PENN VIRGINIA RESOURCE FINANCE CORPORATION, as Issuers, the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS Listed Herein and as Trustee INDENTURE Dated as of ____________, 2009 Subordinated Debt Securities
Exhibit
4.5
PENN
VIRGINIA RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P. and
PENN
VIRGINIA RESOURCE FINANCE CORPORATION,
as
Issuers,
the
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS Listed Herein
and
[____________________],
as
Trustee
Dated
as of ____________, 2009
Subordinated
Debt Securities
CROSS-REFERENCE
TABLE
TIA Section
|
Indenture Section
|
|
310(a)
|
7.10
|
|
(b)
|
7.10
|
|
(c)
|
N.A.
|
|
311(a)
|
7.11
|
|
(b)
|
7.11
|
|
(c)
|
N.A.
|
|
312(a)
|
5.01
|
|
(b)
|
5.02
|
|
(c)
|
5.02
|
|
313(a)
|
5.03
|
|
(b)
|
5.03
|
|
(c)
|
13.03
|
|
(d)
|
5.03
|
|
314(a)
|
4.05
|
|
(b)
|
N.A.
|
|
(c)(1)
|
13.05
|
|
(c)(2)
|
13.05
|
|
(c)(3)
|
N.A.
|
|
(d)
|
N.A.
|
|
(e)
|
13.05
|
|
(f)
|
N.A.
|
|
315(a)
|
7.01
|
|
(b)
|
6.07 &
13.03
|
|
(c)
|
7.01
|
|
(d)
|
7.01
|
|
(e)
|
6.08
|
|
316(a)
(last sentence)
|
1.01
|
|
(a)(1)(A)
|
6.06
|
|
(a)(1)(B)
|
6.06
|
|
(a)(2)
|
9.01(d)
|
|
(b)
|
6.04
|
|
(c)
|
5.04
|
|
317(a)(1)
|
6.02
|
|
(a)(2)
|
6.02
|
|
(b)
|
4.04
|
|
318(a)
|
13.07
|
N.A.
means Not Applicable
NOTE: This
Cross-Reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed part of this
Indenture.
i
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I
|
||
DEFINITIONS
AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
|
||
Section
1.01
|
Definitions
|
2
|
Section
1.02
|
Other
Definitions
|
8
|
Section
1.03
|
Incorporation
by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
|
8
|
Section
1.04
|
Rules
of Construction
|
8
|
ARTICLE
II
|
||
DEBT
SECURITIES
|
||
Section
2.01
|
Forms
Generally
|
9
|
Section
2.02
|
Form
of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
|
9
|
Section
2.03
|
Principal
Amount; Issuable in Series
|
9
|
Section
2.04
|
Execution
of Debt Securities
|
11
|
Section
2.05
|
Authentication
and Delivery of Debt Securities
|
12
|
Section
2.06
|
Denomination
of Debt Securities
|
14
|
Section
2.07
|
Registration
of Transfer and Exchange
|
14
|
Section
2.08
|
Temporary
Debt Securities
|
15
|
Section
2.09
|
Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities
|
16
|
Section
2.10
|
Cancellation
of Surrendered Debt Securities
|
17
|
Section
2.11
|
Provisions
of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties
and the Holders
|
17
|
Section
2.12
|
Payment
of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved
|
17
|
Section
2.13
|
Securities
Denominated in Dollars
|
17
|
Section
2.14
|
Wire
Transfers
|
17
|
Section
2.15
|
Securities
Issuable in the Form of a Global Security
|
18
|
Section
2.16
|
Medium
Term Securities
|
20
|
Section
2.17
|
Defaulted
Interest
|
21
|
Section
2.18
|
CUSIP
Numbers
|
21
|
ARTICLE
III
|
||
REDEMPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
|
||
Section
3.01
|
Applicability
of Article
|
22
|
Section
3.02
|
Notice
of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities
|
22
|
Section
3.03
|
Payment
of Debt Securities Called for Redemption
|
23
|
Section
3.04
|
Mandatory
and Optional Sinking Funds
|
24
|
Section
3.05
|
Redemption
of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund
|
24
|
ii
ARTICLE
IV
|
||
PARTICULAR
COVENANTS OF THE ISSUERS
|
||
Section
4.01
|
Payment
of Principal of, and Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt
Securities
|
26
|
Section
4.02
|
Maintenance
of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment
of Debt Securities
|
26
|
Section
4.03
|
Appointment
to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee
|
26
|
Section
4.04
|
Duties
of Paying Agents, etc.
|
27
|
Section
4.05
|
SEC
Reports; Financial Statements
|
28
|
Section
4.06
|
Compliance
Certificate
|
28
|
Section
4.07
|
Further
Instruments and Acts
|
29
|
Section
4.08
|
Existence
|
29
|
Section
4.09
|
Maintenance
of Properties
|
29
|
Section
4.10
|
Payment
of Taxes and Other Claims
|
29
|
Section
4.11
|
Waiver
of Certain Covenants
|
29
|
ARTICLE
V
|
||
HOLDERS’
LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE
|
||
Section
5.01
|
Partnership
to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders;
Preservation of Information
|
30
|
Section
5.02
|
Communications
to Holders
|
30
|
Section
5.03
|
Reports
by Trustee
|
30
|
Section
5.04
|
Record
Dates for Action by Holders
|
31
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
||
REMEDIES
OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT
|
||
Section
6.01
|
Events
of Default
|
31
|
Section
6.02
|
Collection
of Debt by Trustee, etc.
|
33
|
Section
6.03
|
Application
of Moneys Collected by Trustee
|
34
|
Section
6.04
|
Limitation
on Suits by Holders
|
35
|
Section
6.05
|
Remedies
Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of
Default
|
36
|
Section
6.06
|
Rights
of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct
Trustee and to Waive Default
|
36
|
Section
6.07
|
Trustee
to Give Notice of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in
Certain Circumstances
|
37
|
Section
6.08
|
Requirement
of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or
Against the Trustee
|
37
|
iii
ARTICLE
VII
|
||
CONCERNING
THE TRUSTEE
|
||
Section
7.01
|
Certain
Duties and Responsibilities
|
37
|
Section
7.02
|
Certain
Rights of Trustee
|
39
|
Section
7.03
|
Trustee
Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities
|
40
|
Section
7.04
|
Trustee,
Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities
|
40
|
Section
7.05
|
Moneys
Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust
|
40
|
Section
7.06
|
Compensation
and Reimbursement
|
40
|
Section
7.07
|
Right
of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence
Specifically Prescribed
|
41
|
Section
7.08
|
Separate
Trustee; Replacement of Trustee
|
41
|
Section
7.09
|
Successor
Trustee by Xxxxxx
|
42
|
Section
7.10
|
Eligibility;
Disqualification
|
43
|
Section
7.11
|
Preferential
Collection of Claims Against Partnership
|
43
|
Section
7.12
|
Compliance
with Tax Laws
|
43
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
||
CONCERNING
THE HOLDERS
|
||
Section
8.01
|
Evidence
of Action by Holders
|
43
|
Section
8.02
|
Proof
of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt
Securities
|
43
|
Section
8.03
|
Who
May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities
|
44
|
Section
8.04
|
Instruments
Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders
|
44
|
ARTICLE
IX
|
||
SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURES
|
||
Section
9.01
|
Purposes
for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of
Holders
|
45
|
Section
9.02
|
Modification
of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities
|
47
|
Section
9.03
|
Effect
of Supplemental Indentures
|
48
|
Section
9.04
|
Debt
Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental
Indentures
|
48
|
ARTICLE
X
|
||
CONSOLIDATION,
MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
|
||
Section
10.01
|
Consolidations
and Mergers of the Issuers
|
48
|
Section
10.02
|
Rights
and Duties of Successor Company
|
49
|
iv
ARTICLE
XI
|
||
SATISFACTION
AND DISCHARGE OF
|
||
INDENTURE;
DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
|
||
Section
11.01
|
Applicability
of Article
|
49
|
Section
11.02
|
Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance
|
50
|
Section
11.03
|
Conditions
of Defeasance
|
50
|
Section
11.04
|
Application
of Trust Money
|
52
|
Section
11.05
|
Repayment
to Partnership
|
52
|
Section
11.06
|
Indemnity
for U.S. Government Obligations
|
52
|
Section
11.07
|
Reinstatement
|
52
|
ARTICLE
XII
|
||
[RESERVED]
|
||
ARTICLE
XIII
|
||
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
|
||
Section
13.01
|
Successors
and Assigns of Partnership Bound by Indenture
|
52
|
Section
13.02
|
Acts
of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Company Valid
|
52
|
Section
13.03
|
Required
Notices or Demands
|
53
|
Section
13.04
|
Indenture
and Debt Securities to Be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the
State of New York
|
54
|
Section
13.05
|
Officers’
Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or
Demand by the Issuers
|
54
|
Section
13.06
|
Payments
Due on Legal Holidays
|
55
|
Section
13.07
|
Provisions
Required by TIA to Control
|
55
|
Section
13.08
|
Computation
of Interest on Debt Securities
|
55
|
Section
13.09
|
Rules
by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar
|
55
|
Section
13.10
|
No
Recourse Against Others
|
55
|
Section
13.11
|
Severability
|
55
|
Section
13.12
|
Effect
of Headings
|
56
|
Section
13.13
|
Indenture
May Be Executed in Counterparts
|
56
|
ARTICLE
XIV
|
||
GUARANTEE
|
||
Section
14.01
|
Unconditional
Guarantee
|
56
|
Section
14.02
|
Execution
and Delivery of Guarantee
|
58
|
Section
14.03
|
Limitation
on Subsidiary Guarantors’ Liability
|
58
|
Section
14.04
|
Release
of Subsidiary Guarantors from Guarantee
|
59
|
Section
14.05
|
Subsidiary
Guarantor Contribution
|
59
|
v
ARTICLE
XV
|
||
SUBORDINATION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
|
||
Section
15.01
|
Applicability
of Article; Agreement to Subordinate
|
59
|
Section
15.02
|
Liquidation,
Dissolution, Bankruptcy
|
60
|
Section
15.03
|
Default
on Senior Indebtedness
|
60
|
Section
15.04
|
Acceleration
of Payment of Debt Securities
|
61
|
Section
15.05
|
When
Distribution Must Be Paid Over
|
61
|
Section
15.06
|
Subrogation
|
61
|
Section
15.07
|
Relative
Rights
|
61
|
Section
15.08
|
Subordination
May Not Be Impaired by Issuers
|
61
|
Section
15.09
|
Rights
of Trustee and Paying Agents
|
62
|
Section
15.10
|
Distribution
or Notice to Representative
|
62
|
Section
15.11
|
Article
XIII Not to Prevent Defaults or Limit Right to Accelerate
|
62
|
Section
15.12
|
Trust
Moneys Not Subordinated
|
62
|
Section
15.13
|
Trustee
Entitled to Rely
|
63
|
Section
15.14
|
Trustee
to Effectuate Subordination
|
63
|
Section
15.15
|
Trustee
Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness
|
63
|
Annex
A
|
Notation
of Guarantee
|
vi
THIS
INDENTURE dated as of ___________, 2009 is among Penn Virginia Resource
Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), Penn
Virginia Resource Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Finance Co” and,
together with the Partnership, the “Issuers”), PVR Xxxxx LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“PVR Xxxxx”), Penn Virginia Operating Co., LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (“PVOC”), PVR Midstream LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“PVR Midstream”), PVR Gas Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“PVR Gas Resources”), Dulcet Acquisition LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (“Dulcet”), Fieldcrest Resources LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (“Fieldcrest”), K Rail LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“K Rail”), Loadout LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
(“Loadout”), Suncrest Resources LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“Suncrest”), Xxxxx Fork LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Xxxxx
Fork”), Connect Energy Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“Connect Energy”), Connect Gas Gathering, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (“Connect Gas Gathering”), Connect Gas Pipeline LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“Connect Gas Pipeline”), Connect NGL Pipeline, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (“Connect NGL”), PVR Cherokee Gas Processing
LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company (“PVR Cherokee”), PVR East Texas Gas
Processing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“PVR East Texas”), PVR
Gas Pipeline, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“PVR Gas Pipeline”),
PVR Gas Processing LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company (“PVR
Gas Processing”), PVR Xxxxxx, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (“PVR Xxxxxx”), PVR Hydrocarbons LLC, an Oklahoma limited
liability company (“PVR Hydrocarbons”), PVR Xxxxxxx Gas Processing LLC, an
Oklahoma limited liability company (“PVR Xxxxxxx”), PVR Natural Gas Gathering
LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company (“PVR Natural Gas”), PVR North Texas
Gas Gathering, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“PVR North Texas”) and
PVR Oklahoma Natural Gas Gathering, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company
(“PVR Oklahoma” and, together with, PVR Xxxxx, PVOC, PVR Midstream, PVR Gas
Resources, Dulcet, Fieldcrest, K Rail, Loadout, Suncrest, Toney Fork, Connect
Energy, Connect Gas Gathering, Connect Gas Pipeline, Connect NGL, PVR Cherokee,
PVR East Texas, PVR Gas Pipeline, PVR Gas Processing, PVR Xxxxxx, PVR
Hydrocarbons, PVR Xxxxxxx, PVR Natural Gas and PVR North Texas, the “Subsidiary
Guarantors”), and [__________________], a __________________, as trustee (the
“Trustee”).
