
2.02
|
“Benefited
Party”
|
9.01
|
“Change
of Control Offer”
|
4.16
|
“Event
of Default”
|
6.01
|
“Excess
Proceeds”
|
4.12
|
“Future
Guarantor”
|
9.03
|
“Guarantor
Pledgor”
|
10.02
|
“losses”
|
7.06
|
“Offer
Amount”
|
3.07
|
“Offer
Period”
|
3.07
|
“Offer
to Purchase”
|
3.07
|
“Paying
Agent”
|
2.03
|
“Purchase
Date”
|
3.07
|
“Purchase
Price”
|
3.07
|
“Registrar”
|
2.03
|
“Secured
Party”
|
10.01
|
“Security
Register”
|
2.03
|
“Tax
Redemption Date”
|
3.08
|
“Tax
Redemption Offer”
|
3.08
|
Section
1.03. Rules
of Construction.
(a) Unless
the context otherwise requires:
(i) a
term
has the meaning assigned to it;
(ii) an
accounting term not otherwise defined herein has the meaning assigned to
it in
accordance with GAAP;
(iii) “or”
is
not exclusive;
(iv) words
in
the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the
singular;
24
(v) all
references in this instrument to “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions
are to the designated Articles, Sections and subdivisions of this instrument
as
originally executed, and as then may be amended from time to time;
(vi) the
words
“herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to
this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other
subdivision;
(vii) “including”
means “including without limitation”;
(viii) provisions
apply to successive events and transactions;
(ix) “$”
means
the lawful currency of the United States of America; and
(x) references
to Sections of or rules under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall
be
deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor Sections or rules
adopted
by the Commission from time to time thereunder.
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 included in Exhibit
A
hereto,
which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture.
The
Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, exchange
rule
or usage in addition to those set forth on Exhibit
A.
Each
Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in
denominations of $100,000 and integral multiples thereof. The terms and
provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute a part of this Indenture
and
the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery
of
this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions of the Notes and
to
be bound thereby. 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) Form
of Notes.
Notes
shall be issued initially in global form and 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 aggregate principal amount 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 and transfers of interests therein. 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 Registrar, at the direction of the Trustee, in
accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by
Section
2.06
hereof.
(c) Book-Entry
Provisions.
This
Section
2.01(c)
shall
apply only to Global Notes deposited with the Common Depositary. Participants
shall have no rights under this Indenture or any Global Note with respect to
any
Global Note held on their behalf by the Common Depositary or by the Trustee
as
custodian for the Common Depositary, and the Common Depositary shall be treated
by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as
the
absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any
agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written
certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Common Depositary
or impair, as between the Common Depositary and its Participants, the Applicable
Procedures or the operation of customary practices of the Common Depositary
governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in
any
Global Note.
25
(d) Euroclear
and Clearstream Procedures Applicable.
The
provisions of the “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the
“General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream” and “Customer Handbook” of
Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in Global
Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or
Clearstream.
(e) Certificated
Securities.
The
Company shall exchange Global Notes for Definitive Notes if: (1) at any time
either Euroclear or Clearstream or any alternative clearing agency on behalf
of
which the Notes evidenced by the Global Note may be held is closed for business
for a continuous period of 14 days (other than reason of holidays, statutory
or
otherwise) or announces an intention permanently to cease business or does
in
fact do so, and, in either case, the Company shall not have appointed a
successor Common Depositary within 90 days after the Company receives such
notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, or (2) upon written request
of a
Holder or the Trustee if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and
be continuing.
Upon
the
occurrence of any of the events set forth in clauses (1) or (2) above, the
Company shall execute, and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in
accordance with Section
2.02
hereof,
the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, Definitive Notes, in authorized
denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount
of
the Global Notes in exchange for such Global Notes.
Upon
the
exchange of a Global Note for Definitive Notes, such Global Note shall be
cancelled by the Trustee or an agent of the Company or the Trustee. Definitive
Notes issued in exchange for a Global Note pursuant to this Section
2.01
shall be
registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Common
Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its Participants or its Applicable
Procedures, shall instruct the Trustee or an agent of the Company or the Trustee
in writing. The Trustee or such agent shall deliver such Definitive Notes to
or
as directed by the Persons in whose names such Definitive Notes are so
registered or to the Common Depositary.
Section
2.02. Execution
and Authentication.
(a) The
chief
executive officer of the Company shall execute the Notes on behalf of the
Company by manual or facsimile signature.
(b) If
an
Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time
a
Note is authenticated by the Trustee, the Note shall nevertheless be
valid.
(c) 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.
(d) The
Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by an Officer (an
“Authentication
Order”),
authenticate (i) one Global Note evidencing Notes for issuance on the Issue
Date
in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $16,000,000 and (ii) any other
Notes that have been executed by the Company in order to effect any registration
of transfer or exchange in accordance with the provisions of Section
2.06.
(e) The
Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to
authenticate Notes. Unless otherwise provided in such appointment, 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 shall have the same rights
as the Trustee to deal with Holders, the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company.
Section
2.03. Registrar
and Paying Agent.
26
(a) 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 (the “Security
Register”)
of the
Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more
co-registrars, 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.
(b) The
Company initially appoints Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch to act as Common
Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
(c) The
Company initially appoints the Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. to act as Registrar
and Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch as Paying Agent with respect to the
Global Notes, and each of Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. and Deutsche Bank AG,
Hong Kong Branch hereby agrees so to initially act.
Section
2.04. Paying
Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The
Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Deutsche Bank AG, Hong
Kong Branch to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall 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 shall
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 funds held by it relating to the Notes to the Trustee. The Company at any
time may require a Paying Agent to pay all funds 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 such funds. 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 funds held by it as Paying
Agent.
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.
The
Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished 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 or
such
shorter time as the Trustee may allow, as the Trustee may reasonably require
of
the names and addresses of the Holders.
Section
2.06. Transfer
and Exchange.
(a) As
provided herein, interests in a Global Note will be exchanged, upon 45 days’
notice by a holder of an interest in such Global Note for Definitive Notes.
Each
Global Note shall be deposited with the Common Depositary, which shall hold
such
Global Note in safe custody for the account of Euroclear and/or Clearstream
and
instruct Euroclear or Clearstream or both of them, as the case may be, to credit
the principal amounts of the Notes represented by such Global Note to the
holder’s distribution account with Euroclear or Clearstream. Each relevant
Global Note shall be exchangeable in whole for an interest, equal to the
principal amount of such Global Note being exchanged, for Definitive Notes
in
the same principal amount, upon request of Euroclear or Clearstream to the
Registrar, but only upon delivery by Euroclear or Clearstream, acting on behalf
of the beneficial owners of such interests, to the Registrar at its principal
office in Luxembourg, of certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit
C
hereto.
The delivery to the Registrar of any certificate in the form referred to above
may be relied upon by the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar as conclusive
evidence that related certificates have been delivered to Euroclear or
Clearstream as contemplated by the terms of this Section
2.06.
(b) In
accordance with the terms of a Global Note and this Indenture, the Registrar
shall deliver at the cost of the Company, upon not less than 45 days’ notice to
the Registrar by Euroclear or Clearstream, the relevant Definitive Notes in
exchange for interests in such Global Note. For this purpose, the Registrar
is
authorized and it shall (A) authenticate each such Definitive Note and (B)
deliver each such Definitive Note to or to the order of Euroclear or
Clearstream, in exchange for interests in such Global Note. The Registrar shall
promptly notify the Company upon receipt of a request for issue of Definitive
Notes the aggregate principal amount of the relevant Global Note to be exchanged
in connection therewith. The Company undertakes to deliver to, or to the order
of, the Registrar sufficient numbers of duly executed Definitive Notes to enable
the Registrar to comply with its obligations under this Section
2.06(b).
Such
exchange shall be made free of charge to the holder and the beneficial owners
of
the relevant Global Note and to the holders of the Definitive Notes issued
in
exchange as provided above, except that a Person receiving Definitive Notes
must
bear the cost of insurance, postage, transportation and the like in the event
that such Person does not receive such Definitive Notes in person at the offices
of a Registrar. Notwithstanding the above, interests in a Global Note shall
be
exchangeable in whole (but not in part) at the cost of the Company for
Definitive Notes under the conditions described in Section
2.01(e).
27
(c) Upon
any
exchange of an interest in a Global Note for Definitive Notes, the relevant
Global Note shall be endorsed by the Trustee or the Registrar to reflect the
reduction of its principal amount by the aggregate principal amount so
exchanged. Until exchanged in full, the holder of any interest in any Global
Note shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture
as Definitive Notes authenticated and delivered hereunder. Once exchanged in
full, a Global Note shall be canceled and disposed of by the Trustee in
accordance with its customary procedures and a certificate of disposition will
be sent to the Company.
(d) The
Trustee or the Registrar shall cause all Global Notes and Definitive Notes
delivered to it and held by it hereunder to be maintained in safe custody in
accordance with this Section
2.06.
(e) The
Security Register shall be in written form in the English language and shall
include a record of the certificate number of each Note that has been issued,
and shall show the amount of such Notes, the date of issue, all subsequent
transfers and changes in ownership in respect thereof and the names, tax
identifying numbers (if relevant to a specific holder), addresses of the holders
of the Notes and any payment instructions with respect thereto (if different
from a holder’s registered address).
(f) The
Registrar shall at all reasonable times during office hours make the Security
Register available to the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Company and the holders
of such Notes or any person authorized by the Company in writing for inspection
and for taking of copies thereof or extracts therefrom, and at the expense
of
the Company, the Registrar shall deliver to such persons all lists of holders
of
such Notes, their addresses, amounts of such holdings and other details as
they
may request.
(g) the
Registrar shall handle all requests for the registration of transfer of Notes
and receive certificates for the Notes deposited with the transfer agent for
transfer or exchange, and in doing so, shall ensure that every Note presented
or
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (if so required by the
Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar) be duly endorsed by,
or
be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer (in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar) duly executed by the holder
thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.
(h) Prior
to
the Distribution Compliance Expiration Date, no beneficial interest in a Global
Note may be transferred to any U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under
the
Securities Act) or inside the United States as evidenced by a certification
in
the form of Exhibit
C
hereto
received by the Registrar. Unless determined otherwise by the Company in
accordance with applicable law, in the event prior to the Distribution
Compliance Expiration Date a Definitive Note is issued in exchange for a
beneficial interest in a Global Note, such Definitive Note shall bear the
Regulation S Legend shown on the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
On and
after the Distribution Compliance Expiration Date, no such certification shall
be required with respect to such transfers and the Trustee is hereby authorized
to remove such Regulation S Legend from the applicable Notes.
(i) The
Trustee and the Registrar shall be entitled to treat a telephone, telex or
facsimile communication from a person purporting to be (and who the Trustee
or
the Registrar believe in good faith to be) the authorized representative of
the
Company, named in a list furnished to the Trustee and the Registrar from time
to
time, as sufficient instructions and authority of the Company for the Trustee
and the Registrar to act in accordance with this Section
2.06.
(j) Title
to
the Notes shall pass by delivery, but only upon recordation of the transferee's
ownership in the Security Register. However, title to Notes issued in the form
of Global Notes held through Euroclear and Clearstream shall be transferable
only in accordance with the rules and procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream,
as appropriate.
28
Section
2.07. Replacement
Notes.
If
any
mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company or if the Trustee
receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
any
Note, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order
in
accordance with Section
2.02
hereof,
the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note. If required by the Trustee
or
the Company, the Holder of such Note shall provide indemnity that is sufficient,
in the judgment of the Trustee or the Company, to protect the Company, the
Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them
may suffer in connection with such replacement. If required by the Company,
such
Holder shall reimburse the Company or the Trustee, as the case may be, for
its
expenses in connection with such replacement.
Every
replacement Note issued in accordance with this Section shall be the valid
obligation of the Company, evidencing the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed,
lost or stolen Note, 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.
(a) The
Notes
outstanding at any time shall be the entire principal amount of Notes
represented by all of the Global Notes and Definitive Notes authenticated by
the
Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for
cancellation, those subject to reductions in beneficial interests effected
by
the Trustee in accordance with Section
2.06
hereof,
and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth
in
Section
2.09
hereof,
a Note shall not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate
of
the Company holds the Note.
(b) If
a Note
is replaced pursuant to Section
2.07
hereof,
it shall cease to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory
to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser in whose hands
such Note is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company.
(c) If
the
principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section
4.01
hereof,
it shall cease to be outstanding and interest on it shall cease to
accrue.
(d) If
the
Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any
thereof) holds, on a redemption date, a Purchase Date or a maturity date, funds
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 Affiliate of 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, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section
2.02
hereof,
the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Such temporary Notes shall
be
substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that
the
Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be acceptable
to
the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the
Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes or Definitive Notes in exchange for
temporary Notes, as applicable. After preparation of Definitive Notes, the
temporary Note will be exchangeable for Definitive Notes upon surrender of
the
temporary Notes.
29
Holders
of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture
equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued
hereunder.
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. Upon sole direction
of
the Company, the Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered
for
registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and
shall destroy cancelled Notes (subject to the record retention requirements
of
the Exchange Act or other applicable laws) unless by written order, signed
by an
Officer of the Company, the Company directs them to be returned to it.
Certification of the destruction of all cancelled Notes shall be delivered
to
the Company from time to time upon request. 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. Payment
of Interest; 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
Interest 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 Interest Payment Date and the amount of such interest to be
paid.
Section
2.13. ISIN
Numbers and Common Code.
The
Company in issuing the Notes may use an “ISIN” number or a “Common Code” (if
then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use an “ISIN” number or a
“Common Code” in notices of redemption or Offers to Purchase as a convenience to
Holders; provided,
however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to
the
correctness of such number or Common Code either as printed on the Notes or
as
contained in any notice of a redemption or notice of an Offer to Purchase and
that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed
on
the Notes, and any such redemption or Offer to Purchase shall not be affected
by
any defect in or omission of such number or Common Code. The Company shall
promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “ISIN” number or “Common
Code”.
Section
2.14. Record
Date.
The
record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of Notes
entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent or permitted under
this Indenture shall be 15 days prior to the date of such vote, consent or
action.
Section
2.15. Stamp
Duties
The
Company will pay any stamp, issue, registration, documentary, transfer or other
taxes and duties, including interest and penalties, payable in respect of the
creation, issue, offering and the initial delivery of the Notes and the
execution or delivery of this Indenture except for the taxes and duties required
to be paid by Holders of Notes under this Indenture and any action taken by
the
Trustee (or any Holder here permitted or required under this Indenture so to
do)
to enforce the provisions of the Notes or this Indenture. The Company will
also
indemnify the Trustee and the Holders of Notes from and against all stamp,
issue, registration, documentary or other taxes and duties paid by any of them
in any jurisdiction in connection with any action taken by or on behalf of
the
Trustee or, as the case may be, the Holders of Notes to enforce the obligations
of the Company or the Guarantors under this Indenture or the Notes. The Trustee
shall not be responsible for determining whether any such duties and taxes
are
due and payable or for determining the amount of such taxes and duties and
shall
not be liable for any failure of the Company or any of the Guarantors to pay
such taxes and duties.
30
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
3.05
hereof,
it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 45 days but not more than 60 days
before a redemption date (or such shorter period as allowed by the Trustee),
an
Officers’ Certificate setting forth (a) the applicable Section of this Indenture
pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (b) the redemption date and (c)
the redemption price.
Section
3.02. Notice
of Redemption.
Upon
prior written notice to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than
60 days prior to a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause to be
mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder at such
Holder’s registered address appearing in the Security Register, except that
redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date
if
the notice is issued in connection with a satisfaction and discharge pursuant
to
Article
11
hereof.
The
notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the
redemption date;
(b) the
redemption price;
(c) the
name
and address of the Company for purposes of tendering Notes for
redemption;
(d) that
Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Company to collect the
redemption price;
(e) 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;
(f) the
applicable Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for
redemption are being redeemed; and
(g) that
no
representation is made as to the correctness of the ISIN 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 (or such
shorter period allowed by the Trustee), prior to the redemption date, an
Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice (in the name
and at the expense of the Company) and setting forth the information to be
stated in such notice as provided in this Section
3.02.
Section
3.03. Effect
of Notice of Redemption.
Once
notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section
3.02
hereof,
Notes called for redemption shall become irrevocably due and payable on the
redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be
conditional.
31
Section
3.04. Deposit
of Redemption Price.
Prior
to
11:00 a.m. New York time on the Business Day prior to any redemption date and
subject to Section
3.07(f)
hereof,
the Company shall deliver to each tendering Holder the redemption price of
and,
if applicable, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to the redemption
date.
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 called for
purchase or redemption in accordance with Section
2.08(d)
hereof,
whether or not such Notes are presented for payment. If a Note is redeemed
on or
after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment
Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall be paid to the Person
in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Regular
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
3.05. Optional
Redemption.
(a) The
Notes
shall not be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to September 28,
2008. Beginning on September 28, 2008, the Company may redeem all or a portion
of the Notes, at once or over time, after giving the notice required pursuant
to
Section
3.02
hereof,
at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set
forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed, to the
applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the
relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest
Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on
September 28 of the years indicated below:
Year |
Redemption
Price
|
2008 |
108.0%
|
2009 |
106.0%
|
2010 |
104.0%
|
2011 and thereafter |
100.0%
|
Unless
the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will
cease
to accrue on the Notes on the applicable redemption date.
(b) Any
prepayment pursuant to this Section
3.05
shall be
made pursuant to the provisions of Sections
3.01
through
3.04
hereof.
Section
3.06. Mandatory
Redemption.
The
Company agrees that on the dates indicated in the following table, the Company
will prepay and there shall become due and payable the corresponding principal
amount (or such lesser principal amount as shall then be outstanding) in respect
of the aggregate principal Debt evidenced by the Notes.
Date |
Principal
Amount
|
March 28, 2010 |
$2,000,000
|
September 28, 2010 |
$2,000,000
|
March 28, 2011 |
$4,000,000
|
September 28, 2011 |
$4,000,000
|
March 28, 2012 |
$2,000,000
|
The
entire remaining principal amount of the Notes shall become due and payable
on
September 28, 2012. Each required prepayment made pursuant to this Section
shall
be made at 100% of principal amount and without payment of any premium and
allocated among all of the Notes in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to
the
respective unpaid principal amounts thereof. Upon any repurchase of the Notes
pursuant to Section
4.12
or
Section
4.16,
the
principal amount of each required prepayment of the Notes becoming due under
this Section on and after the date of such prepayment or purchase shall be
reduced in the same proportion as the aggregate unpaid principal amount of
the
Notes is reduced as a result of such prepayment or purchase.
32
In
the
case of each prepayment of Notes pursuant to this Section, the principal amount
of each Note to be prepaid shall mature and become due and payable on the date
fixed for such prepayment, together with interest on such principal amount
accrued to such date. From and after such date, unless the Company shall fail
to
pay such principal amount when so due and payable, together with the interest
as
aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue. Any Note
paid or prepaid in full shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled and
shall not be reissued, and no Note shall be issued in lieu of any prepaid
principal amount of any Note.
Section
3.07. Offer
To Purchase.
(a) In
the
event that, pursuant to Section
4.12
or
Section
4.16
hereof,
the Company shall be required to commence an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of
Control Offer (each of the foregoing, an “Offer
to Purchase”),
respectively, it shall follow the procedures specified below.
(b) The
Company shall cause a notice of the Offer to Purchase to be sent at least once
to the Dow
Xxxxx News Service
or
similar business news service in the United States.
(c) The
Company shall commence the Offer to Purchase by sending, by first-class mail,
with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder at such Xxxxxx’s address appearing in
the Security Register, a notice the terms of which shall govern the Offer to
Purchase stating:
(i) that
the
Offer to Purchase is being made pursuant to this Section and Section
4.12
or
Section
4.16,
as the
case may be, and, in the case of a Change of Control Offer, that such event
has
occurred, the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such event, and
that a
Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to Section
4.16;
(ii) the
principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section
4.12
or
Section
4.16,
as the
case may be (the “Offer
Amount”),
the
purchase price set forth in Section
4.12
or
Section
4.16,
as
applicable (the “Purchase
Price”),
the
Offer Period and the Purchase Date (each as defined below);
(iii) except
as
provided in clause (ix), that all Notes timely tendered and not withdrawn
shall
be accepted for payment;
(iv) that
any
Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue
interest;
(v) that,
unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for
payment pursuant to the Offer to Purchase shall cease to accrue interest
after
the Purchase Date;
(vi) that
Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Offer to Purchase
may
elect to have Notes purchased in integral multiples of $100,000
only;
(vii) that
Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Offer to Purchase
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, or the Common Depositary, if appointed
by
the Company, before the close of business on the third Business Day before
the
Purchase Date;
(viii) that
Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company or the
Common Depositary, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration
of the Offer Period, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting
forth
the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note (or portions thereof)
the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Xxxxxx is
withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;
33
(ix) that,
in
the case of an Asset Sale Offer, 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 $100,000 or integral multiples thereof shall be
purchased);
(x) that
Holders whose Notes were purchased 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); and
(xi) any
other
procedures the Holders must follow in order to tender their Notes (or portions
thereof) for payment and the procedures that Holders must follow in order
to
withdraw an election to tender Notes (or portions thereof) for
payment.
(d) The
Offer
to Purchase shall remain open for a period of at least 30 days but no more
than
60 days following its commencement, except to the extent that a longer period
is
required by applicable law (the “Offer
Period”).
No
later than five (5) Business Days (and in any event no later than the 60th
day
following the Change of Control) after the termination of the Offer Period
(the
“Purchase
Date”),
the
Company shall purchase the Offer Amount or, if less than the Offer Amount has
been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the Offer to Purchase. Payment
for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments
are made. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Offer to
Purchase on the Purchase Date.
(e) On
or
prior to the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent
lawful:
(i) accept
for payment (on a pro
rata
basis to
the extent necessary in connection with an Asset Sale Offer) from each tendering
Holder, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered
and not
withdrawn pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, or if less than the Offer Amount
has been tendered, all Notes tendered; and
(ii) surrender
to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted to be cancelled by the Trustee
in
accordance with Section
2.11
together
with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or
portions of Notes being purchased by the Company and that such Notes or portions
thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms
of
this Section.
(f) Upon
receipt of the Notes in accordance with Section
3.07(e)(i),
the
Company shall promptly, and in any event within one (1) Business Day after
the
Purchase Date, deliver to each tendering Holder the Purchase Price. In the
event
that any portion of the Notes surrendered is not purchased by the Company,
the
Company shall promptly execute and issue a new Note in a principal amount equal
to such unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered, and, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order in accordance with Section
2.02
hereof,
the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver (or cause to be transferred by
book-entry) such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any
unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided,however,
that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or an
integral multiple thereof. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed
or
delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof.
(g) If
the
Purchase Date is on or after a Regular 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
Regular Record Date, and no further interest shall be payable to Holders who
tender Notes pursuant to the Offer to Purchase.
34
(h) The
Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule
14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations
thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection
with the Offer to Purchase. To the extent that the provisions of any securities
laws or regulations conflict with Section
4.12
or
Section
4.16,
as
applicable, this Section or other provisions of this Indenture, the Company
shall comply with applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not
be
deemed to have breached its obligations under Section
4.12
or
Section
4.16,
as
applicable, this Section or such other provision by virtue of such
compliance.
(i) Other
than as specifically provided in this Section, any purchase pursuant to this
Section shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section
3.01
through
3.06
hereof.
Section
3.08. Tax
Redemption.
(a) The
Company or a Surviving Person shall make an offer to purchase the Notes (a
“Tax
Redemption Offer”),
at a
redemption
price
equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid
interest (including any Additional Tax Amounts), if any, to the date fixed
by
the Company or the Surviving Person, as the case may be, for redemption (the
“Tax
Redemption Date”)
if, as
a result of:
(i) any
change in, or amendment to, laws (or any regulations or rulings promulgated
thereunder) affecting taxation; or
(ii) any
change in the existing official position or the stating of an official position
regarding the application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or
rulings
(including a holding, judgment or order by a court of competent
jurisdiction),
which
change or amendment becomes effective on or after (i) with respect to the
Company or any Guarantor, the Issue Date, or (ii) with respect to any Future
Guarantor or Surviving Person, the date such Future Guarantor or Surviving
Person becomes a Future Guarantor or Surviving Person, with respect to any
payment due or to become due under the Notes, any Guarantee, or this Indenture,
the Company, a Surviving Person or a Guarantor, as the case may be, is, or
on
the next Interest Payment Date would be, required to pay Additional Tax Amounts,
and such requirement cannot be avoided by the taking of reasonable measures
by
the Company, a Surviving Person or a Guarantor, as the case may be; provided
that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior
to
the earliest date on which the Company, a Surviving Person or a Guarantor,
as
the case may be, would be obligated to pay such Additional Tax Amounts if
a
payment in respect of the Notes were then due.
(b) Prior
to
the mailing of any notice of redemption for Notes pursuant to the foregoing,
the
Company, a Surviving Person or a Guarantor, as the case may be, will deliver
to
the Trustee:
(i) an
Officers’ Certificate stating that such change or amendment referred to in the
prior paragraph has occurred, describing the facts related thereto and stating
that such requirement cannot be avoided by the Company, a Surviving Person
or a
Guarantor, as the case may be, taking reasonable measures available to it;
and
(ii) an
Opinion of Counsel or a written opinion of a tax consultant who is acceptable
to
the Trustee, either of recognized standing, in form and substance satisfactory
to the Trustee, stating that the requirement to pay such Additional Tax Amounts
results from such change or amendment referred to in the prior
paragraph.
The
Trustee shall accept such certificate and opinion as sufficient evidence of
the
satisfaction of the conditions precedent described
above,
in which event it shall be conclusive and binding on the Holders.
Any
Notes
that are redeemed will be cancelled.
35
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 this Indenture
and the Notes. The Company shall pay Additional Amounts upon the occurrence
of
any events, in the amounts and at the times specified in the definition of
“Additional Amounts” in Section
1.01
hereof.
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 11:00 a.m. Hong Kong time on the Business Date prior to 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.
Such
Paying Agent shall return to the Company promptly, and in any event, no later
than five (5) Business Days following the date of payment, any money (including
accrued interest) that exceeds such amount of principal, premium, if any, and
interest paid on the Notes. 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.
The
Company shall pay, from time to time on demand, interest (including
post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) accrued
on
overdue principal and premium, if any, at a rate that is 3% per annum in excess
of the rate then in effect from five Business Days following the due date and
ending on the date on which payment is made to the Holders of the Notes in
respect thereof; 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
shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days
elapsed.
Section
4.02. Maintenance
of Office or Agency.
(a) The
Company shall maintain in Luxembourg, an office or agency (which may be an
office of an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes
may be presented or 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, and the Company hereby
appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders,
notices and demands.
(b) 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. 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.
(c) The
Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, as one
such
office, drop facility or agency of the Company in accordance with Section
2.03
hereof.
Section
4.03. Reports.
(a) Whether
or not required by the Commission’s rules and regulations, so long as any of the
Notes remain outstanding, the Company shall file with the Trustee and furnish
to
the Holders (or promptly provide notice thereof to the Trustee and to the
Holders in case of documents described below that are publicly available) within
the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and
regulations:
36
(i) all
quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the
Commission on Forms 10-QSB and 10-KSB if the Company were required to file
such
reports (or Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company is not eligible to file Forms
10-QSB or 10-KSB, as the case may be); and
(ii) all
current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on
Form
8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.
All
such
reports shall be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of
the
rules and regulations of the Commission applicable to such reports. Each annual
report on Form 10-KSB (or 10-K, as the case may be) shall include a report
on
the Company’s consolidated financial statements by a firm of independent
certified accountants. Delivery of such reports, information and documents
to
the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such
shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein,
including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to
which the Trustee shall be entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’
Certificates).
(b) So
long
as any of the Notes remains outstanding, the Company will provide to the Trustee
(i) within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Company, an
Officers’ Certificate stating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Leverage
Ratio and Consolidated Subsidiary Debt to Consolidated Net Tangible Asset Ratio
with respect to the four most recent quarterly periods and showing in reasonable
detail the calculation of each such ratio, including the arithmetic computations
of each component of each such ratio; and (ii) as soon as possible and in any
event within 14 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of a
Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of the Default, and
the action that the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.
(c) For
as
long as any Notes are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule
144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, during any period in which the Company
is
neither subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, nor exempt from
reporting pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) thereunder, the Company shall supply (i)
to
any holder or beneficial owner of a Note or (ii) upon their request to a
prospective purchaser of a Note or beneficial interest therein designated by
such holder or owner, the information specified in, and meeting the requirements
of Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
(d) The
Company shall notify the Trustee in writing within five (5) Business Days prior
to filing a registration statement or other filing with any stock exchange
for a
Qualifying IPO, and shall notify the Trustee of the consummation of the
Qualifying IPO on the date that of consummation thereof.
Section
4.04. Compliance
Certificate.
(a) The
Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each
fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of
the activities of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective Subsidiaries
during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the
signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company, the Guarantors
and their respective Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled
their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such
Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge
the
Company, the Guarantors and their respective Subsidiaries have kept, observed,
performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture
and
are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms,
provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default
of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking
or
proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her
knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which
payments on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest 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.
37
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 being 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.
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 or other law which
would prohibit the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal
or
interest of or on the Notes as contemplated herein wherever enacted, now or
at
any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance
of
this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so)
hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants
that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the
execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and
permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been
enacted.
Section
4.07. Corporate
Existence.
Subject
to Section
5.01
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, or that such preservation
is
not necessary in connection with any transaction not prohibited by this
Indenture.
Section
4.08. Payments
for Consent.
Section
4.09. Incurrence
of Additional Debt.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, Incur,
directly or indirectly, any Debt unless, after giving effect to the application
of the proceeds thereof, no Default or Event of Default would occur as a
consequence of such Incurrence or be continuing following such Incurrence and
either:
(1)
|
such
Debt is Debt of the Company or a Guarantor and, after giving effect
to the
Incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds thereof,
(x)
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would be greater than 2.75 to 1.00
from
the Issue Date through the first anniversary of the Issue Date, and
3.5 to
1.00 if such Debt is incurred thereafter and (y) the Leverage Ratio
would
not exceed 4.25 to 1.00 from the Issue Date through the first anniversary
of the Issue Date, and 3.75 to 1.00 if such Debt is incurred thereafter,
or
|
(2)
|
such
Debt is Permitted Debt.
|
38
The
term
“Permitted Debt” is defined to include the following:
(1) (i)
Debt
of the Company evidenced by the Notes and the Convertible Notes and (ii)
Debt of
the Guarantors evidenced by Guarantees and the Convertible Note
Guarantees;
(2) Debt
of
the WFOE under Credit Facilities, provided
that
the
aggregate principal amount of all such Debt under Credit Facilities at any
one time outstanding shall not exceed $15.0 million (or its equivalent in
another currency) prior to the first anniversary of the Issue Date, or $10.0
million thereafter (and provided
further
that the
amount of Debt so Incurred shall not be deemed to exceed such amount as a
result
of changes in foreign currency exchange rates), which amount shall be
permanently reduced by the amount of Net Available Cash used to Repay Debt
under
Credit Facilities and not subsequently reinvested in Additional Assets or
used
to purchase Notes or Repay other Debt, pursuant to Section
4.12;
(3) Debt
of
the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in
respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Debt, provided
that:
(1) the
aggregate principal amount of such Debt does not exceed the Fair Market Value
(on the date of the Incurrence thereof) of the Property acquired, constructed
or
leased, and
(2) the
aggregate principal amount of all Debt Incurred and then outstanding pursuant
to
this clause (c) (together with all Permitted Refinancing Debt Incurred and
then outstanding in respect of Debt previously Incurred pursuant to this
clause (c)) does not exceed $1.0 million (or its equivalent in another
currency; provided
that the
amount of Debt so Incurred shall not be deemed to exceed such amount as a
result
of changes in foreign currency exchange rates);
(4) Debt
of
the Company owing to and held by any Wholly Owned Subsidiary and Debt of
any
Subsidiary of the Company owing to and held by the Company or any Wholly
Owned
Subsidiary; provided,however,
that any subsequent issue or transfer of Capital Stock or other event that
results in any such Wholly Owned Subsidiary ceasing to be a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of any such Debt (except to the Company
or
a Wholly Owned Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute the
Incurrence of such Debt by the issuer thereof;
(5) Debt
of
any Subsidiary of the Company outstanding on the date on which such Subsidiary
is acquired by the Company or otherwise becomes a Subsidiary of the Company
(other than Debt Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion
of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or
series
of transactions pursuant to which such Subsidiary became a Subsidiary of
the
Company or was otherwise acquired by the Company), provided
that
at
the time such Subsidiary is acquired by the Company or otherwise becomes
a
Subsidiary of the Company and after giving effect to the Incurrence of such
Debt, the Company would have been able to Incur $1.00 of additional Debt
pursuant to clause (1) of the first paragraph of this
covenant;
(6) Debt
in
connection with one or more standby letters of credit or performance bonds
issued by the Company or a Guarantor in the ordinary course of business or
pursuant to self-insurance obligations and not in connection with the borrowing
of money or the obtaining of advances or credit;
(7) Debt
of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries outstanding on the Issue Date not
otherwise described in clauses (a) through (f) above; or
39
(l) Permitted
Refinancing Debt Incurred in respect of Debt Incurred pursuant to clause
(1) of the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (a), (c) and
(e) above.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Section,
(a) the
Company shall not, and
shall
not permit any Guarantor to, Incur any Debt pursuant to this covenant if the
proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to Refinance any
Subordinated Obligations unless such Debt shall be subordinated to the Notes
or
the applicable Guarantee, as the case may be, to at least the same extent as
such Subordinated Debt;
(b) the
Company shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries that
is
not a Guarantor to Incur any Debt pursuant to this covenant if the proceeds
thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to Refinance any Debt of the Company
or any Guarantor; and
(c) accrual
of interest, accretion or amortization of original issue discount and the
payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Debt, will be deemed
not to be an Incurrence of Debt for purposes of this Section.
For
purposes of determining compliance with this Section, in the event that an
item
of Debt meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted
Debt
described in clauses (a) through (j) above or is entitled to be incurred
pursuant to clause (l) of the first paragraph of this Section, the Company
shall, in its sole discretion, classify (or later reclassify in whole or in
part, in its sole discretion) such item of Debt in any manner that complies
with
this Section.
Section
4.10. Restricted
Payments.
The
Company shall not make, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to make,
directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment if at the time of, and after
giving effect to, such proposed Restricted Payment,
(1) a
Default
or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or
(2) the
Company could not Incur at least $1.00 of additional Debt pursuant to clause
(1)
of the first paragraph of Section
4.09,
or
(3) the
aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments
declared or made since the Issue Date (the amount of any Restricted Payment,
if
made other than in cash, to be based upon Fair Market Value at the time
of such
Restricted Payment) would exceed an amount equal to the sum
of:
(1) 10%
of
the aggregate amount of Consolidated Net Income accrued during the period
(treated as one accounting period) from the beginning of the Fiscal Quarter
after the Issue Date to the end of the most recent Fiscal Quarter ending prior
to the date of such Restricted Payment (or if the aggregate amount of
Consolidated Net Income for such period shall be a loss, minus 100% of the
amount of such loss, expressed as a positive number), plus
(2) 100%
of
the Capital Stock Sale Proceeds, plus
(3) the
sum
of:
(A) the
aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company or any Guarantor from the
issuance or sale after the Issue Date of convertible or exchangeable Debt that
has been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Company, and
40
(B) the
aggregate amount by which Debt (other than Subordinated Obligations) of the
Company or any Guarantor is reduced on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet
on or after the Issue Date upon the conversion or exchange of any Debt issued
or
sold on or prior to the Issue Date that is convertible or exchangeable for
Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company,
excluding,
in the case of clause (A) or (B):
(x) any
such
Debt issued or sold to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee
stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any such Subsidiary
for the benefit of their employees, and
(y) the
aggregate amount of any cash or other Property distributed by the Company or
any
of its Subsidiaries (other than to the Company or any other Subsidiary) upon
any
such conversion or exchange, plus
(4) an
amount
equal to the net reduction in Investments in any Person other than the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries resulting from dividends, repayments of loans or
advances or other transfers of Property, in each case to the Company or any
of
its Subsidiaries from such Person.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing limitation, the Company may:
(a) pay
dividends on its Capital Stock within 60 days of the declaration thereof
if, on the declaration date, such dividends could have been paid in compliance
with the Indenture; provided,
however,
that at
the time of such payment of such dividend, no other Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing (or result therefrom); provided
further,however,
that such dividend shall be included in the calculation of the amount of
Restricted Payments;
(b) purchase,
repurchase, redeem, legally defease, acquire or retire for value Capital Stock
of the Company or Subordinated Obligations in exchange for, or out of the
proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock of the Company
(other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold
to a
Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust
established by the Company or any such Subsidiary for the benefit of their
employees); provided,
however,
that
(1) such
purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance, acquisition or retirement
shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments
and
(2) the
Capital Stock Sale Proceeds from such exchange or sale shall be excluded from
the calculation pursuant to clause (c)(2) above; and
(c) purchase,
repurchase, redeem, legally defease, acquire or retire for value any
Subordinated Obligations in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the
substantially concurrent sale of, Permitted Refinancing Debt; provided,
however,
that
such purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance, acquisition or
retirement shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted
Payments.