RECITALS
OF THE ISSUERS AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
The
Issuers and Subsidiary Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and
delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the
Issuers’ subordinated debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of
indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount
(herein called the “Debt Securities”), and the Guarantee by each of the
Subsidiary Guarantors of the Debt Securities, as in this Indenture
provided.
The
Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors are members of the same consolidated group
of companies. The Subsidiary Guarantors will derive direct and
indirect economic benefit from the issuance of the Debt
Securities. Accordingly, each Subsidiary Guarantor has duly
authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for its full,
unconditional and joint and several guarantee of the Debt Securities to the
extent provided in or pursuant to this Indenture.
All
things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Issuers, in
accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW,
THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH
That in
order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities are
authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises, and
of the purchase and acceptance of the Debt Securities by the holders thereof,
the Issuers and the Trustee covenant and agree with each other, for the benefit
of the respective Holders from time to time of the Debt Securities or any series
thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section
1.01 Definitions.
“Affiliate”
of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with
such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used
with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management
and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms
“controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. The
Trustee may request and may conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate to
determine whether any Person is an Affiliate of any specified
Person.
“Agent”
means any Registrar or paying agent.
“Bankruptcy
Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the
relief of debtors.
“Board of
Directors” means (a) with respect to the Partnership, the Board of Directors of
the General Partner or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the
General Partner or any directors and/or officers of the General Partner to whom
such Board of Directors or such committee shall have duly delegated its
authority to act hereunder. If the Partnership shall change its form
of entity to other than a limited partnership, the references to the Board of
Directors of the General Partner shall mean the Board of Directors (or other
comparable governing body) of the Partnership; and (b) with respect to Finance
Co, its board of directors, or, in the case of either (a) or (b), with respect
to any determination or resolution required or permitted to be made hereunder,
any duly authorized committee or subcommittee of such board. All
references in the Indenture to "Board of Directors" shall be deemed to refer to
the Board of Directors of the Partnership, unless otherwise expressly indicated
or the context otherwise requires.
“Business
Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
2
“capital
stock” of any Person means and includes any and all shares, rights to purchase,
warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or
other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity (which
includes, but is not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and partnership
and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt securities that
are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).
“Custodian”
means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any
Bankruptcy Law.
“Debt” of
any Person at any date means any obligation created or assumed by such Person
for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee thereof.
“Debt
Security” or “Debt Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of
this Indenture and more particularly means any debt security or debt securities,
as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture.
“Default”
means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of
time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depositary”
means, unless otherwise specified by the Issuers pursuant to either Sections
2.03 or 2.15, with respect to Debt Securities of any series issuable or
issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, The
Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto
registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable
statute or regulations.
“Designated
Senior Indebtedness” means, as to any series of Debt Securities, any Senior
Indebtedness identified as Designated Senior Indebtedness in the Board
Resolution or supplemental Indenture setting forth the terms of such
series.
“Dollar”
or “$” means such currency of the United States as at the time of payment is
legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor
statute.
“Floating
Rate Security” means a Debt Security that provides for the payment of interest
at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate
index specified pursuant to Section 2.03.
“GAAP”
means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as
may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the
United States, as in effect from time to time.
“General
Partner” means Penn Virginia Resource GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, and its successors as general partner of the
Partnership.
3
“Global
Security” means with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued hereunder,
a Debt Security which is executed by the Issuers and authenticated and delivered
by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction,
all in accordance with this Indenture and any Indentures supplemental hereto, or
resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate,
which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which
shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of, all the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series or any
portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without
limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is
due and interest rate or method of determining interest.
“guarantee”
means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or
indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person and any
obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Debt or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of
partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets,
goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial
statement conditions or otherwise) or (b) entered into for purposes of assuring
in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment
thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or
in part); provided, however, that the term “guarantee” shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business. The term “guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding
meaning.
“Holder,”
“Holder of Debt Securities” or other similar terms means, a Person in whose name
a Debt Security is registered in the Debt Security Register (as defined in
Section 2.07(a)).
“Indenture”
means this instrument as originally executed, or, if amended or supplemented as
herein provided, as so amended or supplemented and shall include the form and
terms of particular series of Debt Securities as contemplated hereunder, whether
or not a supplemental Indenture is entered into with respect
thereto.
“Issuer
Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Issuers, with
respect to the Partnership, by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a
Vice President of the General Partner, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the General Partner, and, with respect to Finance Co, by
the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President of Finance Co, and
by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant
Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of Finance Co, in each case
delivered to the Trustee, or if the Partnership shall change its form of entity
to other than a limited partnership, by Persons or officers, members, agents and
others holding positions comparable to those of the foregoing nature, as
applicable.
“Legal
Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in
the City of New York, New York or at a Place of Payment are authorized by law,
regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is
a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the
next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue
for the intervening period.
4
“Lien”
means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge,
charge or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not
filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law.
“Officer”
means, with respect to a Person, the Chairman of the Board, the President, any
Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Secretary,
Assistant Secretary or any Assistant Vice President of such Person.
“Officers’
Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers each of the
General Partner and Finance Co. One of the Officers signing the
Officers’ Certificate of the General Partner must be the General Partner’s chief
executive officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting officer (or if
the Partnership shall change its form of entity to other than a limited
partnership, by Persons, officers, members, agents and others holding positions
comparable to those of the foregoing nature, as applicable). One of
the Officers signing the Officers’ Certificate of Finance Co must be Finance
Co’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting
officer (or Persons, officers, members, agents and others holding positions
comparable to those of the foregoing nature, as applicable).
“Opinion
of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the
Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuers
or the Trustee.
“Original
Issue Discount Debt Security” means any Debt Security which provides for an
amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a
declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section
6.01.
“Outstanding,”
when used with respect to any series of Debt Securities, means, as of the date
of determination, all Debt Securities of that series theretofore authenticated
and delivered under this Indenture, except:
|
(a)
|
Debt
Securities of that series theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered
to the Trustee for cancellation;
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|
(b)
|
Debt
Securities of that series for whose payment or redemption money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any
paying agent (other than the Issuers) in trust or set aside and segregated
in trust by the Issuers (if the Issuers shall act as their own paying
agent) for the Holders of such Debt Securities; provided, that, if such
Debt Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been
duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory
to the Trustee has been made; and
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|
(c)
|
Debt
Securities of that series which have been paid pursuant to Section 2.09 or
in exchange for or in lieu of which other Debt Securities have been
authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any
such Debt Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented
to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Debt Securities are held
by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Debt Securities are valid
obligations of the Issuers;
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5
provided,
however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal
amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Debt
Securities owned by the Issuers or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or
any Affiliate of the Issuers or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and
deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which an officer of
the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so
disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good
faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the
satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such
Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not either of the Issuers or any other
obligor upon the Debt Securities or an Affiliate of the Issuers or of such other
obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal
amount of an Original Issue Discount Debt Security that shall be deemed to be
Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that
would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration
of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01.
“Partnership”
means the Person named as the “Partnership” in the first paragraph of this
instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the
applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Partnership” shall mean
such successor Person.
“Person”
means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint-stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political
subdivision thereof or other entity of any kind.
“Redemption
Date,” when used with respect to any Debt Security to be redeemed, means the
date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
“Representative”
means the trustee, agent or representative (if any) for an issue of Senior
Indebtedness and, in the absence of any trustee, agent or representative, it
means the holder or holders of such issue.
“SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor
statute.
“Senior
Indebtedness” means, as to any series of Debt Securities, the indebtedness of
the Issuers identified as Senior Indebtedness in the Board Resolution or
supplemental Indenture setting forth the terms of such series.
“Stated
Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such
security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is
due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but
excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the
option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the
control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).
6
“Subsidiary”
of any Person means:
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(1)
|
any
corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50%
of the total voting power of equity interests entitled, without regard to
the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of directors,
managers, trustees or equivalent Persons thereof is at the time of
determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person
or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination
thereof; or
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|
(2)
|
in
the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the partners’ equity
interests, considering all partners’ equity interests as a single class,
is at such time of determination owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of
such Person or combination thereof.
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“Subsidiary
Guarantors” means the Person or Persons named as the “Subsidiary Guarantors” in
the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person or Persons shall
have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and
thereafter “Subsidiary Guarantors” shall mean such successor Person or Persons,
and any other Subsidiary of the Partnership who may execute this Indenture, or a
supplement thereto, for the purpose of providing a Guarantee of Debt Securities
pursuant to this Indenture.
“TIA”
means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§77aaa-77bbbb), as
in effect on the date of this Indenture as originally executed and, to the
extent required by law, as amended.
“Trustee”
initially means [____________________] and any other Person or Persons appointed
as such from time to time pursuant to Section 7.08, and, subject to the
provisions of Article VII, includes its or their successors and
assigns. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee”
as used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee
with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.
“Trust
Officer” means any officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the
Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.
“United
States” means the United States of America (including the States and the
District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject
to its jurisdiction.
“U.S.
Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States of
America, obligations on which the payment of principal and interest is fully
guaranteed by the United States of America or obligations or guarantees for the
payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is
pledged.
“Yield to
Maturity” means the yield to maturity, calculated at the time of issuance of a
series of Debt Securities, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination
of interest on such series and calculated in accordance with accepted financial
practice.
7
Section
1.02 Other Definitions.
Term
|
Defined in Section
|
||
“Blockage
Notice”
|
15.03
|
||
“Payment
Blockage Period”
|
15.03
|
||
“Debt
Security Register”
|
2.07
|
||
“Defaulted
Interest”
|
2.17
|
||
“Event
of Default”
|
6.01
|
||
“Funding
Guarantor”
|
14.05
|
||
“Guarantee”
|
14.01
|
||
“Place
of Payment”
|
2.03
|
||
“Registrar”
|
2.07
|
||
“Subordinated
Debt Securities”
|
15.01
|
||
“Successor
Company”
|
10.01
|
Section
1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust
Indenture Act. Whenever
this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated
by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
All terms
used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to
another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so
assigned to them.
Section
1.04 Rules of
Construction.
Unless
the context otherwise requires:
(a) a
term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an
accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in
accordance with GAAP;
(c) “or”
is not exclusive;
(d) words
in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the
singular;
(e) provisions
apply to successive events and transactions; and
(f) the
principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any
date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance
sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with
GAAP.
8
ARTICLE
II
DEBT
SECURITIES
Section
2.01 Forms Generally. The
Debt Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form established
without the approval of any Holder by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board
of Directors or in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with
such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as
are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers
or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon
as the Issuers may deem appropriate (and, if not contained in a supplemental
Indenture entered into in accordance with Article IX, as are not prohibited by
the provisions of this Indenture) or as may be required or appropriate to comply
with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any
securities exchange on which such series of Debt Securities may be listed, or to
conform to general usage, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the
officers executing such Debt Securities as evidenced by their execution of the
Debt Securities.
The
definitive Debt Securities of each series shall be printed, lithographed or
engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all
as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by
their execution of such Debt.
Section
2.02 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of
Authentication. The
Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debt Securities authenticated by
the Trustee shall be in substantially the following form:
TRUSTEE’S
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is
one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.
[____________________],
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|||
As
Trustee
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By:
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Authorized
Signatory
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Section
2.03 Principal Amount; Issuable in
Series. The
aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued, executed,
authenticated, delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is
unlimited.