Section
4.11. Liens.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or
indirectly, Incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on the Collateral (other
than Liens incurred pursuant to or permitted by the Security
Documents).
41
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly
or
indirectly, Incur or suffer to exist, any Lien (other than Permitted Liens)
upon
any of its Property (including Capital Stock of any of its Subsidiaries),
whether owned at the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, or any interest therein
or any income or profits therefrom, unless it has made or will make
effective provision whereby the Notes or the applicable Guarantee will be
secured by such Lien equally and ratably with (or, if such other Debt
constitutes Subordinated Debt, prior to) all other Debt of the Company or any
of
its Subsidiaries secured by such Lien for so long as such other Debt is secured
by such Lien.
Section
4.12. Asset
Sales.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly
or
indirectly, consummate any Asset Sale unless:
(1) the
Company or such Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of such Asset
Sale
at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the Property subject to such Asset
Sale;
(2) at
least
75% of the consideration paid to the Company or such Subsidiary in connection
with such Asset Sale is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents or the
assumption by the purchaser of liabilities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than contingent liabilities or liabilities that are by
their
terms subordinated to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee) as a result
of
which the Company and its Subsidiaries are no longer obligated with respect
to
such liabilities; and
(3) the
Company delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee certifying that such
Asset Sale complies with the foregoing clauses (a) and (b).
The
Net
Available Cash (or any portion thereof) from Asset Sales may be applied by
the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to the extent the Company or such Subsidiary
elects (or is required by the terms of any Debt) to reinvest in Additional
Assets (including by means of an Investment in Additional Assets by any
Subsidiary of the Company with Net Available Cash received by the Company or
another Subsidiary of the Company).
Any
Net
Available Cash from an Asset Sale not applied in accordance with the preceding
paragraph within 180 days (or 270 days in the case of Asset Sale relating
to real property) from the date of the receipt of such Net Available Cash shall
constitute “Excess
Proceeds”.
When
the
aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million (taking into account
income earned on such Excess Proceeds, if any), the Company will be required
to
make an offer to repurchase (the “Asset
Sale Offer”)
the
Notes, which offer shall be in the amount of the Allocable Excess Proceeds
(rounded to the nearest $100,000), on a pro
rata
basis
according to principal amount, at a purchase price equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest if any to the
Purchase Date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Regular
Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date),
in
accordance with the procedures (including prorating in the event of
oversubscription) set forth in Section
3.07.
To the
extent that any portion of the amount of Net Available Cash remains after
compliance with the preceding sentence and provided
that
all
holders of Notes have been given the opportunity to tender their Notes for
repurchase in accordance with Section
3.07,
the
Company or such Subsidiary may use such remaining amount first to Repay the
Credit Facilities or any other Senior Debt of the Company or any Guarantor
or
Debt of any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor (excluding, in
any
such case, any Debt owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company), and
only thereafter, for any purpose permitted by this Indenture, and the amount
of
Excess Proceeds will be reset to zero.
The
term
“Allocable
Excess Proceeds”
shall
mean the product of:
(a) the
Excess Proceeds and
(b) a
fraction,
42
(1) the
numerator of which is the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding
on
the date of the Asset Sale Offer, and
(2) the
denominator of which is the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes
outstanding on the date of the Asset Sale Offer and the aggregate principal
amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of other Debt of the Company
outstanding on the date of the Asset Sale Offer that is pari
passu in
right
of payment with the Notes (including, without limitation, the Repurchase Amount
in respect of the Convertible Notes) and subject to terms and conditions in
respect of Asset Sales similar in all material respects to this Section and
requiring the Company to make an offer to repurchase such Debt at substantially
the same time as the Asset Sale Offer.
Section
4.13. Restrictions
on Distributions from Subsidiaries.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly
or
indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist any consensual
restriction on the right of any of its Subsidiaries to:
(1) pay
dividends, in cash or otherwise, or make any other distributions on or in
respect of its Capital Stock owned by, or pay any Debt or other obligation
owed,
to, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company,
(2) make
any
loans or advances to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company,
or
(3) transfer
any of its Property to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company.
The
foregoing limitations will not apply:
(1) with
respect to clauses (a), (b) and (c), to restrictions:
(A) in
effect
on the Issue Date (including, without limitation, restrictions pursuant to
the
Notes, this Indenture, the Convertible Notes and the indenture relating
thereto),
(B) relating
to Debt of any Subsidiary of the Company and existing at the time it became
a
Subsidiary of the Company if such restriction was not created in connection
with
or in anticipation of the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to
which such Subsidiary became a Subsidiary of the Company or was acquired by
the
Company, or
(C) that
result from the Refinancing of Debt Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred
to in clause (1)(A) or (B) above or in clause (2)(A) or (B) below,
provided
such
restrictions are not less favorable to the holders of Notes than those under
the
agreement evidencing the Debt so Refinanced, and
(2) with
respect to clause (c) only, to restrictions:
(A) relating
to Debt that is permitted to be Incurred and secured without also securing
the
Notes or the applicable Guarantee pursuant
to Section
4.09
and
Section
4.11
that
limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the Property securing such
Debt,
(B) encumbering
Property at the time such Property was acquired by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, so long as such restrictions relate solely to the Property so
acquired and were not created in connection with or in anticipation of such
acquisition,
43
(C) resulting
from customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of leases or
customary provisions in other agreements that restrict assignment of such
agreements or rights thereunder, or
(D) customary
restrictions contained in asset sale agreements limiting the transfer of such
Property pending the closing of such sale.
Section
4.14. Affiliate
Transactions.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly
or
indirectly, conduct any business or enter into or suffer to exist any
transaction or series of transactions (including the purchase, sale, transfer,
assignment, lease, conveyance or exchange of any Property or the rendering
of
any service) with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (an
“Affiliate
Transaction”),
unless:
(1) the
terms
of such Affiliate Transaction are:
(1) set
forth
in writing,
(2) in
the
best interest of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and
(3) no
less
favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those
that
could be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person that is
not an Affiliate of the Company,
(2) if
such
Affiliate Transaction involves aggregate payments or value in excess of $1.0
million, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors approves such Affiliate
Transaction and, in its good faith judgment, believes that such Affiliate
Transaction complies with clauses (a)(2) and (3) of this paragraph as
evidenced by a Board Resolution promptly delivered to the Trustee, and
(3) if
such
Affiliate Transaction involves aggregate payments or value in excess of $5.0
million, the Company obtains a written opinion from an Independent Financial
Advisor to the effect that the consideration to be paid or received in
connection with such Affiliate Transaction is fair, from a financial point
of
view, to the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing limitation, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may enter
into
or suffer to exist the following:
(1) any
transaction or series of transactions between the Company and one or more
of its
Subsidiaries or between two or more of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary
course
of business, provided
that no
more than 5% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock (on a fully
diluted
basis) of any such Subsidiary is owned by an Affiliate of the Company (other
than any Subsidiary of the Company);
(2) any
Restricted Payment permitted to be made pursuant to Section
4.10
or any
Permitted Investment;
(3) the
payment of compensation (including amounts paid pursuant to employee benefit
plans) for the personal services of officers and directors of the Company
or any
of its Subsidiaries, so long as the Board of Directors in good faith shall
have
approved the terms thereof and deemed the services theretofore or thereafter
to
be performed for such compensation to be fair consideration therefor;
and
44
(d) agreements
in effect on the Issue Date and any modifications, extensions or renewals
thereto that are not less favorable to the Company or any Subsidiary than
such
Agreements ass in effect on the Issue Date.
Section
4.15. Issuance
or Sale of Capital Stock of Subsidiaries.
The
Company shall not:
(1) sell,
pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any shares of Capital Stock
of any
of its Subsidiaries, or
(2) permit
any Subsidiary of the Company to, directly or indirectly, issue or sell
or
otherwise dispose of any shares of its Capital Stock,
other
than, in the case of either (a) or (b):
(1) directors’
qualifying shares,
(2) to
the
Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, or
(3) a
disposition of 100% of the shares of Capital Stock of such Subsidiary;
provided,
however,
that, in
the case of this clause (3),
(A) such
disposition is effected in compliance with Section
4.12,
and
(B) upon
consummation of such disposition and execution and delivery of a supplemental
indenture in form satisfactory to the Trustee, such Subsidiary shall be released
from any Guarantee previously made by such Subsidiary.
Section
4.16. Repurchase
at the Option of Holders Following a Change of Control.
(a) Upon
the
occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall, within 7 days thereafter
notify the Trustee and the Holders of such Change of Control, and within 30
days
of a Change of Control, make an offer (the “Change
of Control Offer”)
pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section
3.07.
Each
Holder shall have the right to accept such offer and require the Company to
repurchase all or any portion (equal to $100,000 or an integral multiple
thereof) of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer at a
purchase price, in cash equal to 103% of the aggregate principal amount of
Notes
repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased, to
the
Purchase Date.
(b) The
Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a
Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the
manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set
forth
in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company
and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change
of
Control Offer.
Section
4.17. Future
Guarantors.
The
Company shall cause each Person that becomes a Domestic Subsidiary of the
Company following the Issue Date to execute and deliver to the Trustee a
Subsidiary Guarantee at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the
Company.
Section
4.18. Business
Activities.
The
Company shall not, and the Company shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to,
directly or indirectly, engage in any business other than a Related
Business.
45
Section
4.19. Sale
and Leaseback Transactions.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into
any Sale and Leaseback Transaction with respect to any Property
unless:
(1) the
Company or such Subsidiary would be entitled to:
(1)
Incur
Debt in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale
and
Leaseback Transaction pursuant to Section
4.09
and
(2) create
a
Lien on such Property securing such Attributable Debt without also securing
the
Notes or the applicable Guarantee pursuant
to Section
4.11
and
(2) such
Sale
and Leaseback Transaction is effected in compliance with Section
4.12.
Section
4.20. Impairment
of Security Interest.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, take or
omit
to take any action that might or would have the result of materially impairing
the security interest with respect to the Collateral for the benefit of the
Trustee and the holders of the Notes, and the Company shall not, and shall
not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, grant to any Person other than the Collateral
Agent, for the benefit of the Trustee, the holders of the Notes, the trustee
for
the Convertible Notes, the holders of the Convertible Notes and the other
beneficiaries described in the Security Documents, any interest whatsoever
in
any of the Collateral.
Section
4.21. Amendments
to Security Documents.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, amend,
waive
or otherwise modify, or permit or consent to any amendment, waiver or other
modification, the Security Documents in any way that would be adverse to the
holders of the Notes.
Section
4.22. Use
of Proceeds.
The
Company will not use the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes, in any amount,
for any purpose other than for Capital Expenditures, in particular, the
construction and operation of compressed natural gas filling stations, strategic
equity or assets acquisitions, working capital and general corporate purposes,
and pending the application of all of such net proceeds in such manner, to
invest the portion of such net proceeds not yet so applied in Cash Equivalents.
Following the application of net proceeds in such manner, any remaining net
proceeds may be applied for general corporate purposes not otherwise prohibited
by the terms of this Indenture.
Section
4.23. Maintenance
of Insurance.
The
Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, maintain insurance policies
covering such risks, in such amounts and with such terms as are normally carried
by similar companies engaged in a similar business to the Related Business
in
the PRC.
Section
4.24. Qualifying
IPO.
The
Company shall make such filings, registrations or qualifications and take all
other necessary action and will use its best efforts to obtain such consents,
approvals and authorizations, if any, and satisfy all conditions that may be
required in connection with listing the Company’s common stock in a Qualifying
IPO and shall use its best efforts to complete a Qualifying IPO by no later
than
September 28, 2008 and, following the listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market
or
Nasdaq Global Market, maintain such listing continuously thereafter as long
as
the Notes are outstanding.
46
Section
4.25. Government
Approvals and Licenses; Compliance with Law.
The
Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (a) obtain and maintain
in
full force and effect all Governmental Approvals, authorizations, consents,
permits, concessions and licenses as are necessary to engage in a Related
Business, (b) preserve and maintain good and valid title to its properties
and
assets (including land-use rights, subject to the rights of the WFOE to dispose
of such rights) free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens and
(c)
comply with all laws, regulations, orders, judgments and decrees of any
governmental body, except to the extent that failure so to obtain, maintain,
preserve and comply would reasonably be expected not to have a material adverse
effect on (1) the business, results of operations or prospects of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (2) the ability of the Company or
any
Guarantor to perform its obligations under the Notes, the relevant Guarantee
of
the Notes or this Indenture.
Section
4.26. Financial
Ratios.
The
Company shall maintain:
(1) a
Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio, as determined as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter,
for the four Fiscal Quarters ending on such day, of at least 1.75 to 1.00
from
the Issue Date through March 31, 2008, and 2.75 to 1.00 from April 1, 2008
through September 30, 2008, and 3.0 to 1.00 thereafter.
(2) a
Leverage Ratio, as determined as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter,
for the
four Fiscal Quarters ending on such day, not exceeding 7.5 to 1.00 from the
Issue Date through March 31, 2008, and 5.0 to 1.00 from April 1, 2008 through
September 30, 2008, and 4.5 to 1.00 thereafter.
(3) a
Consolidated Subsidiary Debt to Consolidated Net Tangible Asset Ratio, as
determined as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, for the four Fiscal
Quarters ending on such day, of not greater than 0.2 from the Issue Date
through
September 30, 2008, and 0.15 thereafter.
Section
4.27. Notes
to Rank Senior.
The
Notes
and all other obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Indenture
are and at all times shall remain direct and first-priority secured obligations
of the Company and each Guarantor ranking pari
passu
as
against the assets of the Company and each Guarantor with (a) all other Notes
from time to time issued and outstanding hereunder and (b) the Convertible
Notes
and the Convertible Note Guarantees, without any preference among themselves
and
senior in right and priority of payment to all other present and future
unsecured Indebtedness (actual or contingent) of the Company and each Guarantor
(except as otherwise required by law).
Section
4.28. Information.
So
far as
permitted by applicable law, the Company shall give the Trustee such
certificates, opinions, information and other evidence as it requires and in
such form as it shall require for the purpose of the discharge of the duties,
powers, trusts, authorities and discretions vested in it by this Indenture
or by
operation of law.
Section
4.29. Information
Material to Holders of Notes.
The
Company shall send to the Trustee three copies or translations, in each case
in
English, of all notices, statements and documents which are issued to the
holders of its shares or its creditors generally as soon as practicable (but
not
later than 30 days) after their date of issue and make available to each Agent
(without cost to such Agent) as many further copies or translations as it may
request in order to satisfy requests from Holders of Notes for
them.
47
Section
4.30. Notices
to Holders of Notes.
The
Company shall send to the Trustee at least seven days prior to the date of
publication, a copy of the form of each notice to be given to Holders of Notes
and once given, two copies of each such notice, such notice to be in a form
approved by the Trustee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) and (if applicable) complying with the requirements of any stock
exchange on which the Notes are listed except for any announcement, notice
or
circular to be made by the Company pursuant to the requirements of the listing
rules or at the request of such stock exchange, of which three copies of each
such announcement, notice or circular, shall be sent by the Company to the
Trustee as promptly as practicable after its date of issue.
Section
4.31. Further
Acts.
The
Company shall so far as permitted by applicable law, do such further things
as
may be necessary in the opinion of the Trustee to give effect to this
Indenture.
Section
4.32. Additional
Tax Amounts.
At
all
times prior to a Tax Redemption Date, all payments of principal of, and premium
(if any) and interest on the Notes or under the Guarantees will be made without
withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any present or future Taxes,
unless such withholding or deduction is required by law or by regulation or
governmental policy having the force of law. In the event that any such
withholding or deduction is so required and if no Tax Redemption Date has been
fixed by the Company, the Company or the applicable Guarantor, as the case
may
be, will pay such withholding or deduction which is required by law or by
regulation or governmental policy having the force of law, and will pay
additional amounts (“Additional
Tax Amounts”)
as
will result in receipt by the holder of each Note or the Guarantees, as the
case
may be, of such amounts as would have been received by such holder had no such
withholding or deduction been required, except that no Additional Tax Amounts
shall be payable:
(a) for
or on
account of:
(1) any
Tax
that would not have been imposed but for:
(2) the
existence of any present or former connection between the holder or beneficial
owner of such Note or Guarantee, as the case may be, and the Governmental
Authority imposing the Tax other than merely holding such Note or the receipt
of
payments thereunder or under a Guarantee, including, without limitation,
such
holder or beneficial owner being or having been a national, domiciliary or
resident of the jurisdiction of such Governmental Authority or treated as
a
resident thereof or being or having been physically present or engaged in
a
business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment
therein;
(3) the
presentation of such Note (in cases in which presentation is required) more
than
30 days after the later of the date on which the payment of the principal
of,
premium, if any, and interest on, such Note became due and payable pursuant
to
the terms thereof or was made or duly provided for, except to the extent
that
the holder thereof would have been entitled to such Additional Tax Amounts
if it
had presented such Note for payment on any date within such 30-day
period;
(4) the
failure of the holder or beneficial owner to comply with a timely request
of the
Company or any Guarantor addressed to the holder or beneficial owner, as
the
case may be, to provide information concerning such holder’s or beneficial
owner’s nationality, residence, identity or connection with any Governmental
Authority, if and to the extent that due and timely compliance with such
request
would have reduced or eliminated any withholding or deduction as to which
Additional Tax Amounts would have otherwise been payable to such
holder;
48
(5) the
presentation of such Note (in cases in which presentation is required) for
payment in a jurisdiction in which the Company, a Surviving Person, or a
Guarantor is resident for tax purposes, unless such Note could not have been
presented for payment elsewhere;
(6) any
estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar
Tax;
(7) any
withholding or deduction that is imposed or levied on a payment to an individual
and is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC
on
the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with,
or
introduced in order to conform to, such Directive; or
(8) any
combination of Taxes referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii);
or
(b) with
respect to any payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest
on,
such Note or any payment under any Guarantee to a holder, if the holder is
a
fiduciary, partnership or person other than the sole beneficial owner of any
payment to the extent that the beneficiary or settlor with respect to the
fiduciary, or a member of the partnership, or the beneficial owner would not
have been entitled to such Additional Tax Amounts had that beneficiary, settlor,
partner or beneficial owner been the holder thereof.