The Debt
Securities may be issued in one or more series in fully registered
form. There shall be established, without the approval of any
Holders, in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth
in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more Indentures
supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series any
or all of the following:
(a) the
title of the Debt Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Debt
Securities of the series from all other Debt Securities);
(b) any
limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series
which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Debt
Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in
exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of the series pursuant to
this Article II);
9
(c) the
date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the Debt Securities
of the series are payable;
(d) the
rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Debt Securities of
the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining such rate
or rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest
payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, or the method by which
such date will be determined, the record dates for the determination of Holders
thereof to whom such interest is payable; and the basis upon which interest will
be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day
months;
(e) the
place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the corporate trust office
of the Trustee, where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on,
Debt Securities of the series shall be payable (“Place of
Payment”);
(f) the
price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and
conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or
in part, at the option of the Issuers or otherwise;
(g) whether
Debt Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Guarantee of
any Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to this Indenture;
(h) the
obligation, if any, of the Issuers to redeem, purchase or repay Debt Securities
of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the
option of a Holder thereof, and the price or prices at which and the period or
periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of
the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant
to such obligations;
(i) the
terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities of the series may be convertible
into or exchanged for capital stock (which may be represented by depositary
shares), other Debt Securities or warrants for capital stock or Debt or other
securities of any kind of the Issuers or any other obligor and the terms and
conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected, including
the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange
period and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described
herein;
(j) if
other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the
denominations in which Debt Securities of the series shall be
issuable;
(k) if
the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on Debt Securities of the
series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula,
the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
(l) if
the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of Debt Securities of the
series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated
Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any
such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be
due and payable upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will
be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the
manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be
determined);
10
(m) any
changes or additions to Article XI or Article XV, including the addition of
additional covenants that may be subject to the covenant defeasance option
pursuant to Section 11.02(b);
(n) if
other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of
Debt Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of
acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01 or provable in
bankruptcy pursuant to Section 6.02;
(o) the
terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for
the Debt Securities of the series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds,
securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the TIA
are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this Indenture as
currently in effect;
(p) any
addition to or change in the Events of Default with respect to the Debt
Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the
Holders to declare the principal of, and premium and interest on, such Debt
Securities due and payable;
(q) if
the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the
form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon
which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part
for other individual Debt Securities in definitive registered form; and the
Depositary for such Global Security or Securities and the form of any legend or
legends to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in addition to or
in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.15(a);
(r) any
trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or
registrars;
(s) the
applicability of, and any addition to or change in the covenants and definitions
currently set forth in this Indenture or in the terms currently set forth in
Article X, including conditioning any merger, conveyance, transfer or lease
permitted by Article X upon the satisfaction of any Debt coverage standard by
the Issuers and any Successor Company (as defined in Article X);
(t) with
regard to Debt Securities of the series that do not bear interest, the dates for
certain required reports to the Trustee; and
(u) any
other terms of the Debt Securities of the series (which terms shall not be
prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).
All Debt
Securities of any one series appertaining thereto shall be substantially
identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in
or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of Directors and as set forth in
such Officers’ Certificate or in any such Indenture supplemental
hereto.
Section
2.04 Execution of Debt
Securities. The
Debt Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of
the Board, the President or a Vice President of the General Partner and on
behalf of Finance Co by its Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice
President and, if the seal of the General Partner or Finance Co is reproduced
thereon, it shall be attested by its Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the General Partner or Finance Co, as
applicable. Such signatures upon the Debt Securities may be the
manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized
officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt
Securities. The seal of the General Partner, if any, may be in the
form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or
otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities.
11
Only such
Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication
substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, signed manually by the Trustee,
shall be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for
any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Debt Security executed by
the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership and Finance Co, as applicable,
shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been
duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.
In case
any officer of the General Partner or Finance Co who shall have signed any of
the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so
signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed
of by the Issuers, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and
delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debt Securities
had not ceased to be such officer of the General Partner or Finance Co; and any
Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the General Partner or Finance Co by
such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security,
shall be the proper officers of the General Partner or Finance Co, as
applicable, although at the date of such Debt Security or of the execution of
this Indenture any such Person was not such officer.
Section
2.05 Authentication and Delivery of Debt
Securities. At
any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this
Indenture, the Issuers may deliver Debt Securities of any series executed by the
Issuers to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon
authenticate and deliver said Debt Securities to or upon an Issuer
Order. In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the
additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt
Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section
7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon:
(a) a
copy of any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, certified by
the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the General Partner, authorizing the
terms of issuance of any series of Debt Securities;
(b) an
executed supplemental Indenture, if any;
(c) an
Officers’ Certificate; and
(d) an
Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 13.05 which shall also
state:
(i) that
the form of such Debt Securities has been established by or pursuant to a
resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted
by Section 2.01 in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture;
12
(ii) that
the terms of such Debt Securities have been established by or pursuant to a
resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted
by Section 2.03 in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture;
(iii) that
such Debt Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued
by the Issuers in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such
Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
Issuers, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and rights of acceleration
and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable
principles of general applicability;
(iv) that
the Partnership has the partnership power to issue such Debt Securities and has
duly taken all necessary partnership action with respect to such
issuance;
(v)
if applicable, that Finance Co has the corporate power to issue such Debt
Securities and has duly taken all necessary corporate action with respect to
such issuance;
(vi) that
the issuance of such Debt Securities will not contravene the organizational
documents of the Partnership or Finance Co or result in any material violation
of any of the terms or provisions of any law or regulation or of any material
indenture, mortgage or other agreement known to such counsel by which the
Partnership or Finance Co, as applicable, is bound;
(vii) that
authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities and the execution and
delivery of any supplemental Indenture will not violate the terms of this
Indenture; and
(viii)
such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.
Such
Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether a court in the United
States would render a money judgment in a currency other than that of the United
States.
The
Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt
Securities under this Section 2.05 if the Trustee, being advised by counsel,
determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good
faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust
committee of directors, trustees or vice presidents (or any combination thereof)
shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability
to existing Holders.
The
Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Issuers
to authenticate Debt Securities of any series. Unless limited by the
terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Debt
Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this
Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such
agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar,
paying agent or agent for service of notices and demands.
13
Unless
otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, each Debt
Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
Section
2.06 Denomination of Debt
Securities.
Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, the Debt
Securities of each series shall be issuable only as fully registered Debt
Securities in such Dollar denominations as shall be specified or contemplated by
Section 2.03. In the absence of any such specification with respect to the
Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities of such series shall be
issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof.
Section
2.07 Registration of Transfer and
Exchange.
(a)
The Issuers shall keep or cause to be kept a
register for each series of Debt Securities issued hereunder (hereinafter
collectively referred to as the “Debt Security Register”), in which, subject to
such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Issuers shall provide for
the registration of all Debt Securities and the transfer of Debt Securities as
in this Article II provided. At all reasonable times the Debt Security
Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Subject to Section
2.15, upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at
any office or agency to be maintained by the Issuers in accordance with the
provisions of Section 4.02, the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt
Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations for a like aggregate
principal amount. In no event may Debt Securities be issued as, or
exchanged for, bearer securities.
Unless
and until otherwise determined by the Issuers by resolution of the Board of
Directors, the register of the Issuers for the purpose of registration, exchange
or registration of transfer of the Debt Securities shall be kept at the
principal corporate trust office of the Trustee and, for this purpose, the
Trustee shall be designated “Registrar.”
Debt
Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as set forth
below) may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities
of the same series of other authorized denominations. Subject to Section
2.15, Debt Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at the office or
agency to be maintained by the Issuers as provided in Section 4.02, and the
Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor the Debt Security or Debt Securities which the Holder making the
exchange shall be entitled to receive.
(b)
All Debt Securities presented or surrendered
for registration of transfer, exchange or payment shall (if so required by the
Issuers, the Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed or be accompanied by a
written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the
Issuers, the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder or his
attorney duly authorized in writing.
All Debt
Securities issued in exchange for or upon transfer of Debt Securities shall be
the valid obligations of the Issuers, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to
the same benefits under this Indenture as the Debt Securities surrendered for
such exchange or transfer.
14
No
service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of
Debt Securities (except as provided by Section 2.09), but the Issuers may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto, other than those
expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Issuers’ own expense or
without expense or without charge to the Holders.
The
Issuers shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange
any Debt Securities for a period of 15 days next preceding any mailing of notice
of redemption of Debt Securities of such series or (ii) to register the transfer
of or exchange any Debt Securities selected, called or being called for
redemption.
Prior to
the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the
Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any
Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is
registered as the absolute owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of
receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, and premium, if any, and
(subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Debt Security is overdue, and none of
the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent or any
Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
None of
the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee,
any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for
any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of,
beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests.
Section
2.08 Temporary Debt
Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Issuers
may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Debt
Securities (printed, lithographed, photocopied, typewritten or otherwise
produced) of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the
definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form
with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for
temporary Debt Securities, all as may be determined by the Issuers with the
concurrence of the Trustee. Temporary Debt Securities may contain such
reference to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every
temporary Debt Security shall be executed by the Issuers and be authenticated by
the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and
with like effect, as the definitive Debt Securities.
If
temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Issuers will cause
definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable
delay. After the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of such series,
the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for
definitive Debt Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Debt
Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Issuers at a Place of
Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder thereof, except as
provided in Section 2.07 in connection with a transfer. Upon surrender for
cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series, the
Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same
series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged,
temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the
same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of such
series.
15
Upon any
exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global
Security or for the individual Debt Securities represented thereby pursuant to
Section 2.07 or this Section 2.08, the temporary Global Security shall be
endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount
evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global
Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount to be exchanged and
endorsed.
Section
2.09 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Debt Securities.
If (a) any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its
corporate trust office or (b) the Issuers and the Trustee receive evidence to
their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security, and
there is delivered to the Issuers and the Trustee such security or indemnity as
may be required by them to save each of them and any paying agent harmless, and
neither the Issuers nor the Trustee receives notice that such Debt Security has
been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, then the Issuers shall execute and, upon
an Issuer Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or
in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, a new
Debt Security of the same series of like tenor, form, terms and principal
amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. Upon the
issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Issuers may require the payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee, assessment or other governmental
charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected
therewith. In case any Debt which has matured or is about to mature or
which has been called for redemption shall become mutilated or be destroyed,
lost or stolen, the Issuers may, instead of issuing a substituted Debt Security,
pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in
the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall
furnish the Issuers and the Trustee with such security or indemnity as either
may require to save it harmless from all risk, however remote, and, in case of
destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Issuers and the
Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the
ownership thereof.
Every
substituted Debt Security of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 2.09 by virtue of the fact that any Debt Security is destroyed,
lost or stolen shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of
the Issuers, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be
found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture
equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities of that
series duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be held and owned
upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with
respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Debt Securities, and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies,
notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary
with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other
securities without their surrender.
16
Section
2.10 Cancellation of Surrendered Debt
Securities.
All Debt Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Issuers or any paying agent or
a Registrar, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation by it, or if
surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debt Securities
shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the
provisions of this Indenture. All canceled Debt Securities held by the
Trustee shall be destroyed (subject to the record retention requirements of the
Exchange Act) and certification of their destruction delivered to the Issuers,
unless otherwise directed. On request of the Issuers, the Trustee shall
deliver to the Issuers canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee. If
the Issuers shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition
shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Debt represented
thereby unless and until the same are delivered or surrendered to the Trustee
for cancellation. The Issuers may not issue new Debt Securities to replace
Debt Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation.
Section
2.11 Provisions of the Indenture and Debt
Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the
Holders.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities, expressed or implied, shall
give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, the
Holders or any Registrar or paying agent, any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition
or provision herein contained; all its covenants, conditions and provisions
being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto, the Holders and any Registrar
and paying agents.
Section
2.12 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights
Preserved.
(a)
Interest on any Debt Security that is payable
and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date shall
be paid to the Person in whose name such Debt Security is registered at the
close of business on the regular record date for such interest notwithstanding
the cancellation of such Debt Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent
to the regular record date. Payment of interest on Debt Securities shall
be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee (except as otherwise
specified pursuant to Section 2.03), or at the option of the Issuers, by check
mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall
appear in the Debt Security Register or, if provided pursuant to Section 2.03
and in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the option
of the Holder by wire transfer to an account designated by the
Holder.
(b)
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this
Section 2.12 and Section 2.17, each Debt Security of a particular series
delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange
for or in lieu of any other Debt Security of the same series shall carry the
rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such
other Debt Security.
Section
2.13 Securities Denominated in
Dollars.
Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.03 for Debt Securities of
any series, payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on,
Debt Securities of such series will be made in Dollars.
Section
2.14 Wire
Transfers.
Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Indenture, the
Issuers may make any payment of moneys required to be deposited with the Trustee
on account of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt
Securities (whether pursuant to optional or mandatory redemption payments,
interest payments or otherwise) by wire transfer in immediately available funds
to an account designated by the Trustee before 11:00 a.m., New York City time,
on the date such moneys are to be paid to the Holders of the Debt Securities in
accordance with the terms hereof.
17
Section
2.15 Securities Issuable in the Form of a
Global Security.
(a)
If the Issuers shall establish pursuant to
Sections 2.01 and 2.03 that the Debt Securities of a particular series are to be
issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then
the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with
Section 2.05, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Securities,
which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to
be represented by such Global Security or Securities, or such portion thereof as
the Issuers shall specify in an Officers’ Certificate, shall be registered in
the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its
nominee, shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary
or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and shall bear a legend
substantially to the following effect:
“UNLESS
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE
ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND
ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER
NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS
MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS
OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART,
TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND
TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO
HEREIN,”
or such
other legend as may then be required by the Depositary for such Global Security
or Securities.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 2.15 or of Section 2.07 to the contrary, and subject to the provisions
of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit
such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Debt
Securities in registered form, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole
but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.07, only by the
Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or by a
nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the
Depositary, or by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary to a successor
Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Issuers, or to a
nominee of such successor Depositary.
18
(c)
(i)
If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security or Securities notifies the
Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global
Security or Securities or if at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities
for such series shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the
Exchange Act or other applicable statute, rule or regulation, the Issuers shall
appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or
Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security or
Securities is not appointed by the Issuers within 90 days after the Issuers
receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Issuers shall
execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of an Issuer Order for the
authentication and delivery of such individual Debt Securities of such series in
exchange for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver, individual
Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security
in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.
(ii) The
Issuers may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Debt
Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of
one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global
Security or Securities. In such event the Issuers will execute, and the
Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of
individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for
such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities
of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the principal amount of such series or portion thereof
in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.
(iii)
If specified by the Issuers pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.03 with respect to
Debt Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the
Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in
exchange in whole or in part for individual Debt Securities of such series of
like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the
Issuers, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon the Issuers shall
execute, and the Trustee or its agent upon receipt of an Issuer Order for the
authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series shall
authenticate and deliver, without service charge, to each Person specified
by such Depositary a new Debt Security or Securities of the same series of like
tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person
in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s
beneficial interest in the Global Security; and to such Depositary a new
Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal
to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered
Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities delivered
to Holders thereof.
(iv)
In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the
Issuers will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver
individual Debt Securities. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of
a Global Security for individual Debt Securities, such Global Security shall be
canceled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding
paragraph, Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to
this Section 2.15 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized
denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to
instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall
instruct the Trustee or the Registrar. The Trustee or the Registrar shall
deliver such Debt Securities to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities
are so registered.
19
Payments
in respect of the principal of and interest on any Debt Securities registered in
the name of the Depositary or its nominee will be payable to the Depositary or
such nominee in its capacity as the registered owner of such Global
Security. The Issuers and the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name
the Debt Securities, including the Global Security, are registered as the owner
thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other
purposes whatsoever. None of the Issuers, the Trustee, any Registrar, the
paying agent or any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of the beneficial ownership interests of the Global
Security by the Depositary or its nominee or any of the Depositary’s direct or
indirect participants, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records
of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants
relating to the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security, the
payments to the beneficial owners of the Global Security of amounts paid to the
Depositary or its nominee, or any other matter relating to the actions and
practices of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect
participants. None of the Issuers, the Trustee or any such agent will be
liable for any delay by the Depositary, its nominee, or any of its direct or
indirect participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the Debt
Securities, and the Issuers and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will
be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for
all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the
respective principal amounts, of the Debt Securities to be issued).
Section
2.16 Medium Term
Securities.
Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, if all Debt Securities of a
series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary
for the Issuers to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, resolutions
of the Board of Directors, supplemental Indenture, Opinion of Counsel or written
order or any other document otherwise required pursuant to Sections 2.01, 2.03,
2.05 or 13.05 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Debt Security of
such series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or
prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first such Debt
Security of such series to be issued; provided, that any subsequent request by
the Issuers to the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of such series upon
original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Issuers
that, as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’
Certificate delivered pursuant to Sections 2.05 or 13.05 shall be true and
correct as if made on such date and that the Opinion of Counsel delivered at or
prior to such time of authentication of an original issuance of Debt Securities
shall specifically state that it shall relate to all subsequent issuances of
Debt Securities of such series that are identical to the Debt Securities issued
in the first issuance of Debt Securities of such series.
An Issuer
Order delivered by the Issuers to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in
the preceding paragraph, may provide that Debt Securities which are the subject
thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on
original issue from time to time upon the telephonic or written order of Persons
designated in such written order (any such telephonic instructions to be
promptly confirmed in writing by such Person) and that such Persons are
authorized to determine, consistent with the Officers’ Certificate, supplemental
Indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors relating to such written
order, such terms and conditions of such Debt Securities as are specified in
such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or such
resolution.
20
Section
2.17 Defaulted
Interest.
Any interest on any Debt Security of a particular series which is payable, but
is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on the dates and in the manner
provided in the Debt Securities of such series and in this Indenture (herein
called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder
thereof on the relevant record date by virtue of having been such Holder, and
such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Issuers, at their election in each
case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:
(a)
The Issuers may elect to make payment of any
Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities of such
series are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the
payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following
manner. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of
Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debt Security of such series
and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuers shall
deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount
proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of
the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause
provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the
payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not
less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10
days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed
payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers of such special
record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Issuers, shall cause
notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record
date therefor to be mailed, first class postage pre-paid, to each Holder thereof
at its address as it appears in the Debt Security Register, not less than 10
days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of
such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been so
mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the
Debt Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on such
special record date.
(b)
The Issuers may make payment of any Defaulted
Interest on the Debt Securities of such series in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt
Securities of such series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required
by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Issuers to the Trustee of the
proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed
practicable by the Trustee.
Section
2.18 CUSIP
Numbers.
The Issuers in issuing the Debt Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then
generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices
of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may
state that no representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either
as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption
and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed
on the Debt Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any
defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers will promptly notify
the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.
21
ARTICLE
III
REDEMPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
Section
3.01 Applicability of
Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Debt Securities of any
series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity except as otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 2.03 for Debt Securities of such
series.
Section
3.02 Notice of Redemption; Selection of
Debt Securities.
In case the Issuers shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the
case may be, any part of the Debt Securities of any series in accordance with
their terms, by resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental
Indenture, the Issuers shall fix a date for redemption and shall give notice of
such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed
for redemption to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series so to be
redeemed as a whole or in part, in the manner provided in Section 13.03.
The notice if given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed
to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice.
In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the
Holder of any Debt Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or
in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of
any other Debt Security of such series.
Each such
notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption, the redemption
price at which Debt Securities of such series are to be redeemed (or the method
of calculating such redemption price), the Place or Places of Payment that
payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities,
that any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as
specified in said notice, that the redemption is for a sinking fund payment (if
applicable), that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, that, if the
Issuers defaults in making such redemption payment, the paying agent is
prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture,
that on and after said date any interest thereon or on the portions thereof to
be redeemed will cease to accrue, that in the case of Original Issue Discount
Securities original issue discount accrued after the date fixed for redemption
will cease to accrue, the terms of the Debt Securities of that series pursuant
to which the Debt Securities of that series are being redeemed and that no
representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if
any, listed in such notice or printed on the Debt Securities of that
series. If less than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be
redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the certificate numbers of the
Debt Securities of that series to be redeemed. In case any Debt Security
of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state
the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that
on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debt
Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of that series in principal
amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof, will be issued.
At least
45 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date unless the Trustee
consents to a shorter period, the Issuers shall give written notice to the
Trustee of the Redemption Date, the principal amount of Debt Securities to be
redeemed and the series and terms of the Debt Securities pursuant to which such
redemption will occur. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Issuers to the effect that such
redemption will comply with the conditions herein. If fewer than all the
Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such
redemption shall be selected by the Issuers and given in writing to the Trustee,
which record date shall be not less than 15 days after the date of notice to the
Trustee.
22
By 11:00
a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date for any Debt Securities, the
Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the
Issuers are acting as their own paying agent, segregate and hold in trust) an
amount of money in Dollars (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.03)
sufficient to pay the redemption price of such Debt Securities or any portions
thereof that are to be redeemed on that date, together with any interest accrued
to the Redemption Date.
If less
than all the Debt Securities of like tenor and terms of a series are to be
redeemed, the Trustee shall select, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other
method as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debt
Securities of that series or portions thereof (in multiples of $1,000) to be
redeemed. In any case where more than one Debt Security of such series is
registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the
aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Debt
Security of such series. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in
writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any
Debt Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to
be redeemed. If any Debt Security called for redemption shall not be so
paid upon surrender thereof on such Redemption Date, the principal, premium, if
any, and interest shall bear interest until paid from the Redemption Date at the
rate borne by the Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the
Debt Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the
particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the
Issuers. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Debt Securities called
for redemption also apply to portions of Debt Securities called for
redemption.
Section
3.03 Payment of Debt Securities Called
for Redemption.
If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.02, the Debt
Securities or portions of Debt Securities of the series with respect to which
such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the
Place or Places of Payment stated in such notice at the applicable redemption
price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and
on and after said date (unless the Issuers shall default in the payment of such
Debt Securities at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest
accrued to said date) any interest on the Debt Securities or portions of Debt
Securities of any series so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, any
original issue discount in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities shall
cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at
the Place or Places of Payment in said notice specified, the said Debt
Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the
Issuers at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued
thereon to the date fixed for redemption.
23
Any Debt
Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the
corporate trust office or such other office or agency of the Issuers as is
specified pursuant to Section 2.03 with, if the Issuers, the Registrar or the
Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in
form satisfactory to the Issuers, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed
by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and the
Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Holder of such Debt Security without service charge, a new Debt Security or Debt
Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized
denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to
and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security
so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Issuers
shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary
for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a
denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the
principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Debt
Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the
Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Debt Security or Debt
Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Debt Security of the
payment of the redeemed portion thereof.
Section
3.04 Mandatory and Optional Sinking
Funds.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt
Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental
Indenture is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any
payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Debt
Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental
Indenture is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund
payment.”
In lieu
of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to
any Debt Securities of a series in cash, the Issuers may at their option (a)
deliver to the Trustee Debt Securities of that series theretofore purchased or
otherwise acquired by the Issuers or (b) receive credit for the principal amount
of Debt Securities of that series which have been redeemed either at the
election of the Issuers pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through
the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the
terms of such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture; provided,
that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Debt
Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the
redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental
Indenture for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of
such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section
3.05 Redemption of Debt Securities for
Sinking Fund.
Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking
fund payment date for any series of Debt Securities, the Issuers will deliver to
the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing
sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, any
resolution or supplemental Indenture, the portion thereof, if any, which is to
be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be
satisfied by delivering and crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to
this Section 3.05 (which Debt Securities, if not previously redeemed, will
accompany such certificate) and whether the Issuers intend to exercise its right
to make any permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such
series. Such certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing with respect to such series. Such certificate
shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Issuers shall be obligated to
make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, by 11 a.m., New
York City time, on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure
of the Issuers to deliver such certificate (or to deliver the Debt Securities
specified in this paragraph) shall not constitute a Default, but such failure
shall require that the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking
fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be
sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Debt Securities subject to a
mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Debt
Securities as provided in this Section 3.05 and without the right to make any
optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such
series.
24
Any
sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in cash plus any
unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash which shall
equal or exceed $100,000 (or a lesser sum if the Issuers shall so request) with
respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the
Trustee on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if
such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the sinking fund
payment date following the date of such payment) to the redemption of such Debt
Securities at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution
or supplemental Indenture for operation of the sinking fund together with any
accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. Any sinking fund moneys
not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Debt Securities
shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment received by the Trustee for
such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 3.05. Any and all sinking fund moneys with
respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee on
the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Debt Securities of such
series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Debt Securities
shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be
deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the
Debt Securities of that series at its Stated Maturity.
The
Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund
payment date in the manner specified in the last paragraph of Section 3.02 and
the Issuers shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the
manner provided in Section 3.02 except that the notice of redemption shall also
state that the Debt Securities are being redeemed by operation of the sinking
fund. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Debt
Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section
3.03.