Whenever
there is mentioned in any context the payment of principal of, and any premium
or interest on, any Note or under any Guarantee, such mention shall be deemed
to
include payment of Additional Tax Amounts provided for in this Indenture to
the
extent that, in such context, Additional Tax Amounts are, were or would be
payable in respect thereof.
ARTICLE
5.
SUCCESSORS
Section
5.01. Merger,
Consolidation and Sale of Assets.
(a) The
Company shall not merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into any other Person
(other than a merger of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary into the Company) or sell,
transfer, assign, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially
all
of its Property in any one transaction or series of transactions unless:
(i) the
Company shall be the Surviving Person in such merger, consolidation or
amalgamation, or the Surviving Person (if other than the Company) formed
by such
merger, consolidation or amalgamation or to which such sale, transfer,
assignment, lease, conveyance or disposition is made shall be a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the
United
States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;
(ii) the
Surviving Person (if other than the Company) expressly assumes, by supplemental
indenture in form satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to
the
Trustee by such Surviving Person, the due and punctual payment of the principal
of, and premium, if any, and interest on, all the Notes, according to their
tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants
and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company;
(iii) in
the
case of a sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition
of
all or substantially all the Property of the Company, such Property shall
have
been transferred as an entirety or virtually as an entirety to one Person;
(iv) immediately
before and after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions
on
a pro forma basis (and treating, for purposes of this clause (iv) and
clauses (v) and (vi) below, any Debt that becomes, or is anticipated to
become, an obligation of the Surviving Person or any Subsidiary of the Company
as a result of such transaction or series of transactions as having been
Incurred by the Surviving Person or such Subsidiary at the time of such
transaction or series of transactions), no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing;
49
(v) immediately
after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions on a pro
forma
basis:
(1) the
Company or the Surviving Person, as the case may be, would be able to Incur
at
least $1.00 of additional Debt under clause (1) of Section
4.09;
and
(2) the
Company or the Surviving Person, as the case may be, would have a Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio that is not lower than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of
the
Company immediately prior to such transaction;
(vi) immediately
after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions on a
pro forma
basis, the Surviving Person shall have a Consolidated Net Worth in an amount
which is not less than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately
prior to such transaction or series of transactions;
(vii) the
Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee, an Officers’
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such transaction
or
series of transactions and the supplemental indenture, if any, in respect
thereto comply with this covenant and that all conditions precedent herein
provided for relating to such transaction or series of transactions have
been
satisfied; and
(viii) the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect
that the holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of such transaction 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 transaction had not
occurred.
The
foregoing provisions (other than clause (iv)) shall not apply to any
transaction or series of transactions which constitute an Asset Sale if the
Company has complied with Section
4.12.
(b) The
Company shall not permit any Guarantor to merge, consolidate or amalgamate
with
or into any other Person (other than a merger of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary
into
the Company or such Guarantor) or sell, transfer, assign, lease, convey or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its Property in any one
transaction or series of transactions unless:
(i) the
Surviving Person (if not such Guarantor) formed by such merger, consolidation
or
amalgamation or to which such sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance
or
disposition is made shall be a corporation, company (including a limited
liability company) or partnership organized and existing under the laws
of the
British Virgin Islands, the United States of America, any State thereof
or the
District of Columbia;
(ii) the
Surviving Person (if other than such Guarantor) expressly assumes, by
supplemental indenture in form satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and
delivered to the Trustee by such Surviving Person, the due and punctual
performance and observance of all the obligations of such Guarantor under
its
Guarantee;
(iii) in
the
case of a sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition
of
all or substantially all the Property of such Guarantor, such Property
shall
have been transferred as an entirety or virtually as an entirety to one
Person;
50
(iv) immediately
before and after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions
on
a pro forma basis (and treating, for purposes of this clause (iv) and
clauses (v) and (vi) below, any Debt that becomes, or is anticipated to
become, an obligation of the Surviving Person, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction or series of transactions
as having
been Incurred by the Surviving Person, the Company or such Subsidiary at
the
time of such transaction or series of transactions), no Default or Event
of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(v) immediately
after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions on a
pro forma
basis:
(1) the
Company would be able to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Debt under
clause (1) of the first paragraph of Section
4.09,
and
(2) the
Company would have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio which is not lower than
the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such
transaction; and
(vi) immediately
after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions on a pro
forma
basis, the Company shall have a Consolidated Net Worth in an amount which
is not
less than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to
such
transaction or series of transactions; and
(vii) the
Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee, an Officers’
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such transaction
or
series of transactions and the supplemental indenture, if any, in respect
thereto comply with this covenant and that all conditions precedent herein
provided for relating to such transaction or series of transactions have been
satisfied.
The
foregoing provisions (other than clause (iv)) shall not apply to any
transaction or series of transactions which constitute an Asset Sale if the
Company has complied with Section
4.12.
Section
5.02. Successor
Corporation Substituted.
The
Surviving Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise
every right and power of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, under this
Indenture; provided,
however,
that
the predecessor entity shall not be released from any of the obligations or
covenants under this Indenture, including with respect to the payment of the
Notes and obligations under the Guarantee, as the case may be, in the case
of:
(1) a
sale,
transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition (unless such sale,
transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition is of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company, taken as a whole or, in the case of a
Guarantor, such sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition
is
of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor to a Person that
is
not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Subsidiary
of
the Company, or such portion of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor ceases
to be
a Subsidiary of the Company), or
(2) a
lease.
ARTICLE
6.
DEFAULTS
AND REMEDIES
Section
6.01. Events
of Default.
Each
of
the following constitutes an “Event of Default” with respect to the
Notes:
51
(1) failure
to make the payment of any interest on the Notes when the same becomes due
and
payable, and such failure continues for a period of 5 days;
(2) failure
to make the payment of any principal of, or premium, if any, on, any of the
Notes when the same becomes due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon
acceleration, redemption, optional redemption, required repurchase or otherwise,
including payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section
4.01,
and
such failure continues for a period of 5 days in the case of Additional Amounts;
(3) failure
to comply with Section
5.01,
and
such failure continues for a period of 5 days;
(4) failure
to comply with any other covenant or agreement in the Notes or in this Indenture
(other than a failure that is the subject of the foregoing clause (a), (b)
or (c), and other than the failure to comply with Section
4.24,
for
which payment of Additional Amounts is provided for hereunder and is governed
by
Section
4.01),
and
such failure continues for 30 days after written notice is given to the Company
by the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal
amount
of the Notes then outstanding specifying the default and setting forth in
reasonable detail the nature of such breach, demanding that it be remedied
and
stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default;”
(5) a
default
under any Debt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that results in
acceleration of the maturity of such Debt, or failure to pay any such Debt
when
due, in an aggregate amount greater than $1.0 million or its foreign currency
equivalent at the time;
(6) any
legal
proceedings in respect of, or judgment or judgments for, the payment of money
in
an aggregate amount potentially in excess of $5.0 million (or its foreign
currency equivalent at the time) that shall be instituted or rendered against
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(7) any
Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance
with
the terms of such Guarantee) or any Guarantor or a group of Guarantors that,
taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms
its obligations under its Guarantee;
(8) the
Company, any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or any group of Subsidiaries
that,
when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) pursuant
to or
within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(A) commences
a voluntary case or gives notice of intention to make a proposal under any
Bankruptcy Law;
(B) consents
to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or
consents to its dissolution or winding up;
(C) consents
to the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager,
liquidator, trustee or custodian of it or for all or substantially all of
its
property;
(D) makes
a
general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(E) admits
in
writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due or otherwise admits
its insolvency;
(9) a
court
of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy
Law
that:
52
(A) is
for
relief against the Company, any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or any group
of
Subsidiaries that, when taken together, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary) in an involuntary case; or
(B) appoints
a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, trustee or
custodian of the Company, any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or any group
of
Subsidiaries that, when taken together, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary) for all or substantially all of the property of the Company,
any of
its Significant Subsidiaries (or any group of Subsidiaries that, when taken
together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary); or
(C) orders
the liquidation of the Company, any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or any
group of Subsidiaries that, when taken together, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary);
and
such
order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive
days;
(10) any
default by the Company in any of its obligations under the Security Documents,
which adversely affects the enforceability, validity, perfection or priority
of
the applicable Lien on the Collateral or which adversely affects the condition
or value of the Collateral, taken as a whole, in any material respect; the
security interest under the Security Documents shall, at any time, cease
to be
in full force and effect for any reason other than the satisfaction in full
of
all obligations under the Indenture and discharge of the Indenture or any
security interest created thereunder shall be declared invalid or unenforceable
or the Company or any Guarantor shall assert, in any pleading in any court
of
competent jurisdiction, that any such security interest is invalid or
unenforceable;
(11) the
Company denies or disaffirms its obligations under any Security Document
or,
other than in accordance with this Indenture and the Security Documents,
any
Security Document ceases to be or is not in full force and effect or the
Trustee
ceases to have a first priority interest in the Collateral;
(12) the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries amends or modifies their respective
constitutive documents in such a manner that would have a Material Adverse
Effect or engages any business other than a Related Business;
(13) either
the Indenture, the Notes, any loan made directly or indirectly from the Company
to the WFOE, or any Security Document shall be (A) declared by any Governmental
Authority to be illegal or unenforceable or (B) terminated prior to its
scheduled termination date;
(14) (i)
the
confiscation, expropriation or nationalization by any Governmental Authority
of
any Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries if such confiscation,
expropriation or nationalization would have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(ii)
if such revocation or repudiation could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect, the revocation or repudiation by any Governmental
Authority of any previously granted Governmental Approval to the WFOE that
is
material to the operation of the Related Business; or (iii) the imposition
or
introduction of material and discriminatory taxes, tariffs, royalties, customs
or excise duties imposed on the WFOE, or the material and discriminatory
withdrawal or suspension of material privileges or specifically granted material
rights of a fiscal nature; or
(15) failure
by the Company or any Affiliate thereof (other than any Person who is an
Affiliate solely because such Person is a holder of Notes or Convertible
Notes)
to comply with any of the agreements in that certain Investor Rights Agreement
dated the Issue Date by and among the Company, the WFOE, certain Affiliates
of
the Company and the other Persons therein named if such failure continues
for 30
days after written notice is given to the Company by the Trustee or the holders
of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding
specifying the default, demanding that it be remedied and stating that such
notice is a “Notice of Default.”
53
Section
6.02. Acceleration.
If
any
Event of Default (other than those of the type described in Section
6.01(h)
or
(i),
or
resulting from a breach of Section
4.24,
for
which Additional Amounts are provided) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee
may, and the Trustee upon the request of Holders of 25% in principal amount
of
the outstanding Notes shall, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount
of outstanding Notes may, declare the principal of all the Notes, together
with
all accrued and unpaid interest, premium, if any, to be due and payable by
notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the respective
Event
of Default and that such notice is a notice of acceleration (the “Acceleration
Notice”),
and
the same shall become immediately due and payable.
In
the
case of an Event of Default specified in Section
6.01 (h)
or
(i)
hereof,
all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable immediately without any
further declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the Holders.
Holders may not enforce this Indenture or the Notes except as provided in this
Indenture.
In
the
case of an Event of Default with respect to the Notes occurring by reason of
any
willful action or inaction taken or not taken by the Company or on the Company’s
behalf with the intention or effect of avoiding payment of the premium that
the
Company would have been required to pay if the Company had then elected to
redeem the Notes pursuant to Section
3.05
hereof,
an equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately due and payable
to
the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the Notes. If an Event
of
Default occurs prior to 2010 by reason of any willful action or inaction taken
or not taken by the Company or on the Company’s behalf with the intention of
avoiding the premium required upon a redemption of the Notes under Section
3.05,
then
the premium specified in Section
3.05
shall
also become immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon
acceleration of the Notes.
The
Trustee shall not be obliged to declare the Notes immediately due and payable
under this Section
6.02
unless
it has been first indemnified and/or secured to its satisfaction in respect
of
all losses which it has incurred to that date and to which it may thereby and
as
a consequence thereof in its opinion render itself, or have rendered itself,
liable.
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 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 shall be cumulative to
the
extent permitted by law.
Section
6.04. Waiver
of Defaults.
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,
except a continuing Default or Event of Default (i) in the payment of the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest, on the Notes and (ii) in respect
of
a covenant or provision which under this Indenture cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the Holder of each Note affected by such modification
or
amendment. In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section
6.01(e),
such
Event of Default and all consequences of that Event of Default, including
without limitation any acceleration or resulting payment default, shall be
annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the
Trustee or the Holders of the Notes, if within 60 days after the Event of
Default arose:
54
(1) the
Debt
that is the basis for the Event of Default has been discharged;
(2) the
holders of such Debt have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or
action, as the case may be, giving rise to the Event of Default; or
(3) if
the
default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been
cured.
Upon
any
waiver of a Default or Event of Default, such Default shall cease to exist,
and
any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed cured for every purpose
of this Indenture but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section
6.05. Control
by Majority.
Subject
to Section
7.01,
Section
7.02(f)
(including the Trustee’s receipt of the security or indemnification described
therein) and Section
7.06
hereof,
in case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall
have
the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for
any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred
on the Trustee with respect to the Notes.
Section
6.06. Limitation
on Suits.
No
Holder
shall have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to this Indenture,
or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy thereunder,
unless:
(1) such
Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing
Event
of Default or the Trustee receives the notice from the Company,
(2) Holders
of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding
have
made written request to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee
and
have provided the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee
against any loss, liability or expense but the Trustee has not complied with
such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the
provision of the security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee,
and
(3) the
Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding a direction inconsistent with
such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60
days.
The
preceding limitations shall not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder for
enforcement of payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on,
a
Note on or after the respective due dates for such payments set forth in such
Note.
A
Holder
may not use this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of another
Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.
Section
6.07. Rights
of Holders to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Indenture (including Section
6.06),
the
right of any Holder to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and
interest on the Notes held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates
expressed in the Notes (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.
55
Section
6.08. Collection
Suit by Trustee.
If
an
Event of Default specified in Section
6.01 (h)
or
(i)
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 then due and owing (together with
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 properly incurred compensation, expenses, disbursements
and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
Section
6.09. Trustee
May File Proofs of Claim.
The
Trustee shall be 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 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 properly incurred compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances
of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee
under Section
7.06
hereof.
To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements
and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts
due the Trustee under Section
7.06
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, moneys, securities and any other properties that the
Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation
or
under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein
contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent
to or
accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder,
or to
authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any
such
proceeding.
Section
6.10. Priorities.
If
the
Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article
6,
it
shall pay out the money in the following order:
First:
to the
Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section
7.06
hereof,
including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and
all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection
in
connection with this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Notes, including
the collection or distribution of such amounts held or realized or in connection
with expenses incurred in enforcing its remedies under the Security Documents
and preserving the Collateral and all amounts for which the Trustee is entitled
to indemnification under the Security Documents;
Second:
in
case
the principal of the outstanding Notes shall not have become due and be unpaid,
to the payment of interest on the Notes in default in the order of the maturity
of the installments of such Interest, with interest (to the extent that such
interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of
Interest at the rate specified in the Notes, such payments to be made ratably
to
the Persons entitled thereto and pari
passu
with all
such similar amounts due and payable to the holders of the Convertible
Notes;
Third:
in case
the principal of the outstanding Notes shall have become due, by declaration
or
otherwise, and be unpaid to the payment of the whole amount then owing and
unpaid upon the Notes for principal and Interest, with Interest on the overdue
principal and (to the extent that such Interest has been collected by the
Trustee) upon overdue installments of Interest at the rate specified in the
Notes, and in case such monies shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole
amounts so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such principal
and Interest without preference or priority of principal over Interest, or
of
Interest over principal, or of any installment of Interest over any other
installment of Interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the
aggregate of such principal and accrued and unpaid Interest, and in all cases
pari
passu
with all
such similar amounts due and payable to the holders of the Company’s Convertible
Notes; and
56
Fourth:
to the
Company or the Guarantors 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
pursuant to this Section.
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 such
suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and the court in its
discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees,
against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and
good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This
Section shall not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by the Company, a
suit
by a Holder 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 Person would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of such Person’s own
affairs.
(b) Except
during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(1) the
duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions
of
this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are
specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants
or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;
and
(2) 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.
(c) The
Trustee shall not be liable to any person for any matter or thing done or
omitted in any way in connection with or in relation to this Indenture, the
Notes or the Security Documents, save in relation to its gross negligence,
willful misconduct or fraud, and:
(1) this
paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this
Section;
(2) the
Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by
a
Responsible Officer; and
(3) 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.
57
(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.
(g) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Indenture or in any other transaction document,
the Trustee shall not be liable for any failure or delay in the performance
of
its obligations hereunder if it is prevented from so performing its obligations
by circumstances beyond the control of the Trustee, including without
limitation, any existing or future law or regulation, any existing or future
act
of governmental authority, Act of God, flood, war whether declared or
undeclared, terrorism, riot, rebellion, civil commotion, strike, lockout, other
industrial action, general failure of electricity or other supply, aircraft
collision, technical failure, accidental or mechanical or electrical breakdown,
computer failure or failure of any money transmission system. The Trustee shall
be excused from performance only to the extent of such prevention, restriction
or interference, provided that it shall to the extent practicable resume
performance of its obligations hereunder as soon as the cause, prevention,
restriction or interference is removed.
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 any such 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 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 reliance
thereon.
(c) The
Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take that it
believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it
by
this Indenture.
(d) 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.
(e) The
Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default
unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or
unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or Event
of
Default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee from the Company or the Holders of 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Notes, and such notice references the
specific Default or Event of Default, the Notes and this Indenture.
(f) The
Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the
performance of its power and duties hereunder.
(g) The
Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company’s
covenants herein.
(h) The
Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties
hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee
shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any
agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder or be bound to
supervise the proceedings or acts of any such person.