The
Trustee shall not redeem any Debt Securities of a series with sinking fund
moneys or mail any notice of redemption of such Debt Securities by operation of
the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a Default in payment
of interest on such Debt Securities or of any Event of Default (other than an
Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to
such Debt Securities, except that if the notice of redemption of any such Debt
Securities shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions
hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Debt Securities if cash sufficient for
that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee for that purpose in accordance
with the terms of this Article III. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the
sinking fund for such series at the time when any such Default or Event of
Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall,
during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security
for the payment of such Debt Securities; provided, however, that in case such
Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein,
such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date
for such Debt Securities on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 3.05.
25
ARTICLE
IV
PARTICULAR
COVENANTS OF THE ISSUERS
Section
4.01 Payment of Principal of, and
Premium, If Any, and Interest on, Debt Securities.
The Issuers, for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities, will duly and
punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and premium, if any, and
interest on, each of the Debt Securities at the place, at the respective times
and in the manner provided herein or in the Debt Securities. Each
installment of interest on the Debt Securities may at the Issuers’ option be
paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the Person entitled thereto
pursuant to Section 2.07(a) to the address of such Person as it appears on the
Debt Security Register.
Principal,
premium and interest of Debt Securities of any series shall be considered paid
on the date due if, by 11 a.m., New York City time, on such date the Trustee or
any paying agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay
all principal, premium and interest then due.
The
Issuers shall pay interest on overdue principal or premium, if any, at the rate
specified therefor in the Debt Securities and it shall pay interest on overdue
installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Section
4.02 Maintenance of Offices or Agencies
for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt
Securities.
The Issuers will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt
Securities an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be
presented or surrendered for payment, and it shall also maintain (in or outside
such Place of Payment) an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series
may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or
upon the Issuers in respect of the Debt Securities of such series and this
Indenture may be served. The Issuers will give prompt written notice to
the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or
agency. If at any time the Issuers 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 office of the Trustee where its corporate trust business is
principally administered in the United States, and the Issuers hereby appoints
the Trustee as its agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and
demands.
The
Issuers may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or
agencies to be maintained for such purposes (in or outside of such Place of
Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided,
however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Issuers of their obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The
Issuers will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional
designation or rescission of designation and any change in the location of any
such different or additional office or agency.
Section
4.03 Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the
Office of Trustee.
The Issuers, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of
Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.08, a Trustee, so
that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series
of Debt Securities.
26
Section
4.04 Duties of Paying Agents,
etc.
(a)
The Issuers shall cause each paying agent, if
any, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument
in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of
this Section 4.04,
(i)
that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the
principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any
series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Issuers or by any other
obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the
Holders of the Debt Securities of such series;
(ii) that
it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Issuers (or by any other
obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) to make any payment of the
principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of such
series when the same shall be due and payable; and
(iii)
that it will at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon the
written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held by
it as such agent.
(b)
If the Issuers shall act as their own paying
agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if
any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and
hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such
series a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so
becoming due. The Issuers will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure
by the Issuers to take such action or the failure by any other obligor on such
Debt Securities to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or
interest on, such Debt Securities when the same shall be due and
payable.
(c)
Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Issuers may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or
cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying
agent, as required by this Section 4.04, such sums to be held by the Trustee
upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Issuers or
such paying agent.
(d)
Whenever the Issuers shall have one or more
paying agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, prior to
each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt
Securities of such series, deposit with any such paying agent a sum sufficient
to pay the principal, premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held
in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless any such
paying agent is the Trustee) the Issuers will promptly notify the Trustee of its
action or failure so to act.
(e)
Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section
4.04 is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05.
27
Section
4.05 SEC
Reports; Financial Statements.
(a)
The Partnership shall, so long as any of the
Debt Securities are Outstanding, file with the Trustee, within 15 days after it
files the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and the information,
documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing
as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Partnership is
required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act. If the Partnership is not subject to the requirements of such Section
13 or 15(d), the Partnership shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after
it would have been required to file the same with the SEC, financial statements,
including any notes thereto (and with respect to annual reports, an auditors’
report by a firm of established national reputation), and a “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” both
comparable to that which the Partnership would have been required to include in
such annual reports, information, documents or other reports if the Partnership
had been subject to the requirements of such Section 13 or 15(d). The
Partnership shall also comply with the provisions of TIA Section
314(a).
(b)
If the Partnership is required to furnish
annual or quarterly reports to its capital stockholders pursuant to the Exchange
Act, the Partnership shall, so long as any of the Debt Securities are
outstanding, cause any annual report furnished to its capital stockholders
generally and any quarterly or other financial reports furnished by it to its
capital stockholders generally to be filed with the Trustee and mailed to the
Holders in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 5.03.
(c)
The Partnership shall provide the Trustee with
a sufficient number of copies of all reports and other documents and information
that the Trustee may be required to deliver to Holders under this
Section.
(d)
The Issuers shall, so long as any of the Notes
are Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days of any Officer of the
General Partner becoming aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of
Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default
and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect
thereto.
Section
4.06 Compliance
Certificate.
(a)
The Issuers shall, so long as any of the Debt
Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the
end of each fiscal year of the Issuers, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a
review of the activities of the Issuers and their Subsidiaries during the
preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing
Officers of the General Partner with a view to determining whether the Issuers
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 knowledge the Issuers have kept, observed,
performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and
is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms,
provisions and conditions hereof, without regard to any grace period or
requirement of notice required by this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default
of which such Officer may have knowledge and what action the Issuers are taking
or propose to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his knowledge
no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on
account of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the
Debt Securities are prohibited or, if such event has occurred, a description of
the event and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect
thereto.
28
(b)
The Issuers shall, so long as any of the Debt
Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee within 30 days after the
occurrence of any Default or Event of Default under this Indenture, an Officers’
Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default, the status thereof and
what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect
thereto.
Section
4.07 Further Instruments and
Acts.
The Issuers will, upon request of the Trustee, execute and deliver such further
instruments and do such further acts as may reasonably be necessary or proper to
carry out more effectually the purposes of this Indenture.
Section
4.08 Existence.
Except as permitted by Article X hereof, the Issuers shall do or cause to be
done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its
existence and all rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Issuers,
provided that the Issuers shall not be required to preserve any such right or
franchise, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation
thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the
Issuers.
Section
4.09 Maintenance of
Properties.
The Issuers shall cause all properties owned by the Issuers or any of their
Subsidiaries or used or held for use in the conduct of its business or the
business of any such Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition,
repair and working order (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and supplied with
all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs,
renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the
judgment of the Issuers may be necessary so that the business carried on in
connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times;
provided that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Issuers from
discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such
discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Issuers, desirable in the conduct of
its business or the business of any such Subsidiary and not
disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.
Section
4.10 Payment of Taxes and Other
Claims.
The Issuers shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the
same shall become delinquent, (i) all taxes, assessments and governmental
charges levied or imposed upon the Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries or upon
the income, profits or property of the Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries, and
(ii) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might
by law become a Lien upon the property of the Issuers or any of their
Subsidiaries; provided that the Issuers shall not be required to pay or
discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or
claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings.
Section
4.11 Waiver of Certain
Covenants.
The Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors may, with respect
to the Debt Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply
with any covenant set forth in this Article IV (except Sections 4.01 through
4.08) or made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.03, if,
before or after the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority
in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected,
waive such compliance in such instance with such covenant, but no such waiver
shall extend to or affect such covenant except to the extent so expressly
waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the
Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors and the duties of the Trustee in respect
of any such covenant shall remain in full force and effect.
29
ARTICLE
V
HOLDERS’
LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE
Section
5.01 Partnership to Furnish Trustee
Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of
Information.
The Issuers covenant and agree that they will furnish or cause to be furnished
to the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of each series:
(a)
not more than 10 days after each record date
with respect to the payment of interest, if any, a list, in such form as the
Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of
such record date, and
(b)
at such other times as the Trustee may request
in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Issuers of any such request,
a list of similar form and contents as of a date not more than 15 days prior to
the time such list is furnished;
provided,
however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall
not be required to be furnished.
The
Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all
information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (i) contained in the
most recent list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.01 or (ii)
received by it in the capacity of paying agent or Registrar (if so acting)
hereunder.
The
Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.01
upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
Section
5.02 Communications to
Holders.
Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders
with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Debt Securities.
The Issuers, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the
protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.
Section
5.03 Reports by
Trustee.
Within 60 days after each January 31, beginning with the first January 31
following the date of this Indenture, and in any event on or before April 1 in
each year, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a brief report dated as of such
January 31 that complies with TIA Section 313(a); provided, however, that if no
event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months
preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted. The Trustee
also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b).
Reports
pursuant to this Section 5.03 shall be transmitted by mail:
(a)
to all Holders, as the names and addresses of
such Holders appear in the Debt Security Register; and
30
(b)
except in the cases of reports under Section
313(b)(2) of the TIA, to each Holder of a Debt Security of any series whose name
and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in
accordance with Section 5.01.
A copy of
each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and each stock exchange (if any) on which the
Debt Securities of any series are listed. The Issuers agree to notify
promptly the Trustee whenever the Debt Securities of any series become listed on
any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
Section
5.04 Record Dates for Action by
Holders.
If the Issuers shall solicit from the Holders of Debt Securities of any series
any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any
direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the
Issuers may, at their option, by resolution of the Board of Directors, fix in
advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Debt Securities
entitled to take such action, but the Issuers shall have no obligation to do
so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Issuers’ discretion.
If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or
after the record date, but only the Holders of Debt Securities of record at the
close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Debt
Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite
proportion of Debt Securities of such series Outstanding have authorized or
agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Debt Securities of
such series Outstanding shall be computed as of such record date.
ARTICLE
VI
REMEDIES
OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS IN EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section
6.01 Events of Default.
If any one or more of the following shall have occurred and be continuing with
respect to Debt Securities of any series (each of the following, an “Event of
Default”):
(a)
default in the payment of
any installment of interest upon any Debt Securities of that series as and when
the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a
period of 30 days; or
(b) default
in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Securities of
that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether at Stated
Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required repurchase or
otherwise; or
(c) default
in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities
of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable;
or
31
(d) failure
on the part of the Issuers, or if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding
under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee, any of the
Subsidiary Guarantors, duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or
agreements on the part of the Issuers, or if applicable, any of the Subsidiary
Guarantors, in the Debt Securities of that series, in any resolution of the
Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt Securities,
in this Indenture with respect to such series or in any supplemental Indenture
with respect to such series (other than a covenant a default in the performance
of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), continuing for a
period of 60 days after the date on which written notice specifying such failure
and requiring the Issuers, or if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantor, to remedy
the same shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuers,
or if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantor, by the Trustee or to the Issuers, or
if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantor, and the Trustee by the Holders of at
least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at
the time Outstanding; or
(e) the
Issuers, or if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is
entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors,
pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law,
(i) commences
a voluntary case,
(ii) consents
to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary
case,
(iii) consents
to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its
property; or
(iv) makes
a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
(f) a
court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy
Law that:
(i) is
for relief against the Issuers, or if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding
under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee, any of the
Subsidiary Guarantors, as debtor in an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints
a Custodian of the Issuers, or if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding
under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee, any
of the Subsidiary Guarantors, or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the
property of the Issuers, or if applicable, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors,
or
(iii) orders
the liquidation of the Issuers, or if any series of Debt Securities Outstanding
under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee, any of the
Subsidiary Guarantors,
and the
order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;
(g) if
any series of Debt Securities Outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to
the benefits of a Guarantee, the Guarantee of any of the Subsidiary Guarantors
ceases to be in full force and effect with respect to Debt Securities of that
series (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture) or is declared null and
void in a judicial proceeding or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors denies or
disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or such Guarantee;
or
32
(h) any
other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series;
then and in each and every case that an Event of Default described in clause
(a), (b), (c), (d), (g), or (h) with respect to Debt Securities of that series
at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, unless the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities of that series shall
have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not
less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that
series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Issuers (and to
the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal of (or, if the Debt
Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such
portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that
series), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities of that series
to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall
become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or
in the Debt Securities of that series contained to the contrary
notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or
(f) occurs, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of and
interest on all the Debt Securities shall have become due and payable, the
principal of (or, if any Debt Securities are Original Issue Discount Debt
Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the
terms thereof), premium, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities then
Outstanding hereunder shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable
without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders,
anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities contained to the contrary
notwithstanding.
The
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of a
particular series by written notice to the Trustee may waive all past Defaults
(except with respect to the nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or
interest) and rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission
would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction already rendered and if all existing Events of Default have been
cured or waived except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest
that has become due solely because of acceleration. Upon any such
rescission, the parties hereto shall be restored respectively to their several
positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the
parties hereto shall continue as though no such proceeding had been
taken.
Section
6.02 Collection of Debt by Trustee,
etc. If
an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and
as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any
action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due
and unpaid or enforce the performance of any provision of the Debt Securities of
the affected series or this Indenture, and may prosecute any such action or
proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or
final decree against the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Issuers or any other
obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series (and collect in the manner
provided by law out of the property of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Issuers
or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series wherever situated
the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable).
33
In case
there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization
of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Issuers or any other obligor upon the Debt
Securities of any series under any Bankruptcy Law, or in case a Custodian shall
have been appointed for its property, or in case of any other similar judicial
proceedings relative to the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Issuers or any other
obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series, its creditors or its property,
the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of Debt Securities of any
series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or
otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.02, shall be entitled and
empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a
claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest
(or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Debt
Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the
terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such
series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for
reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and
for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances
made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith) and of
the Holders thereof allowed in any such judicial proceedings relative to the
Subsidiary Guarantors or the Issuers, or any other obligor upon the Debt
Securities of such series, its creditors or its property, and to collect and
receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims,
and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of such
Holders and of the Trustee on their behalf, and any receiver, assignee or
trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of such
Holders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee
shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the
Trustee such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to
the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other reasonable
expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except
as a result of its negligence or bad faith.
All
rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of
the Debt Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the
possession of any such Debt Securities, or the production thereof in any trial
or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings
instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an
express trust, and any recovery of judgment (except for any amounts payable to
the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.06) shall be for the ratable benefit of the
Holders of all the Debt Securities in respect of which such action was
taken.
In case
of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to
protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such
appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to
protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in
bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or
agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power
granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right
vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Section
6.03 Application of Moneys Collected by
Trustee. Any
moneys or other property collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.02 with
respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be applied, in the order
following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of
such moneys or other property, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities
of such series in respect of which moneys or other property have been collected,
and the notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon
surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To
the payment of all money due the Trustee pursuant to Section
7.06;
34
SECOND: In
case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such
moneys have been collected shall not have become due, to the payment of interest
on the Debt Securities of such series in the order of the maturity of the
installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest
has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at
the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt
Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series, such payments to be
made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or
preference;
THIRD: In
case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such
moneys have been collected shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise,
to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Debt
Securities of such series for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with
interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that
such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of
interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue
Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series; and, in
case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due
and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series, then to the payment of such
principal and premium, if any, and interest, without preference or priority of
principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and
premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of
interest, or of any Debt Security of such series over any Debt Security of such
series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and
interest; and
FOURTH: The
remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Issuers, as
applicable, its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled
to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may
direct.
The
Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders
pursuant to this Section 6.03. At least 15 days before such record
date, the Issuers shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states
the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.
Section
6.04 Limitation on Suits by
Holders. No
Holder of any Debt Security of any series shall have any right
by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any
action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, upon or
under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or
trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Xxxxxx previously shall
have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to
Debt Securities of that same series and of the continuance thereof and unless
the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities of that series shall have made written request upon
the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in respect of such Event of
Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the
Trustee such reasonable indemnity or security as it may require against the
costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the
Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity or security shall have failed to institute any such action or
proceedings and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have
been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.06; it being understood and
intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Debt Security
with every other Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders shall have
any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of
this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any Holders, or to
obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder,
or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein
provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all such
Holders. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this
Section 6.04, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such
relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
35
Notwithstanding
any other provision in this Indenture (but subject to Article XV), however, the
right of any Holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal of,
and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt
Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt Security,
and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such
respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such
Holder.
Section
6.05 Remedies Cumulative; Delay or
Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default. All
powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders
shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of
any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the
Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or
observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no
delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or power
accruing upon any Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid, shall impair
any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such
Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section
6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee
or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be
deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.
Section
6.06 Rights of Holders of Majority in
Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive
Default. The
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debt Securities
of any series at the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time,
method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Trustee, or exercising any right, trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with
respect to the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that such
direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions
of this Indenture, and that subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the
Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the
Trustee being advised by counsel shall determine that the action so directed may
not lawfully be taken, or if the Trustee shall by a responsible officer or
officers determine that the action so directed would involve it in personal
liability or would be unduly prejudicial to Holders of Debt Securities of such
series not taking part in such direction; and provided, further, however, that
nothing in this Indenture contained shall impair the right of the Trustee to
take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with
such direction by such Holders. Prior to the acceleration of the
maturity of the Debt Securities of any series, as provided in Section 6.01, the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of
that series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt
Securities of that series waive any past Default or Event of Default and its
consequences for that series, except a Default in the payment of the
principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities
and a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be
amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby. In case
of any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default
arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this
Indenture, and the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Issuers, the Trustee and the
Holders of the Debt Securities of that series shall be restored to their former
positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to
any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent
thereon.
36
Section
6.07 Trustee to Give Notice of Defaults
Known to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain
Circumstances. The
Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Default known to it, or
if later, within 30 days after the Trustee obtains actual knowledge of the
Default, with respect to a series of Debt Securities give to the Holders
thereof, in the manner provided in Section 13.03, notice of all Defaults with
respect to such series known to the Trustee, unless such Defaults shall have
been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided, that, except in
the case of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or
interest on, any of the Debt Securities of such series or in the making of any
sinking fund payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the
Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the
board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or
responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding
of such notice is in the interests of the Holders thereof.
Section
6.08 Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay
Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the
Trustee. All
parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security by his
acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its
discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under
this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or
omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an
undertaking to pay the costs of such suit in the manner and to the extent
provided in the TIA, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable
costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party
litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the
claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this
Section 6.08 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit
instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more
than 25 percent in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that
series or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the
payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt
Security on or after the due date for such payment expressed in such Debt
Security.
ARTICLE
VII
CONCERNING
THE TRUSTEE
Section
7.01 Certain Duties and
Responsibilities. The
Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or
waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform
such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not
been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers
vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in
their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances
in the conduct of his own affairs.
No
provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from
liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, its
own bad faith or its own willful misconduct, except that:
37
(a) this
paragraph shall not be construed to limit the effect of the first paragraph of
this Section 7.01;
(b) prior
to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of
a series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default with respect
to such series which may have occurred:
(i) the
duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of any
series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture,
and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties
and obligations with respect to such series as are specifically set forth in
this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to such
series shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;
(ii) in
the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of
any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically
required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to
examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of
this Indenture; but the Trustee shall examine the evidence furnished to it
pursuant to Sections 4.05 and 4.06 to determine whether or not such evidence
conforms to the requirement of this Indenture;
(iii) the
Trustee shall not be liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by a
responsible officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in
ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iv) the
Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be
taken by it with respect to Debt Securities of any series in good faith in
accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series
relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon
the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of such
series.
None of
the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its
own funds or otherwise incur any personal financial liability in the performance
of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of
such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.
Whether
or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating
to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the
Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
38
Section
7.02 Certain Rights of
Trustee. Except
as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:
(a) the
Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon
any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note or other paper or
document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or
parties;
(b) any
request, direction, order or demand of the Issuers mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by an Issuer Order (unless other evidence in respect
thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of
Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner;
(c) the
Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion
of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of
any action taken or suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in
accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(d) the
Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers
vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the
Holders of Debt Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be
incurred therein or thereby;
(e) the
Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith
and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or
rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) prior
to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of
Default which may have occurred, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent,
order, approval or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so
by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
Outstanding Debt Securities of a series affected by such matter; provided,
however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the
costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such
investigation is not, in the opinion of the Trustee, reasonably assured to the
Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the
Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or
liabilities as a condition to so proceeding, and the reasonable expense of every
such investigation shall be paid by the Issuers or, if paid by the Trustee,
shall be repaid by the Issuers upon demand;
(g) the
Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties
hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee
shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any
agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder; and
39
(h) if
any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to a Lien in favor of
the Holders, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or
bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument
subjecting such property to such Lien, shall be entitled to make advances for
the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax Liens or other
prior Liens or encumbrances thereon.
Section
7.03 Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in
Indenture or in Debt Securities. The
recitals contained herein, in the Debt Securities (except the Trustee’s
certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Issuers,
and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the
same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series, except
that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver
this Indenture, authenticate the Debt Securities and perform its obligations
hereunder, and that the statements made by it or to be made by it in a Statement
of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 supplied to the Issuers are true
and accurate. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or
application by the Issuers of any of the Debt Securities or of the proceeds
thereof.
Section
7.04 Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar
May Own Debt Securities. The
Trustee or any paying agent or Registrar, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and subject to the
provisions of the TIA relating to conflicts of interest and preferential claims
may otherwise deal with the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it
were not Trustee, paying agent or Registrar.
Section
7.05 Moneys Received by Trustee to Be
Held in Trust. Subject
to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall,
until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for
which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to
the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability
for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder. So long as no
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on
any such moneys shall be paid from time to time to the Issuers upon an Issuer
Order.
Section
7.06 Compensation and
Reimbursement. The
Issuers covenant and agree to pay in Dollars to the
Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an
express trust), and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Issuers
will pay or reimburse in Dollars the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in
accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the
reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents,
attorneys and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), including
without limitation, Section 6.02, except any such expense, disbursement or
advances as may arise from its negligence, willful misconduct or bad
faith. The Issuers also covenant to indemnify in Dollars the Trustee
for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred
without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee,
arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this
trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of
defending itself against any claim of liability in connection with the exercise
or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The
obligations of the Issuers under this Section 7.06 to compensate and indemnify
the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and
advances shall constitute additional Debt hereunder and shall survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Issuers and the
Holders agree that such additional Debt shall be secured by a Lien prior to that
of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the
Trustee, as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of,
and premium, if any, or interest on, particular Debt Securities.
40
When the
Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified
in Sections 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the
services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law.
Section
7.07 Right of Trustee to Rely on an
Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically
Prescribed. Except
as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the
provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable
that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting
any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith
on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in
the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full
warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the
provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
Section
7.08 Separate Trustee; Replacement of
Trustee. The
Issuers may, but need not, appoint a separate Trustee for any one or more series
of Debt Securities. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or
more or all series of Debt Securities at any time by giving notice to the
Issuers. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt
Securities of a particular series may remove the Trustee for such series and
only such series by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor
Trustee. The Issuers shall remove the Trustee if:
(a) the
Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(b) the
Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;
(c) a
Custodian takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(d) the
Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.
If the
Trustee resigns, is removed by the Issuers or by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series and such Holders
do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists
in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being
referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuers shall promptly appoint
a successor Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no
appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective until the acceptance
of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable
requirements of this Section 7.08.
41
A
successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the
retiring Trustee and to the Issuers. Thereupon the resignation or
removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor
Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this
Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its
succession to Holders of Debt Securities of each applicable
series. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property
held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for
in Section 7.06.
If a
successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee
gives notice of resignation or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders
of 25% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of any applicable series may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.
If the
Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder of Debt Securities of any
applicable series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee for the Debt
Securities of such series.
Notwithstanding
the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, Issuers’
obligations under Section 7.06 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring
Trustee.
In the
case of the appointment hereunder of a separate or successor trustee with
respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the Issuers, any retiring
Trustee and each successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt
Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an Indenture
supplemental hereto (i) which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed
necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties
of any retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as to
which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in
such retiring Trustee and (ii) that shall add to or change any of the provisions
of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, it being
understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental Indenture shall
constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such
separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts
hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by
any other such Trustee.
Section
7.09 Successor Trustee by
Xxxxxx. If
the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or
substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation
or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or
banking association without any further act shall be the successor
Trustee.
In case
at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation
to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the
Debt Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such
successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any
predecessor trustee, and deliver such Debt Securities so authenticated; and in
case at that time any of the Debt Securities shall not have been authenticated,
any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debt Securities either in the
name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the
Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which
it is anywhere in the Debt Securities or in this Indenture provided that the
certificate of the Trustee shall have.
42
Section
7.10 Eligibility;
Disqualification. The
Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the
TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of
condition. No obligor upon the Debt Securities of a particular series
or Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common
control with such obligor shall serve as Trustee upon the Debt Securities of
such series. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA;
provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section
310(b)(1) of the TIA this Indenture or any indenture or indentures under which
other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other
securities of the Issuers are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion
set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.