58
(i) The
Trustee, in relation to this Indenture, shall engage and consult, at the expense
of the Company, with any legal or professional adviser and notice of appointment
of any legal or professional adviser shall be given to the Company and the
Guarantors as soon as practicable. The Trustee may act on the opinion or advice
of, or a certificate or information obtained from, any lawyer, valuer,
accountant, banker or other expert whether obtained by or addressed to the
Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, an Agent or otherwise, and notwithstanding
any monetary or other limit on liability contained therein, will not be
responsible to anyone for any losses occasioned by so acting. Any such opinion,
advice or information may be sent or obtained by letter, telex, fax or
electronic mail and the Trustee will not be liable to anyone for acting in
good
faith on any opinion, advice, certificate or information purporting to be
conveyed by such means, notwithstanding any limitation on liability (monetary
or
otherwise) in relation to such person’s opinion or advice and even if it
contains some error or is not authentic.
(j) The
Trustee will not be responsible for having acted in good faith on a resolution
in writing or any resolution purporting to have been passed at a meeting of
Holders of Notes in respect of which minutes have been made and signed or a
direction of a specified percentage of Holders of Notes even if it is later
found that there was a defect in the constitution of the meeting or the passing
of the resolution or that the resolution was not valid or binding on the Holders
of Notes.
(k) No
provision of these presents shall require the Trustee to do anything which
may:
(i) be illegal or contrary to applicable law or regulation; (ii) cause it to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the
performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its own rights,
powers, authorities or discretions and the Trustee shall not be obliged to
do or
omit anything, including entering into any transaction or incurring any
liability unless the Trustee’s liability is limited in a manner satisfactory to
it in its absolute discretion and the Trustee may refrain from taking any action
pursuant to this Indenture unless and until it shall have received in form
and
substance satisfactory to it in its absolute discretion such indemnification
and/or security (whether by way of payment in advance or otherwise) for all
losses which it will or may expend or incur or to which it may be exposed in
complying with such instructions or directions. Nor shall the Trustee in any
circumstances be obliged to give its own indemnity to any person appointed
by it
pursuant to this Indenture.
(l) The
Trustee may appoint as custodian, on any terms, any bank or entity whose
business includes the safe custody of documents or any lawyer or firm of lawyers
believed by it to be of good repute and may deposit this Indenture and any
other
documents with such custodian and pay all sums due in respect thereof. The
Trustee shall not be responsible for or required to insure against any losses
incurred in connection with such deposit and may pay all sums required to be
paid on account of, or in respect of, any such deposit.
(m) Whenever
in this Indenture, the Security Documents or by law, the Trustee shall have
discretion or permissive power it may decline to exercise the same in the
absence of approval by the Holders of Notes and need not exercise the same
unless it has been first indemnified and/or provided with security to its
satisfaction against all actions, proceedings, claims and demands to which
it
may render itself liable and all losses which it may incur by so doing. Without
limiting the general statement above, the Trustee may refrain from taking any
action in any jurisdiction if the taking of such action in that jurisdiction
would, in its opinion based upon legal advice in the relevant jurisdiction,
be
contrary to any law of that jurisdiction. Furthermore, the Trustee may also
refrain from taking such action if it would otherwise render it liable to any
person in that jurisdiction or if, in its opinion based upon such legal advice,
it would not have the power to do the relevant thing in that jurisdiction by
virtue of any applicable law in that jurisdiction or if it is determined by
any
court or other competent authority in that jurisdiction that it does not have
such power.
(n) The
Trustee may, in the execution and exercise of all or any of the trusts, powers,
authorities and discretions vested in it by this Indenture, act by responsible
officers or a responsible officer for the time being of the Trustee. Whenever
it
considers it expedient in the interests of the Holders of Notes, the Trustee
may
delegate by power of attorney or otherwise to any person or persons or
fluctuating body of persons on any terms (including power to sub-delegate)
all
or any of its trusts, powers, authorities, discretions or functions under this
Indenture and any such delegation may be made upon such terms and conditions
and
subject to such regulations (including power to sub-delegate with the consent
of
the Trustee) as the Trustee may think fit in the interests of the Holders of
Notes. Provided that the Trustee shall have exercised reasonable care in the
selection of such delegate, the Trustee shall not be under any obligation to
the
Holders of Notes to supervise the proceedings or be in any way responsible
for
any loss incurred by reason of any misconduct or default on the part of any
such
delegate or sub-delegate.
59
(o) In
relation to any asset held by it under this Indenture, the Trustee may appoint
any person to act as its nominee on any terms.
(p) Where
it
is necessary or desirable to translate or convert any sum from one currency
to
another, it will (unless otherwise provided hereby or required by law) be
converted or translated at such rate or rates, in accordance with such method
and as at such date as may be specified by the Trustee but having regard to
current rates of exchange, if available. Any rate, method and date so specified
will be binding on the Company, the Guarantors and the Holders of
Notes.
(q) Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Indenture, to the extent required by any applicable
law, if the Trustee is or will be required to make any deduction or withholding
from any distribution or payment made by it hereunder or if the Trustee is
or
will be otherwise charged to, or is or may become liable to, tax as a
consequence of performing its duties hereunder whether as principal, agent
or
otherwise, and whether by reason of any assessment, prospective assessment
or
other imposition of liability to taxation of whatsoever nature and whensoever
made upon the Trustee, and whether in connection with or arising from any sums
received or distributed by it or to which it may be entitled under this
Indenture (other than in connection with its remuneration as provided for
herein) or any investments or deposits from time to time representing the same,
including any income or gains arising therefrom or any action of the Trustee
in
connection with the trusts of this Indenture (other than the remuneration herein
specified) or otherwise, then the Trustee shall be entitled to make such
deduction or withholding or, as the case may be, to retain out of sums received
by it an amount sufficient to discharge any liability to tax which relates
to
sums so received or distributed or to discharge any such other liability of
the
Trustee to tax from the funds held by the Trustee upon the trusts of this
Indenture.
(r) The
Trustee shall not be liable to the Company or the Guarantors or any Holder
if
without gross negligence, wilful misconduct, fraud on its part it has accepted
as valid or has not rejected any Notes purporting to be such and subsequently
found to be forged or not authentic nor shall it be liable for any action taken
or omitted to be taken in reliance on any document, certificate or communication
believed by it to be genuine and to have been presented or signed by the proper
parties.
(s) Any
consent or approval to be given by the Trustee for the purposes of this
Indenture may be given on such terms and subject to such conditions (if any)
as
the Trustee thinks fit and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Indenture may be given retrospectively. The Company and the Guarantors shall
observe and perform any such terms and conditions and the Trustee may at any
time waive or agree to a variation of such terms and conditions.
(t) The
terms
and conditions of the Notes shall be binding on the Company, the Guarantors
and
the Holders of Notes. The Trustee shall be entitled to enforce the obligations
of the Company and the Guarantors under the Notes and the terms and conditions
of the Notes as if the same were set out and contained in this Indenture which
shall be read and construed as one document with the Notes.
(u) Any
Trustee being a banker, lawyer, broker or other person engaged in any profession
or business shall be entitled to charge and be paid all usual professional
and
other charges for business transacted and acts done by him or his partner or
firm on matters arising in connection with the trusts of this Indenture and
also
his properly incurred charges in addition to disbursements for all other work
and business done and all time spent by him or his partner or firm on matters
arising in connection with this Indenture, including matters which might or
should have been attended to in person by a trustee not being a banker, lawyer,
broker or other professional person.
(v) Notwithstanding
any provision of this Indenture to the contrary, the Trustee shall not in any
event be liable for any claims, suits, actions, costs, damages, liabilities,
or
expenses or any interruption of services nor for incidental, special, indirect,
punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including
but
not limited to loss of business, goodwill, opportunity or profit).
60
(w) Nothing
herein shall constitute or impose an obligation or duty on the Trustee to assume
or perform any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under this Indenture
and the Trustee shall not have any liability for any such obligations and
nothing herein shall constitute a guarantee or similar obligations by the
Trustee of such obligations.
(x) The
Trustee shall not be responsible for the validity or enforceability of any
obligations owed to it as Trustee hereof other than by the Company and the
Guarantors the benefit of which obligations have been taken by the Trustee
in
the interests of the Holders of Notes.
(y) The
Trustee may call for any certificate or other document to be issued by
Clearstream or Euroclear (or any alternative clearing system on behalf of whom
any Global Note may be held) as to the principal amount of Notes evidenced
by a
Global Note standing to the account of any person. Any such certificate or
other
document shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding
for
all purposes. The Trustee shall not be liable to any person by reason of having
accepted as valid or not having rejected any certificate or other document
to
such effect purporting to be issued by Clearstream or Euroclear (or any such
alternative clearing system) and subsequently found to be forged or not
authentic or not to be correct.
(z) In
connection with the exercise by it of any of its trusts, powers, authorities,
duties and discretions under this Indenture (including, without limitation,
any
modification, waiver, authorisation or determination), the Trustee shall have
regard to the interests of all of the Holders of Notes and shall not have regard
to any interests arising from circumstances particular to individual Holders
of
Notes (whatever their number) (except where expressly provided otherwise),
and,
in particular but without limitation, shall not have regard to the consequences
of such exercise for individual Holders of Notes resulting from their being
for
any purpose domiciled or resident in, or otherwise connected with, or subject
to
the jurisdiction of, any particular territory or any political sub-division
thereof and the Trustee shall not be entitled to require, nor shall any Holder
be entitled to claim, from the Company (except as provided in this Indenture),
the Trustee or any other person any indemnification or payment in respect of
any
tax consequence of any such exercise upon individual Holders of
Notes.
(aa) The
Trustee shall not be responsible for the execution, delivery, legality,
effectiveness, adequacy, genuineness, validity, performance, enforceability
or
admissibility in evidence of this Indenture or any other document relating
thereto and shall not be liable for any failure to obtain any licence, consent
or other authority for the execution, delivery, legality, effectiveness,
adequacy, genuineness, validity, performance, enforceability or admissibility
in
evidence of this Indenture or any other document relating thereto.
(bb) The
Trustee shall not be responsible to any person for failing to request, require
or receive any legal opinion relating to the Notes or for checking or commenting
upon the content of any such legal opinion and shall not be responsible for
any
losses incurred thereby.
(cc) The
Trustee shall not be bound to take any action in connection with this Indenture
or any obligations arising pursuant thereto, including, without prejudice to
the
generality of the foregoing, forming any opinion or employing any financial
adviser, where it is not reasonably satisfied that the Company or the Guarantors
will be able to indemnify it against all losses which may be incurred in
connection with such action and may demand prior to taking any such action
that
there be paid to it in advance such sums as it reasonably considers (without
prejudice to any further demand) shall be sufficient so to indemnify it and
on
such demand being made the Company or the Guarantors (as the case may be) shall
be obliged to make payment of all such sums in full.
(dd) The
Trustee and any other person, whether or not acting for itself, may acquire,
hold or dispose of any Note or other security (or any interest therein) of
the
Company or any other person, may enter into or be interested in any contract
or
transaction with any such person and may act on, or as depositary or agent
for,
any committee or body of holders of any securities of any such person in each
case with the same rights as it would have had if the Trustee were not acting
as
Trustee and need not account for any profit, fees, commissions, interest,
discounts or share of brokerage earned, arising or resulting from an such
contracts or transactions.
61
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 Commission for permission to continue
as
Trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and
duties.
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.
The
Company shall notify the Trustee in writing immediately on becoming aware of
the
occurrence of any Default or Event of Default. If the Trustee receives notice
of
any Default or Event of Default from the Company, the Trustee shall mail to
Holders a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after receipt
thereof. 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 determines
that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.
Section
7.06. Compensation
and Indemnity.
The
Company and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall pay to the Trustee
from
time to time 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 and each Guarantor,
jointly and severally, shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for
all
disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to
the
compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the compensation,
disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
In
the
event of the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default or the Trustee
considering it expedient or necessary or being requested by the Company or
the
Guarantors to undertake duties that are of an exceptional nature or otherwise
outside the scope of the normal duties of the Trustee under this Indenture,
the
Company shall pay to the Trustee additional remuneration. It is acknowledged
and
agreed that the Trustee shall not be obliged to undertake any additional duties
unless the Trustee is satisfied (at its absolute discretion) that all its
additional remuneration will be paid.
The
Company and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee
(in its capacity as Trustee), any predecessor Trustee (in its capacity as
Trustee) , any person appointed by the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee,
under
this Indenture, their directors, officers and employees against any and all
losses, claims, damages, penalties, fines, liabilities or expenses, including
incidental and out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys fees (for purposes of this
Article, “losses”)
incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of its duties under this Indenture, the Notes and
the
Security Documents (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes its duties
as
Collateral Agent, Paying Agent, Common Depositary or Registrar if appointed
as
such), including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture and the
Security Documents against the Company (including this Section) 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. 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 under this
Section. The Company shall defend the claim, and the Trustee shall reasonably
cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel if the Trustee
has been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
available to it that are different from or additional to those available to
the
Company and in the judgment of such counsel it is advisable for the Trustee
to
engage separate counsel, and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of
such
counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its
written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
62
The
obligations of the Company under this Section shall survive the satisfaction
and
discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article
11
hereof,
the termination of this Indenture and the Security Documents, the resignation
or
removal of the Trustee or payment in full of the Notes through the expiration
of
the applicable statute of limitations.
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, premium, if any, and interest on
particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of
this
Indenture pursuant to Article
11
hereof,
the termination of this Indenture and the Security Documents, the resignation
or
removal of the Trustee or payment in full of the Notes through the expiration
of
the applicable statute of limitations.
When
the
Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified
in Section
6.01(h)
or
(i)
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.
All
amounts due and payable pursuant to this Section
7.06
shall be
payable on the date specified in a demand by the Trustee and in the case of
payments actually made by the Trustee prior to such demand shall (if not paid
within three days after such demand and the Trustee so requires) carry interest
at a rate of 2 per cent. per annum above the cost of funds of DB Trustees (Hong
Kong) Limited from the date that payment is made by the Trustee until the date
the Company reimburses the Trustee and in all other cases shall (if not paid
on
the date specified in such demand and the Trustees so requires) carry interest
at such rate from the date specified in such demand until payment by the Company
to the Trustee. All remuneration payable to the Trustee shall carry interest
at
such rate from the due date therefor.
The
Company hereby further undertakes to the Trustee that all monies payable by
the
Company or the Guarantors to the Trustee under this Section
7.06
shall be
made without set-off, counterclaim, deduction or withholding unless compelled
by
law in which event the Company or the Guarantors (as the case may be) will
pay
such additional amounts as will result in the receipt by the Trustee of the
amounts which would otherwise have been payable by the Company to the Trustee
under this Section
7.06
in the
absence of any such set-off, counterclaim, deduction or
withholding.
Section
7.07. 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 upon 30 days’ prior notice to the
Company and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the
Company. The Holders of a majority in aggregate 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:
(1) the
Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered
with
respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(2) a
custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property;
or
(3) the
Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
63
If
the
Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee
for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the
retiring Trustee), the 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 30 days after the retiring Trustee
resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of
at
least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may
petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction
for
the appointment of a successor Trustee.
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.
Subject to the Lien provided for in Section
7.06
hereof,
the retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee
to the successor Trustee; provided,
however,
that
all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder shall have been paid. Notwithstanding
replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Company’s obligations
under Section
7.06
hereof
shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
In
the
case of an appointment hereunder of a separate or successor Trustee with respect
to the Notes, the Company, the Guarantors, any retiring Trustee and each
successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Notes shall execute and
deliver a supplemental indenture in form satisfactory to the Trustee (1) which
shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to
confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of any retiring Trustee
with respect to the Notes as to which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring
shall continue to be vested in such retiring Trustee and (2) that shall add
to
or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to
provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more
than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such
supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustee co-trustees of the same
trust and that each such separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be
Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or
trusts hereunder administered by any such other Trustee.
Section
7.08. Successor
Trustee by Xxxxxx, etc.
If
the
Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially
all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or banking
association, the successor corporation or banking association without any
further act shall, if such successor corporation or banking association is
otherwise eligible hereunder, be the successor Trustee.
In
case
at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation
to the Trustee shall succeed to the trust created by this Indenture any of
the
Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to
the
Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee,
and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the
Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may
authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or
in
the name of the successor to the Trustee.
ARTICLE
8.
AMENDMENT,
SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section
8.01. Without
Consent of Holders.
Notwithstanding
Section
8.02
of this
Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture,
the Security Documents or the Notes without consent of any Holder
to:
(1) cure
any
ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
64
(2) provide
for the assumption by a Surviving Person of the obligations of the Company
under
this Indenture;
(3) provide
for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes
(provided
that the
uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section
163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are
described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code);
(4) add
additional Guarantees or additional obligors with respect to the Notes or
release Guarantors from guarantees as permitted by the terms of this
Indenture;
(5) further
secure the Notes, or release all or any portion of the Collateral pursuant
to
the terms of the Security Documents;
(6) add
to
the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender
any
right or power conferred upon the Company; or
(7) make
any
other change that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of
any
such Xxxxxx.
Section
8.02. With
Consent of Holders.
Except
as
provided below in this Section, the Company and the Trustee may amend or
supplement this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Notes with the consent
of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection
with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes), and,
subject to Sections
6.04
and
6.07,
any
existing Default or Event of Default (except a continuing Default or Event
of
Default in (i) the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the
Notes and (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision which under this Indenture
cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Note
affected by such modification or amendment) or compliance with any provision
of
this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of
a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting
as a
single class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of
or
tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes).
Without
the consent of each Holder, an amendment or waiver under this Section may not
(with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(1) reduce
the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment or
waiver;
(2) reduce
the rate of, or extend the time for payment of, interest, if any, on, any
Note;
(3) reduce
the principal of, or extend the Stated Maturity of, any Note;
(4) make
any
Note payable in money other than that stated in the Note;
(5) impair
the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any,
and
interest, if any, on, such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or
to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to
such
Xxxxxx’s Notes or any Guarantee;
(6) subordinate
the Notes or any Guarantee to any other obligation of the Company or the
applicable Guarantor;
65
(7) (A) release
the security interest granted in favor of the holders of the Notes in the
Collateral other than pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents, or
(B) release
any other security interest that may have been granted in favor of the holders
of the Notes other than pursuant to the terms of such security
interest;
(8) reduce
the amount payable as Additional Amounts or upon the redemption of any Note
or
change the time at which any Note may be redeemed, as described under
Section
3.05,
Section
4.16
or
Section
4.26;
(9) reduce
the premium payable upon a Change of Control or, at any time after a Change
of
Control has occurred, change the time at which the Change of Control Offer
relating thereto must be made or at which the Notes must be repurchased pursuant
to such Change of Control Offer;
(10) at
any
time after the Company is obligated to make an Asset Sale Offer with the
Excess
Proceeds from Asset Sales, change the time at which such Asset Sale Offer
must
be made or at which the Notes must be repurchased pursuant thereto;
or
(11) make
any
change in any Guarantee that would adversely affect the
Holders.