Section
7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims
Against Partnership. The
Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor
relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has
resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the
extent indicated therein.
Section
7.12 Compliance with Tax
Laws. The
Trustee hereby agrees to comply with all U.S. Federal income tax information
reporting and withholding requirements applicable to it with respect to payments
of premium (if any) and interest on the Debt Securities, whether acting as
Trustee, Registrar, paying agent or otherwise with respect to the Debt
Securities.
ARTICLE
VIII
CONCERNING
THE HOLDERS
Section
8.01 Evidence of Action by
Holders. Whenever
in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any or all series may take
action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any
direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact
that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified
percentage have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or
any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in Person or by
agent or proxy appointed in writing, by the record of the Holders
voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02 or by a combination of such
instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of
Holders.
Section
8.02 Proof of Execution of Instruments
and of Holding of Debt Securities. Subject
to the provisions of Sections 7.01, 7.02 and 13.09, proof of the execution of
any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in
accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by
the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The
ownership of Debt Securities of any series shall be proved by the Debt Security
Register or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series. The Trustee may
require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.02 as
it shall deem necessary.
43
Section
8.03 Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt
Securities. Prior
to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the
Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, any paying agent and any
Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Debt Security shall be
registered upon the books of the Issuers as the absolute owner of such Debt
Security (whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding
any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving
payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject
to Section 2.12) interest on such Debt Security and for all other purposes, and
neither the Issuers nor the Subsidiary Guarantors nor the Trustee nor any paying
agent nor any Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and all
such payments so made to any such Holder for the time being, or upon his order,
shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to
satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debt
Security.
None of
the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee,
any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for
any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests.
Section
8.04 Instruments Executed by Holders Bind
Future Holders. At
any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in
Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in
this Indenture in connection with such action and subject to the following
paragraph, any Holder of a Debt Security which is shown by the evidence to be
included in the Debt Securities the Holders of which have consented to such
action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its corporate trust
office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action
so far as concerns such Debt Security. Except as aforesaid any such
action taken by the Holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding
upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Debt Security
and of any Debt Security issued upon transfer thereof or in exchange or
substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard
thereto is made upon such Debt Security or such other Debt
Securities. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in
this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon
the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of all the
Debt Securities of such series.
The
Issuers may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Debt Securities entitled to give their consent or
take any other action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this
Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the
immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders of Debt
Securities at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only
those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent
previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons
continue to be Holders of Debt Securities after such record date. No
such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such
record date unless the consent of the Holders of the percentage in aggregate
principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series specified in this
Indenture shall have been received within such 120-day period.
44
ARTICLE
IX
SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURES
Section
9.01 Purposes for Which Supplemental
Indenture May Be Entered into Without Consent of Holders. The
Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the
Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time,
without the consent of Holders, enter into an Indenture or Indentures
supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in
force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the following
purposes:
(a) to
evidence the succession pursuant to Article X of another Person to the Issuers,
or successive successions, and the assumption by the Successor Company (as
defined in Section 10.01) of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the
Issuers in this Indenture and in the Debt Securities;
(b) to
surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Issuers or the Subsidiary
Guarantors, to add to the covenants of the Issuers or the Subsidiary Guarantors
such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the
protection of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities (and if such
covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities,
stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit
of such series) as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the
protection of the Holders of such Debt Securities, and to make the occurrence,
or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any of such additional
covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a Default or an Event of
Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies
provided in this Indenture; provided, that in respect of any such additional
covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental Indenture may
provide for a particular period of grace after Default (which period may be
shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults) or may
provide for an immediate enforcement upon such Default or may limit the remedies
available to the Trustee upon such Default or may limit the right of the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of Debt
Securities to waive such default;
(c) to
cure any ambiguity or omission or to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in any Debt Securities of any
series that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained
herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series;
to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the
Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions
arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of any
Holders of Debt Securities of any series;
(d) to
modify or amend this Indenture in such a manner as to permit the qualification
of this Indenture or any Indenture supplemental hereto under the TIA as then in
effect, except that nothing herein contained shall permit or authorize the
inclusion in any Indenture supplemental hereto of the provisions referred to in
Section 316(a)(2) of the TIA;
45
(e) to
add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to change or eliminate
any restrictions on the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, Debt
Securities; provided, that any such action shall not adversely affect the
interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series in any material
respect or permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities of any series in
uncertificated form;
(f) to
comply with Article XIV;
(g) to
add Subsidiary Guarantors with respect to any or all of the Debt Securities or
to secure any or all of the Debt Securities;
(h) to
make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any
Holder;
(i) to
add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect
of one or more series of Debt Securities; provided, however, that any such
addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.01
shall neither apply to any Debt Security of any series created prior to the
execution of such supplemental Indenture and entitled to the benefit of such
provision nor modify the rights of the Holder of any such Debt
Security with respect to such provision or shall become effective
only when there is no such Debt Security Outstanding;
(j) to
make any changes in Article XV that would limit or terminate the benefits
applicable to any holder of Senior Indebtedness (or its Representatives) under
Article XV;
(k) to
evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor
or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series
and to add 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; and
(l) to
establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by
Sections 2.01 and 2.03.
The
Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Issuers and the Subsidiary
Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, to make any
further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained
and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any
property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any
such supplemental Indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any
supplemental Indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.01 may be
executed by the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee without the
consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding,
notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.
46
Section
9.02 Modification of Indenture with
Consent of Holders of Debt Securities. Without
notice to any Holder but with the consent (evidenced as provided in Section
8.01) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such supplemental
Indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or
exchange offer for any such series of Debt Securities), the Issuers and the
Subsidiary Guarantors, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors,
and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an Indenture or
Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA
as in force at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
this Indenture or of any supplemental Indenture or of modifying in any manner
the rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series; provided, that
no such supplemental Indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Debt
Security so affected, shall: reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt
Securities of any series whose Holders must consent to an
amendment; reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of
interest on any Debt Security; reduce the principal of or extend the
Stated Maturity of any Debt Security; reduce the premium payable upon
the redemption of any Debt Security or change the time at which any Debt
Security may or shall be redeemed in accordance with Article
III; make any Debt Security payable in currency other than the
Dollar; impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of premium, if any,
principal of and interest on such Holder’s Debt Securities on or after the due
dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or
with respect to such Holder’s Debt Securities; release any security that may
have been granted in respect of the Debt Securities; make any change in Section
6.06 or this Section 9.02; or, except as provided in Section 14.04, release the
Subsidiary Guarantors or modify the Guarantee in any manner adverse to the
Holders.
A
supplemental Indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other
provision of this Indenture which has been expressly included solely for the
benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities or which modifies
the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such
covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this
Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other series.
Upon the
request of the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors, accompanied by a copy of
resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such
supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the
consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers in the
execution of such supplemental Indenture unless such supplemental Indenture
affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or
otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be
obligated to enter into such supplemental Indenture.
It shall
not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental Indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
An
amendment under this Section 9.02 may not make any change that adversely affects
the rights under Article XV of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then
Outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or
Representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consents to such
change.
After an
amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuers shall mail to
Holders of Debt Securities of each series affected thereby a notice briefly
describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all
such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of
an amendment under this Section 9.02.
47
Section
9.03 Effect of Supplemental
Indentures. Upon
the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this
Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in
accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights,
obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the
Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Holders shall thereafter be
determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such
modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such
supplemental Indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and
conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
The
Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.01 and 7.02, may receive an
Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any
such supplemental Indenture complies with the provisions of this Article
IX.
Section
9.04 Debt Securities May Bear Notation of
Changes by Supplemental Indentures. Debt
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any
supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may, and
shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the
Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental
Indenture. New Debt Securities of any series so modified as to
conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any
modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental Indenture may
be prepared and executed by the Issuers, authenticated by the Trustee and
delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities of such series then
Outstanding. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a
new Debt Security of such series shall not affect the validity of such
amendment.
ARTICLE
X
CONSOLIDATION,
MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
Section
10.01 Consolidations and Mergers of the
Issuers. Neither
of the Issuers shall consolidate or amalgamate
with or merge with or into any Person, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all their assets to any Person,
whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, except (1)
in accordance with the provisions of its partnership agreement, and (2)
unless: (a) either (i) such Issuer shall be the continuing Person in
the case of a merger or (ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person if
other than the such Issuer (the “Successor Company”), shall be a partnership,
limited liability company or corporation organized and existing under the laws
of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, provided
that Finance Co may not consolidate or merge with or into any entity other than
a corporation satisfying such requirement for so long as the Partnership is not
a corporation, and the Successor Company shall expressly assume, by an Indenture
supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory
to the Trustee, all the obligations of such Issuer under this Indenture and the
Debt Securities according to their tenor; (b) immediately after giving effect to
such transaction (and treating any Debt which becomes an obligation of the
Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the Successor Company as a result of such
transaction as having been incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary
at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default would occur or
be continuing; (c) if the such Issuer is not the continuing Person, then each
Subsidiary Guarantor, unless it has become the Successor Company, shall confirm
that its Guarantee shall continue to apply to the obligations under the Debt
Securities and this Indenture; and (d) the Issuers shall have delivered to the
Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that
such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or disposition and such supplemental
Indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.
48
Section 10.02 Rights and Duties of Successor
Company. In
case of any consolidation, amalgamation or merger in respect of an Issuer where
such Issuer is not the continuing Person, or disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of such Issuer in accordance with Section 10.01, the Successor
Company shall succeed to and be substituted for such Issuer with the same effect
as if it had been named herein as the respective party to this Indenture, and
the predecessor entity shall be released from all liabilities and obligations
under this Indenture and the Debt Securities, except that no such release will
occur in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its
assets. The Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and
may issue either in its own name or in the name of such Issuer, any or all the
Debt Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed
by such Issuer and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of the
Successor Company, instead of such Issuer, and subject to all the terms,
conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall
authenticate and shall deliver any Debt Securities which previously shall have
been signed and delivered by the officers of the General Partner on behalf of
the Partnership or of Finance Co, as applicable, to the Trustee for
authentication, and any Debt Securities which the Successor Company thereafter
shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that
purpose. All the Debt Securities so issued shall in all respects have
the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debt Securities
theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture
as though all such Debt Securities had been issued at the date of the execution
hereof.
In case
of any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale or disposition such
changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Debt
Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
ARTICLE
XI
SATISFACTION
AND DISCHARGE OF
INDENTURE;
DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
Section
11.01 Applicability of
Article. The
provisions of this Article XI relating to defeasance of Debt Securities shall be
applicable to each series of Debt Securities except as otherwise specified
pursuant to Section 2.03 for Debt Securities of such series.
49
Section
11.02 Satisfaction and Discharge of
Indenture; Defeasance.
(a) If
at any time the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all
Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other
than any Debt Securities of such series which shall have been destroyed, lost or
stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.09
and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been
deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuers as provided in Section
11.05) or all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their
terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for
redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for
the giving of notice of redemption, and the Issuers shall deposit with the
Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in cash sufficient to pay at maturity
or upon redemption all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered
to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and
interest due or to become due on such date of Stated Maturity or redemption
date, as the case may be, and if in either case the Issuers shall also pay or
cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuers, then this
Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights
of registration of transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities herein expressly
provided for) with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and the
Trustee, on demand of the Issuers accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Issuers, shall execute
proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this
Indenture.
(b) Subject
to Sections 11.02(c), 11.03 and 11.07, the Issuers at any time may terminate,
with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series, all its
obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture with
respect to the Debt Securities of such series (“legal defeasance option”) or the
operation of (x) any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant
to Section 2.03, (y) Sections 6.01(d), 6.01(g) and 6.01(h), as they relate to
the Subsidiary Guarantors only, Sections 6.01(e) and 6.01(f) (“covenant
defeasance option”). If the Issuers exercise their legal defeasance
option, the Guarantee will terminate with respect to that series of Debt
Securities. The Issuers may exercise their legal defeasance option
notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance
option.
If the
Issuers exercise their legal defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities
of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of
Default. If the Issuers exercise their covenant defeasance option,
payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated
because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(d), 6.01(g) and
6.01(h) and, with respect to the Subsidiary Guarantors only, Sections 6.01(e)
and 6.01(f) (except to the extent covenants or agreements referenced in such
Sections remain applicable).
Upon
satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Issuers,
the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that
the Issuers terminates.