The
Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose
of
determining the Persons entitled to consent to any supplemental indenture.
If a
record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated
proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such
supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such
record date; provided
that
unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite
percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 120 days after such
record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without
further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect.
It
shall
not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 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 Holder of each Note affected thereby to such Xxxxxx’s
address appearing in the Security Register 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.
Upon
the
request of the Company, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents
described in Section 14.03
hereof,
the Trustee will join with the Company in the execution of any amended or
supplemental indenture or waiver 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 will not be obligated to enter into
such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver that affects its own rights,
duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section
8.03. Revocation
and Effect of Consents.
Until
an
amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder
is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder
of a
Note or portion thereof 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 or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Note or portion
thereof if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date
the
waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement
or
waiver shall become effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter shall
bind every Holder.
66
Section
8.04. 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, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance
with Section
2.02
hereof,
the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement
or waiver.
Failure
to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the
validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section
8.05. Trustee
to Sign Amendments, etc.
The
Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture (in form satisfactory
to the Trustee) authorized pursuant to this Article
8
if the
amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties,
liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. None of the Company nor any
Guarantor may sign an amendment or supplemental indenture until its board of
directors (or committee serving a similar function) approves it. In executing
any amended or supplemental indenture or any amendment or supplement to the
Security Documents or Notes, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive in
addition to the documents required by Section
14.03,
and
(subject to Section
7.01
hereof)
shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion
of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture
is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amended or
supplemental indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to
customary exceptions and that such amended or supplemental indenture complies
with the provisions hereof.
ARTICLE
9.
GUARANTEES
Section
9.01. Guarantee.
Subject
to this Article
9,
each
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: (a) the due and punctual payment as if each Guarantor was, instead
of the Company, expressed to be the primary obligor in respect of the Notes
and
not merely surety (but without affecting the nature of the Company’s
obligations) of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes,
subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by
acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest
on the overdue principal of and premium, if any, 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 under this Indenture or any other
agreement with or for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee, 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 shall 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 pursuant to Section
6.02,
redemption or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed
or
any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be
jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor
agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of
collection.
67
Each
Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations with regard to its Guarantee shall
be joint and several, unconditional, irrespective of the validity or
enforceability of the Notes or the obligations of the Company under this
Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, the recovery of any
judgment against the Company or any other obligor with respect to this
Indenture, the Notes or the Obligations of the Company under this Indenture
or
the Notes, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances (other
than
complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor further, to the extent
permitted by law, waives and relinquishes all claims, rights and remedies
accorded by applicable law to guarantors and agrees not to assert or take
advantage of any such claims, rights or remedies, including but not limited
to:
(a) any right to require any of the Trustee, the Holders or the Company (each
a
“Benefited
Party”),
as a
condition of payment or performance by such Guarantor, to (1) proceed against
the Company, any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the
Obligations under the Guarantees or any other Person, (2) proceed against or
exhaust any security held from the Company, any such other guarantor or any
other Person, (3) proceed against or have resort to any balance of any deposit
account or credit on the books of any Benefited Party in favor of the Company
or
any other Person, or (4) pursue any other remedy in the power of any Benefited
Party whatsoever; (b) any defense arising by reason of the incapacity, lack
of
authority or any disability or other defense of the Company including any
defense based on or arising out of the lack of validity or the unenforceability
of the Obligations under the Guarantees or any agreement or instrument relating
thereto or by reason of the cessation of the liability of the Company from
any
cause other than payment in full of the Obligations under the Guarantees; (c)
any defense based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the
obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects
more burdensome than that of the principal; (d) any defense based upon any
Benefited Party’s errors or omissions in the administration of the Obligations
under the Guarantees; (e)(1) any principles or provisions of law, statutory
or
otherwise, which are or might be in conflict with the terms of the Guarantees
and any legal or equitable discharge of such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder,
(2) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Guarantor’s
liability hereunder or the enforcement hereof, (3) any rights to set-offs,
recoupments and counterclaims and (4) promptness, diligence and any requirement
that any Benefited Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any security
interest or lien or any property subject thereto; (f) notices, demands,
presentations, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and notices
of
any action or inaction, including acceptance of the Guarantees, notices of
Default under the Notes or any agreement or instrument related thereto, notices
of any renewal, extension or modification of the Obligations under the
Guarantees or any agreement related thereto, and notices of any extension of
credit to the Company and any right to consent to any thereof; (g) to the extent
permitted under applicable law, the benefits of any “One Action” rule and (h)
any defenses or benefits that may be derived from or afforded by law which
limit
the liability of or exonerate guarantors or sureties, or which may conflict
with
the terms of the Guarantees. Except to the extent expressly provided herein,
including Section
9.05,
each
Guarantor hereby covenants that its Guarantee shall not be discharged except
by
complete performance of the obligations contained in its Guarantee and this
Indenture.
If
any
Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the
Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar
official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount
paid by the Company or any Guarantor either to the Trustee or such Holder,
the
Guarantee of such Guarantor, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be
reinstated in full force and effect.
Each
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. Each Guarantor further
agrees that, as between the Guarantors, 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 Section
6.02
hereof
for the purposes of this 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 Section
6.02
hereof,
such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due
and
payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors
shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so
long
as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under
the Guarantee.
Section
9.02. Limitation
on Guarantor Liability.
(a) Each
Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that
it
is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such 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 guarantee
or
financial assistance that is prohibited by the laws of the British Virgin
Islands or any other jurisdiction where any Guarantor may be organized. To
effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors
hereby irrevocably agree that each Guarantor’s liability shall be that amount
from time to time equal to the aggregate liability of such Guarantor under
the
guarantee, but shall be limited to the lesser of (a) the aggregate amount
of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture or (b) the
amount, if any, which would not have (1) rendered the Guarantor “insolvent”
(as such term is defined in Bankruptcy Law and in the Debtor and Creditor Law
of
the State of New York) or (2) left it with unreasonably small capital at
the time its guarantee with respect to the Notes was entered into, after giving
effect to the incurrence of existing Debt immediately before such time;
provided,
however,
it
shall be a presumption in any lawsuit or proceeding in which a Guarantor is
a
party that the amount guaranteed pursuant to the guarantee with respect to
the
Notes is the amount described in clause (a) above unless any creditor,
or representative of creditors of the Guarantor, or debtor in possession or
trustee in bankruptcy of the Guarantor, otherwise proves in a lawsuit that
the
aggregate liability of the Guarantor is limited to the amount described in
clause (b).
68
(b) In
making
any determination as to the solvency or sufficiency of capital of a Guarantor
in
accordance with the proviso of Section
9.02(a),
the
right of each Guarantor to contribution from other Guarantors and any other
rights such Guarantor may have, contractual or otherwise, shall be taken into
account.
Section
9.03. Execution
and Delivery of Guarantee.
To
evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section
9.01,
each
Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Guarantee in substantially
the
form included in Exhibit
B
attached
hereto shall be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor on each Note
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture shall be
executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President or one of its Vice
Presidents.
Each
Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section
9.01
shall
remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each
Note a notation of such Guarantee.
If
an
Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Guarantee no longer
holds
that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which a Guarantee
is endorsed, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.
The
delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder,
shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture
on
behalf of the Guarantors.
The
Company hereby agrees that it shall cause each Person that becomes obligated
to
provide a Guarantee pursuant to Section
4.17
(each, a
“Future
Guarantor”)
to
execute a supplemental indenture in form and substance satisfactory to the
Trustee, pursuant to which such Person provides the guarantee set forth in
this
Article
9
and
otherwise assumes the obligations and accepts the rights of a Guarantor under
this Indenture, in each case with the same effect and to the same extent as
if
such Person had been named herein as a Guarantor. The Company also hereby agrees
to cause each such new Guarantor to evidence its guarantee by endorsing a
notation of such guarantee on each Note as provided in this
Section.
Section
9.04. Guarantors
May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
Except
as
otherwise provided in Section
9.05,
no
Guarantor may consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such
Guarantor is the Surviving Person) another Person whether or not affiliated
with
such Guarantor unless:
(1) subject
to Section
9.05,
the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other
than a
Guarantor or the Company) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of
such
Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance
satisfactory to the Trustee, under this Indenture, the Guarantee on the terms
set forth herein or therein; and
(2) the
Guarantor complies with the requirements of Article
5
hereof.
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 and substance to the Trustee, of the 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 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 Guarantees
so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under
this
Indenture as the Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance
with
the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Guarantees had been issued
at
the date of the execution hereof.
69
Except
as
set forth in Articles
4
and
5,
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
9.05. Releases
Following Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets, Etc.
In
the
event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or
other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of any Guarantor, in each case
to
a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transactions)
a Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or
other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of
the
Capital Stock of such 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 such Guarantor) shall be released and relieved of any obligations
under its Guarantee; provided
that the
net proceeds of such sale or other disposition shall be applied in accordance
with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation
Section
4.12.
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 provisions of this Indenture, including
without limitation Section
4.12,
the
Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the
release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Guarantee.
Any
Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Guarantee shall remain
liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for
the
other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this
Article
9.
The
Guarantors shall pay all stamp, registration and other taxes and duties
(including any interest and penalties thereon or in connection therewith) which
are payable upon or in connection with the execution and delivery of this
guarantee, and shall indemnify each Holder of Notes against any claim, demand,
action, liability, damages, cost, loss or expense (including, without
limitation, legal fees and any applicable value added tax) which it may incur
as
a result or arising out of or in relation to any failure to pay or delay in
paying any of the same.
ARTICLE
10.
COLLATERAL
AND SECURITY
Section
10.01. Security
Documents.
(a) The
due
and punctual payment of the principal of and interest 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 on the Notes and performance of all other
obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee under this Indenture
and the Notes, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, are secured
as
provided in the Security Documents which the Company has entered into
simultaneously with the execution of this Indenture and which is attached as
Exhibit
D
hereto.
Each Holder, by its acceptance thereof, consents and agrees to the terms of
the
Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing
for
foreclosure and release of Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may
be
amended from time to time in accordance with its terms and authorizes and
directs the Trustee to enter into the Security Documents and to perform its
obligations and exercise its rights thereunder as a Secured Party in accordance
therewith. The Company will do or cause to be done all such acts and things
as
may be required by applicable law or may be necessary or proper, or as may
be
required by the provisions of the Security Documents, to assure and confirm
to
the Trustee the security interest in the Collateral contemplated hereby, by
the
Security Documents 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 will take, and will cause its Subsidiaries to take,
upon
request of the Trustee, any and all actions required to cause the Security
Documents 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 Collateral, in favor of the Trustee, as Secured Party, for the benefit
of
the Holders, superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons and
subject to no other Liens than Permitted Liens.
70
(b) Notwithstanding
(i) anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Security
Documents, the Notes or any other instrument governing, evidencing or relating
to any Debt, (ii) the time, order or method of attachment of any Liens, (iii)
the time or order of filing or recording of financing statements or other
documents filed or recorded to perfect any Lien upon any Collateral, (iv) the
time of taking possession or control over any Collateral or (v) the rules for
determining priority under any law of any relevant jurisdiction governing
relative priorities of secured creditors:
(A) the
Liens
will rank at least equally and ratably with all valid, enforceable and perfected
Liens, whenever granted upon any present or future Collateral, but only to
the
extent such Liens are permitted under this Indenture to exist and to rank
equally and ratably with the Notes and the Guarantees; and
(B) all
proceeds of the Collateral applied under the Security Documents shall be
allocated and distributed as set forth in Section
6.10.
Section
10.02. Recording
and Opinions.
(a) The
Company will furnish to the Trustee within three months after each anniversary
of the Issue Date, an Opinion of Counsel, dated as of such date, stating either
that (i) in the opinion of such counsel, action has been taken with respect
to
the recording, registering, filing, re-recording, re-registering and re-filing
of all supplemental indentures, financing statements, continuation statements
or
other instruments of further assurance as is necessary to maintain the Lien
of
the Security Documents and reciting with respect to the security interest in
the
Collateral the details of such action or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel
in which such details are given, and stating that, in the opinion of such
counsel, 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 and the Trustee hereunder
and
under the Security Documents with respect to the security interest in the
Collateral; or (ii) in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary
to maintain such Lien and assignment.
(b) So
long
as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and subject
to
certain terms and conditions, the Company and the Guarantors will be entitled
to
receive all cash dividends, interest and other payments made upon or with
respect to the Collateral pledged by them.
(c) So
long
as there has occurred no Event of Default, then the Company and the Guarantors
shall have the right to exercise any voting and other consensual rights
pertaining to the Collateral pledged by them.
(d) Upon
the
occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default, all
rights of the Company and the Guarantors to receive all cash dividends, interest
and other payments made upon or with respect to the Collateral will cease and
such cash dividends, interest and other payments will be paid to the Collateral
Agent;
(e) Upon
the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) all
rights of the Company and the Guarantors to exercise such voting or other
consensual rights will cease, and all such rights will become vested in the
Collateral Agent, which, to the extent permitted by law, will have the sole
right to exercise such voting and other consensual rights;
and
71
(ii) the
Collateral Agent may sell the Collateral or any part of the Collateral in
accordance with the terms of the Security Documents. The Collateral Agent,
in
accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, will distribute all funds
distributed under the Security Documents and received by the Collateral Agent
to
the Trustee for the benefit of the holders of the Notes.
Section
10.03. Release
of Collateral.
(a) Subject
to subSections (b), (c) and (d) of this Section
10.03,
Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created by the
Security Documents at any time or from time to time in accordance with the
provisions of the Security Documents or as provided hereby. In addition, upon
the request of the Company pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate certifying that
all conditions precedent hereunder have been met and stating whether or not
such
release is in connection with an Asset Sale and (at the sole cost and expense
of
the Company) the Trustee will release Collateral that is sold, conveyed or
disposed of in compliance with the provisions of this Indenture; provided,
that
if such sale, conveyance or disposition constitutes an Asset Sale, the Company
will apply the Net Available Cash in accordance with Section
4.12
hereof.
Upon receipt of such Officers’ Certificate the Trustee shall execute, deliver or
acknowledge any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction
or
release to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released
pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents.
(b) No
Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created by the
Security Documents pursuant to the provisions of the Security Documents unless
the certificate required by this Section has been delivered to the
Trustee.
(c) At
any
time when a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and
the
maturity of the Notes has been accelerated (whether by declaration or
otherwise), no release of Collateral pursuant to the provisions of the Security
Documents will be effective as against the Holders.
(d) The
release of any Collateral from the terms of this Indenture and the Security
Documents will not be deemed to impair the security under this Indenture in
contravention of the provisions hereof if and to the extent the Collateral
is
released pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents and
hereof.
Section
10.04. Authorization
of Actions to Be Taken by the Trustee Under the Security
Documents.
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,
take, on behalf of the Holders, all actions it deems necessary or appropriate
in
order to:
(1) enforce
any of the terms of the Security Documents; and
(2) collect
and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations of
the
Company hereunder.
The
Trustee will have power to institute and maintain such suits and proceedings
as
it may deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts
that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents 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 in the
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 or of the Trustee).
72
Section
10.05. Authorization
of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security
Documents.
The
Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders
distributed under the Security Documents, and to make further distributions
of
such funds to the Holders according to the provisions of this
Indenture.
Section
10.06. Termination
of Security Interest.
Upon
the
payment in full of all Obligations of the Company under this Indenture and
the
Notes, the Trustee will, at the request of the Company, release the Liens
pursuant to this Indenture and the Security Documents.
ARTICLE
11.
SATISFACTION
AND DISCHARGE
Section
11.01. Satisfaction
and Discharge.
This
Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect, except
as
to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, as
to
all Notes issued hereunder, when:
(1) either:
(i) all
Notes
that have been previously authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen
or
destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment
money has previously been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust
by
the Company and is thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from the
trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) (x)
all
Notes that have not been previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,
have become due and payable by their terms or have been called for redemption,
and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with
the
Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash
in
U.S. dollars in such amount as shall be sufficient without consideration
of any
reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire Debt on the Notes
not
previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or redemption for
principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit,
in
the case of Notes that have become due and payable, or to the Stated Maturity
or
redemption date, as the case may be; (y) the Company has paid all other sums
payable by the Company with respect to the Notes under this Indenture; and
(z)
the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply
the
deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at Stated Maturity or on
the
redemption date, as the case may be.
In
the
case of either clause (i) or (ii):
(x) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the
date of
such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit
will
not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any
other
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound;
and
(y) the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion
of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent relating to the satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture have been satisfied.
73
Section
11.02. Deposited
Cash to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous
Provisions.
Subject
to Section
11.03,
all
cash deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively
for
purposes of this Section, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section
11.01
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 cash and securities need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Section
11.03. Repayment
to Company.
Any
cash
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 shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the
Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying
Agent with respect to such cash and securities, and all liability of the Company
as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided,
however,
that
the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such
repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in
The
New York Times and
The
Wall Street Journal (national
edition), notice that such cash 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 cash then remaining
shall be repaid to the Company.
Section
11.04. Reinstatement.
If
the
Trustee or the paying agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with
Section
11.02
by
reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority
enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s
obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated
as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section
11.01
until
such time as the Trustee or the paying agent is permitted to apply all such
money in accordance with Section
11.02;
provided
that, if
the Company makes any payment of Interest on or principal of 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
12.
THE
HOLDERS
OF THE NOTES
Section
12.01. Action
by Holders.
Whenever
in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage
in
aggregate principal amount of the Notes may take any action (including the
making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver
or
the taking of any other action), the fact that, at the time of taking any such
action, the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be
evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor
executed by Holders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or
(b)
by the record of the holders of Notes voting in favor thereof at any meeting
of
Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article
13,
or (c)
by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such
a
meeting of Holders. Whenever the Company or the Trustee solicits the taking
of
any action by the Holders, the Company or the Trustee may fix in advance of
such
solicitation a date as the record date for determining holders entitled to
take
such action. The record date shall be not more than fifteen (15) days prior
to
the date of commencement of solicitation of such action.
74
Section
12.02. Proof
of Execution by Holders.
Subject
to the provisions of Sections
7.01,
7.02
and
13.04,
proof
of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or its agent or proxy shall
be
sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations
as
may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory
to
the Trustee. The holding of Notes shall be proved by the registry of such Notes
or by a certificate of the Registrar.
The
record of any Holders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in
Section
13.05.
Section
12.03. Who
Are Deemed Absolute Owners.
The
Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Collateral Agent, any Common
Depositary and any Registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Notes shall
be registered upon the Security Register to be, and may treat it as, the
absolute owner of such Notes (whether or not such Notes shall be overdue and
notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon made by
any
Person other than the Company or any Registrar) for the purpose of receiving
payment of or on account of the principal of and Interest on such Notes and
for
all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying
Agent, Collateral Agent, Common Depositary nor any Registrar shall be affected
by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for
the
time being, or upon such holder’s order, shall be valid and, to the extent of
the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for
monies payable upon any such Notes.
Section
12.04. Company-owned
Notes Disregarded.
In
determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount
of
Notes have concurred in any direction, consent, waiver or other action under
this Indenture, Notes which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on
the
Notes or any Subsidiary of the Company or any other obligor on the Notes shall
be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such
determination; provided
that,
for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in
relying on any such direction, consent, waiver or other action, only Notes
which
a Responsible Officer knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so
owned
which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the
purposes of this Section if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction
of
the Trustee the pledgee’s right to vote such Notes and that the pledgee is not
the Company, any other obligor on the Notes or any Subsidiary of the Company
or
any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision
by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to
the
Trustee. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee
promptly an Officers’ Certificate listing and identifying all Notes, if any,
known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the
above described Persons, and, subject to Section
7.01,
the
Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officers’ Certificate as conclusive
evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Notes not
listed therein are outstanding for the purpose of any such
determination.
Section
12.05. Revocation
of Consents; Future Holders
Bound.
At
any
time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in
Section
12.01,
of the
taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes specified in this Indenture in connection with such action,
any holder of any Notes which is shown by the evidence to be included in the
Notes the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written
notice with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of holding
as provided in Section
12.02,
revoke
such action so far as concerns such Notes. Except as aforesaid, any such action
taken by the holder of any Notes shall be conclusive and binding upon such
holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Notes and of any Notes
issued in exchange or substitution therefor, irrespective of whether any
notation in regard thereto is made upon such Notes or any Notes issued in
exchange or substitution therefor.
ARTICLE
13.
MEETINGS
OF HOLDERS OF THE NOTES
75
Section
13.01. Purpose
of Meetings.
A
meeting
of Holders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the
provisions of this Article for any of the following purposes:
(a) to
give
any notice to the Company or to the Trustee or to give any directions to the
Trustee permitted under this Indenture, or to consent to the waiving of any
Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any
other
action authorized to be taken by Holders pursuant to any of the provisions
of
Article 6;
(b) to
remove
the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of
Article
7;
(c) to
consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto
pursuant to the provisions of Section
8.02;
or
(d) to
take
any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any
specified aggregate principal amount of the Notes under any other provision
of
this Indenture or under applicable law.
Section
13.02. Call
of Meetings by Company or Holders.
In
case
at any time the Company, pursuant to a resolution of its Board of Directors,
or
the holders of at least ten percent (10%) in aggregate principal amount of
the
Notes then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting
of
Holders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action
proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed
the
notice of such meeting within twenty (20) days after receipt of such request,
then the Company or such Holders may determine the time and the place for such
meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section
13.01
by
mailing notice a notice of meeting. Notice of every meeting of the Holders,
setting forth the time and place of such meeting and in general terms the action
proposed to be taken at such meeting and the establishment of any record date
pursuant to Section
12.01,
shall
be mailed to holders of Notes at their addresses as they shall appear on the
Security Register. Such notice shall also be mailed to the Company. Such notices
shall be mailed not less than twenty (20) nor more than ninety (90) days prior
to the date fixed for the meeting.
Any
meeting of Holders shall be valid without notice if the holders of all Notes
then outstanding are present in person or by proxy or if notice is waived before
or after the meeting by the holders of all Notes outstanding, and if the Company
and the Trustee are either present by duly authorized representatives or have,
before or after the meeting, waived notice.
Section
13.03. Qualifications
for Voting.
To
be
entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders, a person shall (a) be a holder
of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting or
(b) be a person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder
of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting. The only
persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of
Holders shall be the persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel
and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives
of the Company and its counsel.
Section
13.04. Regulations.
Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable
regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders, in regard
to
proof of the holding of Notes and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard
to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and
examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote,
and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think
fit.
76
The
Company or the Holders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall, by an
instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting. A permanent
chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote
of
the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes represented at the
meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting.
Subject
to the provisions of Section
12.04,
at any
meeting each Noteholder or proxyholder shall be entitled to one vote for each
$100,000 principal amount of Notes held or represented by him; provided
that no
vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Notes challenged
as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not
outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other
than
by virtue of Notes held by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly
designating him as the proxy to vote on behalf of other Holders. Any meeting
of
Holders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section
13.02
may be
adjourned from time to time by the holders of a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of Notes represented at the meeting, whether or not
constituting a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding,
the latter of which shall constitute a quorum, and the meeting may be held
as so
adjourned without further notice.
Section
13.05. Voting.
The
vote
upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders shall be by written
ballot on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the holders of Notes
or of
their representatives by proxy and the outstanding principal amount of the
Notes
held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint
two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or
against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the
meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the
meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders
shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting, and there shall be attached
to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote
by
ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge
of
the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that
said notice was mailed as provided in Section
13.02.
The
record shall show the principal amount of the Notes voting in favor of or
against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the
affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of
the
duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to
be
preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted
at the meeting.
Any
record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters
therein stated.
Section
13.06. No
Delay of Rights by Meeting.
Nothing
contained in this Article shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit,
by reason of any call of a meeting of Holders or any rights expressly or
impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in
the
exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or
to
the Holders under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the
Notes.
ARTICLE
14.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
14.01. Notices.
Any
notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other is duly
given
if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered
or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or overnight
air
courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, to the other’s address:
77
If
to the
Company:
Sinoenergy
Corporation
1603-1604,
Tower B Fortune Centre Ao City
Beiyuan
Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing,
P.R. China 100107
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile
No: x00 00 0000 0000
If
to the
Trustee:
DB
Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited
55th
Floor, Xxxxxx Kong Center
0
Xxxxx’x
Xxxx Central
Hong
Kong
Attention:
The Managing Director
Facsimile
No: x000 0000 0000
The
Company or the Trustee, by notice to the other, may designate additional or
different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All
notices and communications (other than those sent to the Trustee or Holders)
shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if
personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if sent by facsimile
transmission; and the second Business Day after timely delivery to the courier,
if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery. All notices
and
communications to the Trustee or Holders shall be deemed duly given and
effective only upon receipt.
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 Security
Register. 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
14.02. Communication
by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.
Holders
may communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this
Indenture or the Notes.
Section
14.03. Certificate
and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon
any
request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under
any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee:
(1) an
Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section
14.04
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 complied with; and
78
(2) an
Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section
14.04
hereof)
stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent
and
covenants have been complied with.
Section
14.04. Statements
Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each
certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(1) a
statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such
covenant or condition;
(2) 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;
(3) a
statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such
examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express
an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
complied with; and
(4) a
statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition
or
covenant has been complied with.
With
respect to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’
Certificate, certificates of public officials or reports or opinions of
experts.
Section
14.05. Legal
Holidays.
In
any
case where any Interest Payment Date, Purchase Date or Stated Maturity of any
Note is not a Business Day at the city in which the Corporate Trust Office
of
the Trustee is located, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this
Indenture or of the Notes) payment of Interest or principal (and premium, if
any) need not be made at such Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee on such
date, but such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee with the same force and effect as if
made
on the Interest Payment Date or Purchase Date, or at the Stated Maturity and
such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of
Interest accruing on such Note; provided,
however,
that if
such extension would cause payment of Interest to be made in the next following
calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business
Day.
Section
14.06. 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
14.07. No
Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders.
No
past,
present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder
of
the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any
obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture,
the Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such
obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives
and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver and release may not be
effective to waive or release liabilities under the U.S. federal securities
laws.
Section
14.08. Governing
Law.
THIS
INDENTURE, THE GUARANTEE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
79
Section
14.09. 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
14.10. Successors.
All
covenants and agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall
bind its successors. All covenants and agreements of the Trustee in this
Indenture shall bind its successors.
Section
14.11. Severability.
In
case
any provision in this Indenture, the Guarantee or in the Notes shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section
14.12. 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
14.13. Table
of Contents, Headings, etc.
The
Table
of Contents and Headings in 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]
80
SIGNATURES
Dated
September 28, 2007
Company:
SINOENERGY
CORPORATION
By:
/s/
XXXX Xxxxxxxx
Name:
XXXX
Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Chairman
SIGNATURE
PAGES TO THE SENIOR NOTE INDENTURE
Trustee:
DB
TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
as
Trustee
By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxx Xxxx
Name:
Xxxx Xxx Xxxx
Title:
Director
By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Authorized Signatory
Paying
Agent:
DEUTSCHE
BANK AG, HONG KONG BRANCH
as
Paying
Agent
By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxx Xxxx
Name:
Xxxx Xxx Xxxx
Title:
Director
By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Authorized Signatory
SIGNATURE
PAGES TO THE SENIOR NOTE INDENTURE
Collateral
Agent:
DB
TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
as
Collateral Agent
By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxx Xxxx
Name:
Xxxx Xxx Xxxx
Title:
Director
By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Authorized Signatory
SIGNATURE
PAGES TO THE SENIOR NOTE INDENTURE
EXHIBIT
A
|
(Face
of
Note)
[GLOBAL
NOTE LEGEND]
UNLESS
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF EUROCLEAR
BANK
S.A./N.V. (“EUROCLEAR”), OR CLEARSTREAM BANKING, SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME
(“CLEARSTREAM”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER,
EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF
ITS
AUTHORIZED NOMINEE OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF EUROCLEAR OR CLEARSTREAM (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO ITS
AUTHORIZED NOMINEE, OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF EUROCLEAR OR CLEARSTREAM), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER
USE
HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE
REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, ITS AUTHORIZED NOMINEE, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS
OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART,
TO
NOMINEES OF EUROCLEAR OR CLEARSTREAM OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH
SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE
LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN
THE
INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
[REGULATION
S LEGEND]
THIS
NOTE
HAS NOT BEEN AND SHALL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES
ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF 40
DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE OFFERING OF NOTES AND THE LATEST
CLOSING DATE (THE “DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD”), THE NOTES MAY NOT BE
OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED TO ANY U.S. PERSON OUTSIDE
THE
UNITED STATES OR ANY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES. EACH HOLDER AND BENEFICIAL
OWNER, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY, REPRESENTS THAT IT
UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO THE FOREGOING AND FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS.
THIS
LEGEND SHALL BE REMOVED AFTER THE END OF DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, AFTER
WHICH THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY SHALL NO LONGER BE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS
PROVIDED IN THIS LEGEND, PROVIDED THAT AT SUCH TIME AND THEREAFTER THE OFFER
OR
SALE OF THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY WOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED UNDER ANY APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OR OF THE STATES OR TERRITORIES OF THE
UNITED STATES.
A-1
12%
SENIOR NOTES DUE 2012
ISIN:
XS0323260728
Common
Code: 032326072
No.
1
|
$16,000,000
|
SINOENERGY
CORPORATION
promises
to pay to Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch or registered assigns, as common
depositary for Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream”)
and/or
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”),
or
registered assigns, the principal sum of SIXTEEN MILLION Dollars ($16,000,000)
on September 28, 2012, or such greater or lesser principal amount at the Stated
Maturity hereof as is indicated in the records of the Trustee and the Common
Depositary.
Interest
Payment Dates: March 28 and September 28, commencing March 28,
2008.
Record
Dates: March 13 and September 13.
Dated:
September 13, 2007.
A-2
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or
by
facsimile by its duly authorized officer.
SINOENERGY
CORPORATION
By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:
CERTIFICATE
OF AUTHENTICATION
This
is
one of the Global
Notes
referred to in the
within-mentioned
Indenture:
DB
Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited,
as
Trustee
By:_____________________
Authorized
Signatory
Dated:
September 28, 2007
A-3
(Back
of
Note)
12%
SENIOR NOTES DUE 2012
Capitalized
terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture
referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Interest. SINOENERGY
CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”),
promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate of
12
per cent. per annum from (and including) the Issue Date and ending on September
28, 2012. The Company shall pay interest semi-annually on March 28 and September
28 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next
succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect and such extension of
time shall in such case be included in the computation of Interest accruing
on
such Note; provided,
however,
that if
such extension would cause payment of Interest to be made in the next following
calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day
(each an “Interest
Payment Date”).
Interest shall accrue from and including the most recent date to which interest
has been paid on the Notes (or one or more Predecessor Notes) or, if no interest
has been paid, from the date of issuance, to but excluding the following
Interest Payment Date; provided,
however,
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 March 28, 2008. 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
at a
rate that is 3% per annum in excess of the interest rate then in effect under
the Indenture and this Note; 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
at
the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days elapsed. The amount of
interest for each day that the Notes are outstanding (the “Daily
Interest Amount”)
will
be calculated by dividing the interest rate in effect for such day by 360 and
multiplying the result by the principal amount of the Notes. The amount of
interest to be paid on the Notes for each Interest Period will be calculated
by
adding the Daily Interest Amounts for each day in the Interest Period. All
percentages resulting from any of the above calculations will be rounded, if
necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with
five one-millionths of a percentage point being rounded upwards and all dollar
amounts used in or resulting from such calculations will be rounded to the
nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upwards). The interest rate
on
the Notes will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New
York
law as such rate may be modified by United States law of general
application.
2. Method
of Payment.
The Company shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to
the
Persons in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered
at the close of business on the March 13 or September 13 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 shall be
payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency
of the Company maintained for such purpose, 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 Security Register; provided,
however,
that
payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with
respect to principal of and interest and premium, if any, on, all Global Notes
and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer
instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such
coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment
is
legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
3. Paying
Agent and Registrar. Initially,
Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch shall act as the Paying Agent and Deutsche
Bank Luxembourg S.A. shall act as 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.
The
Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated September 28, 2007
(“Indenture”)
among
the Company, the guarantor party thereto (the “Guarantor”),
the
Trustee, the Paying Agent, and the Collateral Agent. 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.
A-4
5. Optional
Redemption.
(i) The
Notes
shall not be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to September 28,
2008. Beginning on September 28, 2008, the Company may redeem all or a portion
of the Notes, at once or over time, after giving the notice required pursuant
to
Section
3.02
hereof,
at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set
forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed, to the
applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the
relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest
Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on
September 28 of the years indicated below:
Year |
Redemption
Price
|
2008 |
108.0%
|
2009 |
106.0%
|
2010 |
104.0%
|
2011 and thereafter |
100.0%
|
Unless
the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will
cease
to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the
applicable redemption date.
Any
notice to the Holders of Notes of a redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5
shall include the appropriate calculation of the redemption price, but need
not
include the redemption price itself. The actual redemption price, calculated
as
described above, shall be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the
Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the redemption
date.
Any
prepayment pursuant to this paragraph shall be made pursuant to the provisions
of Sections 3.01 through 3.04 of the Indenture.
6. Mandatory
Redemption.
The
Company agrees that on the dates indicated in the following table, the Company
will prepay and there shall become due and payable the corresponding principal
amount (or such lesser principal amount as shall then be outstanding) in respect
of the aggregate principal Debt evidenced by the Notes.
Date |
Principal
Amount
|
March 28, 2010 |
$2,000,000
|
September 28, 2010 |
$2,000,000
|
March 28, 2011 |
$4,000,000
|
September 28, 2011 |
$4,000,000
|
March 28, 2012 |
$2,000,000
|
The
entire remaining principal amount of the Notes shall become due and payable
on
September 28, 2012. Each required prepayment made pursuant to this paragraph
6
shall be made at 100% of principal amount and without payment of any premium
and
allocated among all of the Notes in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to
the
respective unpaid principal amounts thereof. Upon any repurchase of the Notes
pursuant to paragraph 7, the principal amount of each required prepayment of
the
Notes becoming due under this paragraph 6 on and after the date of such
prepayment or purchase shall be reduced in the same proportion as the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the Notes is reduced as a result of such prepayment
or purchase.
In
the
case of each prepayment of Notes pursuant to this paragraph 6, the principal
amount of each Note to be prepaid shall mature and become due and payable on
the
date fixed for such prepayment, together with interest on such principal amount
accrued to such date. From and after such date, unless the Company shall fail
to
pay such principal amount when so due and payable, together with the interest
as
aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue. Any Note
paid or prepaid in full shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled and
shall not be reissued, and no Note shall be issued in lieu of any prepaid
principal amount of any Note.
A-5
7. Repurchase
at Option of Holder.
(a) Upon
the
occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right to require
the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $100,000 or an integral
multiple of $100,000) of such Holder’s Notes (a “Change
of Control Offer”)
at a
purchase price in cash equal to 103% of the aggregate principal amount of the
Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased
to
the purchase date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant
record date to receive interest to, but excluding, the Purchase
Date).
(b) If
the
Company or one of its Subsidiaries consummates any Asset Sales, they shall
not
be required to apply any Net Available Cash in accordance with the Indenture
until the aggregate Net Available Cash from all Asset Sales following the date
the Notes are first issued exceeds $5.0 million. Thereafter, the Company shall,
after application of the Net Available Cash as provided in the second paragraph
of Section 4.12 of the Indenture, commence an offer for Notes pursuant to the
Indenture by applying the Net Available Cash (an “Asset
Sale Offer”)
pursuant to Section
3.07
of the
Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be
purchased out of the Net Available Cash at an offer price in cash equal to
100%
of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest 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 Net Available Cash, the Company
(or such Subsidiary) may use such deficiency first to repay certain credit
facilities or any other Senior Debt of the Company or any Guarantor or Debt
of
any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor (excluding, in any such
case, any Debt owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company), and only
thereafter, for any purpose not prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate
principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount
of
Net Available Cash, 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 shall 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 $100,000 may be
redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $100,000, 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 $100,000
and integral multiples of $100,000. This Note shall represent the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed
hereon and the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented hereby may from
time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges
and
redemptions. 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
and
no person will be liable for so treating the Holder.
11. Amendment,
Supplement and Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Company and the Trustee may amend or
supplement the Indenture or the Notes 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 purchase of or tender
offer or exchange offer for the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07
of the Indenture, any existing Default or Event of Default (except a continuing
Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or
interest on the Notes) or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or
the
Notes (except for certain covenants and provisions of the Indenture which cannot
be amended without the consent of each Holder) 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
purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes). Without the
consent of any Holder, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement
the
Indenture or the Notes to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency,
to provide for the assumption by a successor corporation, partnership or limited
liability company of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture, to
provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated
Notes, to add additional Guarantees or additional obligors with respect to
the
Notes, to secure the Notes, to add to the covenants of the Company for the
benefit of the Holders of the Notes or to surrender any right or power conferred
upon the Company, or to make any change that would provide any additional rights
or benefits to the Holders of Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal
rights under the Indenture of any such Holder.
A-6
12. Defaults
and Remedies.
Each of the following is an Event of Default under the Indenture: (a) failure
to
make the payment of any interest on such Notes when the same becomes due and
payable, and such failure continues for a period of 5 days; (b) failure to
make
the payment of any principal of, or premium, if any, on, any of such Notes
when
the same becomes due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon acceleration,
mandatory redemption, optional redemption, required repurchase or otherwise,
including payment of Additional Amounts; (c) failure to comply with Section
5.01
of the Indenture; (d) failure to comply with any other covenant or agreement
in
such Notes or in this Indenture (other than a failure that is the subject of
the
foregoing clause (a), (b) or (c) and other than the failure to comply with
Section 4.24 of the Indenture, for which payment of Additional Amounts is
provided for under the Indenture and is governed by Section 4.01 thereof),
and
such failure continues for 30 days after written notice is given to the Company
by the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount
of such Notes then outstanding specifying the default, demanding that it be
remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default;” (e) a default
under any Debt by the Company or any Subsidiary that results in acceleration
of
the maturity of such Debt, or failure to pay any such Debt at maturity, in
an
aggregate amount greater than $1.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent
at
the time; (f) any legal proceedings in respect of, or judgment or judgments
for,
the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $1.0 million (or its
foreign currency equivalent at the time) that shall be instituted or rendered
against the Company or any Subsidiary; (g) any Guarantee ceases to be in full
force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Guarantee)
or
any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Guarantee; (h)
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting the Company
or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; (i) any default by the Company in any
of
its obligations under the Security Documents, which adversely affects the
enforceability, validity, perfection or priority of the applicable Lien on
the
Collateral or which adversely affects the condition or value of the Collateral,
taken as a whole, in any material respect; the security interest under the
Security Documents shall, at any time, cease to be in full force and effect
for
any reason other than the satisfaction in full of all obligations under the
Indenture and discharge of the Indenture or any security interest created
thereunder shall be declared invalid or unenforceable or the Company or any
Guarantor shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction,
that any such security interest is invalid or unenforceable; (j) the Company
denies or disaffirms its obligations under any Security Document or, other
than
in accordance with the Indenture and the Security Documents, any Security
Document ceases to be or is not in full force and effect or the Trustee ceases
to have a first priority interest in the Collateral; (k) the Company or its
Subsidiaries amends or modifies their respective constitutive documents in
such
a manner that would have a Material Adverse Effect or engages any business
other
than a Related Business; (l) either the Indenture, the Notes, any loan made
directly or indirectly from the Company to the WFOE, or any Security Document
shall be (A) declared by any Governmental Authority to be illegal or enforceable
or (B) terminated prior to its scheduled termination date; (m)(i) the
confiscation, expropriation or nationalization by any Governmental Authority
of
any Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (ii) if such
revocation or repudiation could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, the revocation or repudiation by any Governmental Authority
of
any previously granted Governmental Approval to the WFOE that is material to
the
operation of the Related Business; or (iii) the imposition or introduction
of
material and discriminatory taxes, tariffs, royalties, customs or excise duties
imposed on the WFOE, or the material and discriminatory withdrawal or suspension
of material privileges or specifically granted material rights of a fiscal
nature; or (n) failure by the Company or any Affiliate thereof (other than
any
Person who is an Affiliate solely because such Person is a holder of Notes
or
Convertible Notes) to comply with any of the agreements in that certain Investor
Rights Agreement if such failure continues for 30 days after written notice
is
given to the Company by the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding specifying the default,
demanding that it be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of
Default.”
A-7
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
described in the Indenture, all outstanding Notes shall 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 aggregate 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 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, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver
to
the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and
the Company is required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default,
to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of
Default.
13. Trustee
Dealings with Company.
Subject
to certain limitations, 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.
14. No
Recourse Against Others.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or
stockholder of the Company or of any Guarantor, as such, shall have any
liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the
Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees 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.
15. Authentication.
This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of
the
Trustee or an authenticating agent.
16. Abbreviations.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee,
such
as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties),
JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in
common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors
Act).
17. Governing
Law.
The
Indenture, the Guarantee and this Note shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the law of the state of New York.
A-8
Option
of Holder to Elect Purchase
If
you
want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section
4.12 or 4.16 of the Indenture, check the box below:
o Section
4.12
Purchase
Date:_______________
o Section
4.16
If
you
want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant
to
Section 4.12 or 4.16 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have
purchased: $_____________________
Date:_______________________________
|
Your
Signature:________________________________
|
(Sign
exactly as your name appears on the Note)
|
|
SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE:
|
|
________________________________________
|
|
Signatures
must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the
requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership
or
participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program
(“STAMP”)
or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the
Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for,
STAMP.
|
A-9
Assignment
Form
To
assign
this Note, fill in the form below:
(I)
or
(we) assign and transfer this Note to
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert
assignee’s social security or other tax I.D. no.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Print
or
type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
and
irrevocably appoint
________________________________________________________________________________________________
as
agent
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: __________________________________________
A-10
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:
Date
of Exchange
|
Amount
of
decrease
in
Principal
Amount
of
this Global Note
|
Amount
of increase
in
Principal Amount
of
this Global Note
|
Principal
Amount
of
this Global Note
following
such
decrease
(or
increase)
|
Signature
of
authorized
signatory
of
Trustee or
Common
Depositary
|
A-11
EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
For
value
received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the
Indenture), jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees, to the extent
set
forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, dated
September 28, 2007 (the “Indenture”),
among
Sinoenergy Corporation, as issuer (the “Company”),
the
Guarantor listed on the signature pages thereto, DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited
as trustee (the “Trustee”),
the
Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch as paying agent (the “Paying
Agent”)
and DB
Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited as collateral agent (the “Collateral
Agent”)
(a)
the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest
on the Notes, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise,
the
due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal and premium, if any,
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 Guarantors to
the
Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture
are expressly set forth in Article 9 of the Indenture and reference is hereby
made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee. This Guarantee
is
subject to release as and to the extent set forth in Section 9.05 of the
Indenture. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same agrees to and shall
be
bound by such provisions. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined are
used
herein as so defined in the Indenture.
[GUARANTOR
NAME]
By:__________________________
Name:
Title:
B-1
EXHIBIT
C
FORM
OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Sinoenergy
Corporation
1603-1604,
Tower B fortune Centre Ao City
Beiyuan
Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing,
P.R. China 100107
DB
Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited
55th
Floor, Xxxxxx Kong Center
0
Xxxxx’x
Xxxx Central
Hong
Kong
Attention:
The Managing Director
Re: 12%
GUARANTEED SENIOR NOTES DUE 2012
Reference
is hereby made to the Indenture, dated September 28, 2007 (the “Indenture”),
among
SINOENERGY CORPORATION, as issuer (the “Company”),
the
Guarantors party thereto, DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED as trustee and
collateral agent and DEUTSCHE BANK AG, HONG KONG BRANCH as paying agent.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given
to
them in the Indenture.
___________________,
(the “Transferor”)
owns
and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] in the
principal amount of $___________ (the “Transfer”),
to
___________________________ (the “Transferee”).
In
connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK
ALL THAT APPLY]
1. Check
if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Global Note
or
a Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S.
The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule
904 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)
and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer
is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the
buy
order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such
Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes
that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was
executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities
market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows
that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii)
no
directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements
of
Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(a) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii)
the
transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being
made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period (as defined
in Regulation S under the Securities Act), the transfer is not being made to
a
U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person. Upon consummation
of
the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the
transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the
restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the legend printed on the Global Note
and/or the Definitive Note and in the Securities Act.
2. Check
if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Global Note
or
a Definitive Note Pursuant to Rule 144A.
The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under
the Securities Act, and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies
that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person
that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the
beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more
accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion,
and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer”
within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of
Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky
securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the
proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred
beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions
on
transfer enumerated in the legend printed on the Global Note or the Definitive
Note and in the Securities Act.
C-1
3. Check
if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Global Note
or
a Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than
Rule 144A or Regulation S.
The
Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to beneficial interests in Global Notes and Definitive Notes and
pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue
sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the
Transferor hereby further certifies that:
(i)
such
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under
the
Securities Act; or
(ii)
such
Transfer is being effected to the Company or a subsidiary thereof; or
(iii)
such
Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement
under
the Securities Act.
This
certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and
the benefit of the Company.
C-2
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
||
Page
|
||
ARTICLE
1. DEFINITIONS
AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
|
1
|
|
section
1.01.
|
Definitions
|
1
|
section
1.02.
|
Other
Definitions
|
24
|
section
1.03.
|
Rules
of Construction
|
24
|
ARTICLE
2. THE
NOTES
|
25
|
|
section
2.01.
|
Form
and Dating
|
25
|
section
2.02.
|
Execution
and Authentication
|
26
|
section
2.03.
|
Registrar
and Paying Agent
|
27
|
section
2.04.
|
Paying
Agent to Hold Money in Trust
|
27
|
section
2.05.
|
Holder
Lists
|
27
|
section
2.06.
|
Transfer
and Exchange
|
27
|
section
2.07.
|
Replacement
Notes
|
29
|
section
2.08.
|
Outstanding
Notes
|
29
|
section
2.09.
|
Treasury
Notes
|
29
|
section
2.10.
|
Temporary
Notes
|
29
|
section
2.11.
|
Cancellation
|
30
|
section
2.12.
|
Payment
of Interest; Defaulted Interest
|
30
|
section
2.13.
|
ISIN
Numbers
|
30
|
section
2.14.
|
Record
Date
|
30
|
section
2.15.
|
Stamp
Duties
|
30
|
ARTICLE
3. REDEMPTION
AND PREPAYMENT
|
31
|
|
section
3.01.
|
Notices
to Trustee
|
31
|
section
3.02.
|
Notice
of Redemption
|
31
|
section
3.03.
|
Effect
of Notice of Redemption
|
31
|
section
3.04.
|
Deposit
of Redemption Price
|
32
|
section
3.05.
|
Optional
Redemption
|
32
|
section
3.06.
|
Mandatory
Redemption
|
32
|
section
3.07.
|
Offer
To Purchase
|
33
|
section
3.07.
|
Tax
Redemption
|
33
|
ARTICLE
4. COVENANTS
|
35
|
|
section
4.01.
|
Payment
of Notes
|
35
|
section
4.02.
|
Maintenance
of Office or Agency
|
35
|
section
4.03.
|
Reports
|
36
|
section
4.04.
|
Compliance
Certificate
|
36
|
section
4.05.
|
Taxes
|
37
|
section
4.06.
|
Stay,
Extension and Usury Laws
|
37
|
section
4.07.
|
Corporate
Existence
|
37
|
section
4.08.
|
Payments
for Consent
|
37
|
section
4.09.
|
Incurrence
of Additional Debt
|
37
|
section
4.10.
|
Restricted
Payments
|
39
|
section
4.11.
|
Liens
|
41
|
section
4.12.
|
Asset
Sales
|
41
|
section
4.13.
|
Restrictions
on Distributions from Subsidiaries
|
42
|
section
4.14.
|
Affiliate
Transactions
|
43
|
section
4.15.
|
Issuance
or Sale of Capital Stock of Subsidiaries
|
44
|
section
4.16.
|
Repurchase
at the Option of Holders Following a Change of Control
|
44
|
section
4.17.
|
Future
Guarantors
|
45
|
section
4.18.
|
Business
Activities
|
45
|
section
4.19.
|
Sale
and Leaseback Transactions
|
45
|
section
4.20.
|
Impairment
of Security Interest
|
45
|
i
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
|
||
Page
|
||
section
4.21.
|
Amendments
to Security Documents
|
45
|
section
4.22.
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
45
|
section
4.23.
|
Maintenance
of Insurance
|
46
|
section
4.24.
|
Qualifying
IPO
|
46
|
section
4.25.
|
Government
Approvals and Licenses; Compliance with Law
|
46
|
section
4.26.
|
Financial
Ratios
|
46
|
section
4.27.
|
Notes
to Rank Senior
|
46
|
section
4.28.
|
Information
|
46
|
section
4.29.
|
Information
Material to Holders of Notes
|
46
|
section
4.30.
|
Notices
to Holders of Notes
|
46
|
section
4.31.
|
Further
Act
|
46
|
section
4.31.
|
Additional
Tax Amounts
|
46
|
ARTICLE
5. SUCCESSORS
|
47
|
|
section
5.01.
|
Merger,
Consolidation and Sale of Assets
|
47
|
section
5.02.
|
Successor
Corporation Substituted
|
49
|
ARTICLE
6. DEFAULTS
AND REMEDIES
|
49
|
|
section
6.01.
|
Events
of Default
|
49
|
section
6.02.
|
Acceleration
|
51
|
section
6.03.
|
Other
Remedies
|
52
|
section
6.04.
|
Waiver
of Defaults
|
52
|
section
6.05.
|
Control
by Majority
|
52
|
section
6.06.
|
Limitation
on Suits
|
53
|
section
6.07.
|
Rights
of Holders to Receive Payment
|
53
|
section
6.08.
|
Collection
Suit by Trustee
|
53
|
section
6.09.
|
Trustee
May File Proofs of Claim
|
53
|
section
6.10.
|
Priorities
|
54
|
section
6.11.
|
Undertaking
for Costs
|
54
|
ARTICLE
7. TRUSTEE
|
55
|
|
section
7.01.
|
Duties
of Trustee
|
55
|
section
7.02.
|
Rights
of Trustee
|
56
|
section
7.03.
|
Individual
Rights of Trustee
|
56
|
section
7.04.
|
Trustee’s
Disclaimer
|
56
|
section
7.05.
|
Notice
of Defaults
|
56
|
section
7.06.
|
Compensation
and Indemnity
|
57
|
section
7.07.
|
Replacement
of Trustee
|
57
|
section
7.08.
|
Successor
Trustee by Xxxxxx, etc
|
58
|
ARTICLE
8. AMENDMENT,
SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
|
59
|
|
section
8.01.
|
Without
Consent of Holders
|
59
|
section
8.02.
|
With
Consent of Holders
|
60
|
section
8.03.
|
Revocation
and Effect of Consents
|
61
|
section
8.04.
|
Notation
on or Exchange of Notes
|
62
|
section
8.05.
|
Trustee
to Sign Amendments, etc
|
62
|
ARTICLE
9. GUARANTEES
|
62
|
|
section
9.01.
|
Guarantee
|
62
|
section
9.02.
|
Limitation
on Guarantor Liability
|
63
|
section
9.03.
|
Execution
and Delivery of Guarantee
|
64
|
section
9.04.
|
Guarantors
May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms
|
64
|
section
9.05.
|
Releases
Following Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets, Etc
|
65
|
ii
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
|
||
Page
|
||
ARTICLE
10. COLLATERAL
AND SECURITY
|
65
|
|
section
10.01.
|
Security
Documents
|
65
|
section
10.02.
|
Recording
and Opinions
|
67
|
section
10.03.
|
Release
of Collateral
|
68
|
section
10.04.
|
Authorization
of Actions to Be Taken by the Trustee Under the Security
Documents
|
68
|
section
10.05.
|
Authorization
of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security
Documents
|
69
|
section
10.06.
|
Termination
of Security Interest
|
69
|
ARTICLE
11. SATISFACTION
AND DISCHARGE
|
69
|
|
section
11.01.
|
Satisfaction
and Discharge
|
69
|
section
11.02.
|
Deposited
Cash to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions
|
70
|
section
11.03.
|
Repayment
to Company
|
70
|
section
11.04.
|
Reinstatement
|
70
|
ARTICLE
12. THE
HOLDERS OF THE NOTES
|
69
|
|
section
12.01.
|
Action
by Holders
|
69
|
section
12.02.
|
Proof
of Execution by Holders
|
70
|
section
12.03.
|
Who
Are Deemed Absolute Owners
|
70
|
section
12.04.
|
Company-owned
Notes Disregarded
|
70
|
section
12.05
|
Revocation
of Consents; Future Holders Bound
|
70
|
ARTICLE
12. MEETINGS
OF HOLDERS OF THE NOTES
|
69
|
|
section
13.01.
|
Purpose
of Meetings
|
69
|
section
13.02.
|
Call
of Meetings by Company or Noteholders
|
70
|
section
13.03.
|
Qualifications
for Voting
|
70
|
section
13.04.
|
Regulations
|
70
|
section
13.05
|
Voting
|
70
|
section
13.05
|
No
Delay of Rights by Meeting
|
70
|
ARTICLE
14. MISCELLANEOUS
|
70
|
|
section
14.01.
|
Notices
|
70
|
section
14.02.
|
Communication
by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes
|
71
|
section
14.03.
|
Certificate
and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent
|
71
|
section
14.04.
|
Statements
Required in Certificate or Opinion
|
71
|
section
14.05.
|
Legal
Holidays
|
72
|
section
14.06.
|
Rules
by Trustee and Agents
|
72
|
section
14.07.
|
No
Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders
|
72
|
section
14.08.
|
Governing
Law
|
72
|
section
14.09.
|
No
Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements
|
72
|
section
14.10.
|
Successors
|
72
|
section
14.11.
|
Severability
|
72
|
section
14.12.
|
Counterpart
Originals
|
72
|
section
14.13.
|
Table
of Contents, Headings, etc
|
73
|
EXHIBIT
A
|
||
EXHIBIT
B
|
||
EXHIBIT
C
|
||
iii