(c) Notwithstanding
clauses (a) and (b) above, the Issuers’ obligations in Sections 2.07, 2.09,
4.02, 4.04, 5.01, 7.06, 11.05, 11.06 and 11.07 shall survive until the Debt
Securities of the defeased series have been paid in full. Thereafter,
the Issuers’ obligations in Sections 7.06, 11.05 and 11.06 shall
survive.
Section
11.03 Conditions of
Defeasance. The
Issuers may exercise their legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance
option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series only
if:
(a) the
Issuers irrevocably deposit in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government
Obligations for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest
on, the Debt Securities of such series to Stated Maturity or redemption, as the
case may be;
50
(b) the
Issuers deliver to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm
of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of
principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S.
Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide
cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the
principal, premium and interest when due on all the Debt Securities of such
series to Stated Maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
(c) 91
days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default
specified in Sections 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) with respect to the Issuers occurs
which is continuing at the end of the period;
(d) no
Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and after
giving effect thereto;
(e) the
deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the
Issuers;
(f) the
Issuers deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the
trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a
regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of
1940;
(g) in
the event of the legal defeasance option, the Issuers shall have delivered to
the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Issuers have
received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or since the
date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income
tax law, in either case of the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of
Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will
not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result
of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
such defeasance had not occurred;
(h) in
the event of the covenant defeasance option, the Issuers shall have delivered to
the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of Debt
Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal
income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject
to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same
times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred;
and
(i) the
Issuers deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and
discharge of the Debt Securities of such series as contemplated by this Article
XI have been complied with.
Before or
after a deposit, the Issuers may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee
for the redemption of Debt Securities of such series at a future date in
accordance with Article III.
51
Section
11.04 Application of Trust
Money. The
Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with
it pursuant to this Article XI. It shall apply the deposited money
and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through any paying agent and in
accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if
any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of the defeased series.
Section
11.05 Repayment to
Partnership. The
Trustee and any paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Issuers upon
request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.
Subject
to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any paying agent shall
pay to the Issuers upon request any money held by them for the payment of
principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and,
thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Issuers for payment
as general creditors.
Section
11.06 Indemnity for U.S. Government
Obligations. The
Issuers shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Holders against any
tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S.
Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S.
Government Obligations.
Section
11.07 Reinstatement. If
the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government
Obligations in accordance with this Article XI by reason of any legal proceeding
or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority
enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuers’
obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities of the defeased series
shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to
this Article XI until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted
to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this
Article XI.
ARTICLE
XII
[RESERVED]
This
Article XII has been intentionally omitted.
ARTICLE
XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
Section
13.01 Successors and Assigns of
Partnership Bound by Indenture. All
the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained
by or in behalf of the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee shall
bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or
not.
Section
13.02 Acts of Board, Committee or Officer
of Successor Company Valid. Any
act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to
be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Issuers shall and
may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board,
committee or officer of any Successor Company.
52
Section
13.03 Required Notices or
Demands. Any
notice or communication by the Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee
to the others is duly given if in writing (in the English language) and
delivered in Person or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery,
to the other’s address:
If to the
Issuers or the Subsidiary Guarantors:
Penn
Virginia Resource Partners, X.X.
Xxxx
Virginia Resource Finance Corporation
PVR Xxxxx
LLC
Penn
Virginia Operating Co., LLC
PVR
Midstream LLC
PVR Gas
Resources, LLC
Dulcet
Acquisition LLC
Fieldcrest
Resources LLC
K Rail
LLC
Loadout
LLC
Suncrest
Resources LLC
Xxxxx
Fork LLC
Connect
Energy Services, LLC
Connect
Gas Gathering, LLC
Connect
Gas Pipeline LLC
Connect
NGL Pipeline, LLC
PVR
Cherokee Gas Processing LLC
PVR East
Texas Gas Processing, LLC
PVR Gas
Pipeline, LLC
PVR Gas
Processing LLC
PVR
Xxxxxx, LLC
PVR
Hydrocarbons LLC
PVR
Xxxxxxx Gas Processing LLC
PVR North
Texas Gas Gathering, LLC
PVR
Oklahoma Natural Gas Gathering LLC
Attention: Chief
Financial Officer
Telecopy
No. (000) 000-0000
If to the
Trustee:
[____________________]
[____________________]
[____________________]
[____________________]
The
Issuers, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee by notice to the others may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
53
All
notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; on
the first Business Day on or after being sent, if telecopied and the sender
receives confirmation of successful transmission; and the next Business Day
after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any
notice required or permitted to a Holder by the Issuers, the Subsidiary
Guarantors or the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture shall be
deemed to be properly mailed by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office
letter box in the United States addressed to such Holder at the address of such
Holder as shown on the Debt Security Register. Any report pursuant to
Section 313 of the TIA shall be transmitted in compliance with subsection (c)
therein.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any notice to Holders of Floating Rate Debt Securities regarding
the determination of a periodic rate of interest, if such notice is required
pursuant to Section 2.03, shall be sufficiently given if given in the manner
specified pursuant to Section 2.03.
In the
event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it
shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall
be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for
every purpose hereunder.
In the
event it shall be impracticable to give notice by publication, then such
notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute
sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.
Failure
to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it or any defect
in any notice by publication as to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of
such notice with respect to other Holders. If a notice or
communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, it is
conclusively presumed duly given.
Section 13.04
Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed in
Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York. THIS
INDENTURE, EACH DEBT SECURITY AND THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE NEW YORK
CONTRACTS, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF SAID STATE.
Section 13.05
Officers’ Certificate and
Opinion of Counsel to Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the
Issuers. Upon any application or demand by the Issuers to the
Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the
Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all
conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the
opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with,
except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the
furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this
Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional
certificate or opinion need be furnished.
54
Each
certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the
Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in
this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the Person making such
certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (b) a brief
statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon
which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are
based, (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such
examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
complied with and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section
13.06 Payments Due on Legal
Holidays. In any case where the date of maturity of interest
on or principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of a series or
the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any Debt Security or the making of
any sinking fund payment shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for
the Debt Securities of such series, then payment of interest or principal and
premium, if any, or the making of such sinking fund payment need not be made on
such date at such Place of Payment, but may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made
on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall
accrue for the period after such date. If a record date is not a
Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.
Section
13.07 Provisions Required by TIA to
Control. If and to the extent that any provision of this
Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this
Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections
310 to 318, inclusive, of the TIA, such required provision shall
control.
Section
13.08 Computation of Interest on Debt
Securities. Interest,
if any, on the Debt Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
of twelve 30-day months, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section
2.03.
Section
13.09 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and
Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for
action by or a meeting of Holders. The Registrar and any paying agent
may make reasonable rules for their functions.
Section
13.10 No Recourse Against
Others. The General Partner and its directors,
officers, employees, incorporators and stockholders, as such, shall have no
liability for any obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Issuers under
the Debt Securities, this Indenture or the Guarantee or for any claim based on,
in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their
creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall waive and
release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of
the consideration for the issue of the Debt Securities.
Section
13.11 Severability. In
case any provision in this Indenture or the Debt Securities shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
55
Section
13.12 Effect of
Headings. The article and section headings herein and in the
Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction
hereof.
Section
13.13 Indenture May Be Executed in
Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
ARTICLE
XIV
GUARANTEE
Section 14.01 Unconditional
Guarantee.
(a) Notwithstanding
any provision of this Article XIV to the contrary, the provisions of this
Article XIV shall be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the
Debt Securities of any series designated, pursuant to Section 2.03, as entitled
to the benefits of the Guarantee of each of the Subsidiary
Guarantors.
(b) For
value received, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby fully, unconditionally
and absolutely guarantees (the “Guarantee”) to the Holders and to the Trustee
the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and
interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this
Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Issuers, when and as such principal,
premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable, whether at the
stated maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or
otherwise, according to the terms of the Debt Securities and this Indenture,
subject to the limitations set forth in Section 14.03.
(c) Failing
payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee, for
whatever reason, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally
obligated to pay the same immediately. The Guarantee hereunder is
intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of each of the Subsidiary
Guarantors and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all Debt of such
Subsidiary Guarantor that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right
of payment to the Guarantee. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby
agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full, unconditional and absolute,
irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Debt
Securities, the Guarantee (including the Guarantee of any other Subsidiary
Guarantor) or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any
waiver or consent by any Holder of the Debt Securities with respect to any
provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuers
or any other Subsidiary Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any
other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge or defense of the Subsidiary Guarantors. Each of the
Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of
the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities,
whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for
redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on
behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 6.04, by the Holders, on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against such Subsidiary
Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Issuers
or any other Subsidiary Guarantor.
56
(d) The
obligations of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Article XIV shall be
as aforesaid full, unconditional and absolute and shall not be impaired,
modified, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever,
including, without limitation, (A) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver,
renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the
obligations and liabilities of the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors
contained in the Debt Securities or this Indenture, (B) any impairment,
modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Issuers, any of the
Subsidiary Guarantors or either of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy
for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any present or
future provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law, as amended, or other statute
or from the decision of any court, (C) the assertion or exercise by the Issuers,
any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee of any rights or remedies under
the Debt Securities or this Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or
exercise any such rights or remedies, (D) the assignment or the purported
assignment of any property as security for the Debt Securities, including all or
any part of the rights of the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors under
this Indenture, (E) the extension of the time for payment by the Issuers or any
of the Subsidiary Guarantors of any payments or other sums or any part thereof
owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of the Debt Securities or
this Indenture or of the time for performance by the Issuers or any of the
Subsidiary Guarantors of any other obligations under or arising out of any such
terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (F) the
modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement
or obligation of the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in
this Indenture, (G) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale
or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of
assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment
of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary
Guarantors or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of the Debt
Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture in any such proceeding, (H) the
release or discharge of the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors from the
performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition
contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (I) the
unenforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture or (J)
any other circumstances (other than payment in full or discharge of all amounts
guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee) which might otherwise constitute a legal
or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.
(e) Each
of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby (A) waives diligence, presentment, demand of
payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or
bankruptcy of the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, and all demands
whatsoever, (B) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document
evidencing the Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its
obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument
or document evidencing the Guarantee without notice to it and (C) covenants that
the Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the
Guarantee. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors further agrees that if
at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to
the Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever,
including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of
the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Guarantee shall, to the
extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have
continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Guarantee shall
continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such
application had not been made.
57
(f) Each
of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders
and the Trustee against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by such
Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, provided,
however, that such Subsidiary Guarantor, shall not be entitled to enforce or to
receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation
until all of the Debt Securities and the Guarantee shall have been paid in full
or discharged.
Section
14.02 Execution and Delivery of
Guarantee. To further evidence the Guarantee set forth
in Section 14.01, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that a
notation relating to such Guarantee, substantially in the form attached hereto
as Annex A, shall be endorsed on each Debt Security entitled to the benefits of
the Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and executed by either
manual or facsimile signature of an officer of such Subsidiary Guarantor, or in
the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership, an
officer of the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor. Each of
the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that the Guarantee set forth in Section
14.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to
endorse on each Debt Security a notation relating to the
Guarantee. If any officer of the Subsidiary Guarantor, or in the case
of a Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership, any officer of the
general partner of the Subsidiary Guarantor, whose signature is on this
Indenture or a Debt Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee
authenticates such Debt Security or at any time thereafter, the Guarantee of
such Debt Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any
Debt Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall
constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf
of the Subsidiary Guarantors.
The
Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture upon the terms and
conditions herein set forth.
Section
14.03 Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantors’
Liability. Each Subsidiary Guarantor and by its acceptance
hereof each Holder of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee
hereby confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee
by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a
fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any Federal or state
law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders of a Debt
Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee and the Subsidiary Guarantors
hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under
its Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving
effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary
Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any
other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other
Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee, result in the obligations of such
Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent
conveyance or fraudulent transfer under Federal or state law.
58
Section
14.04 Release of Subsidiary Guarantors from
Guarantee.
(a) Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Indenture, the Guarantee of any Subsidiary
Guarantor may be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Section 14.04. Provided that no Default shall have occurred and shall be
continuing under this Indenture, any Guarantee incurred by a Subsidiary
Guarantor pursuant to this Article XIV shall be unconditionally released and
discharged (i) automatically upon (A) any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by
way of merger or otherwise, to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the
Issuers, of all of the Issuers’ direct or indirect limited partnership or other
equity interests in such Subsidiary Guarantor (provided such sale, exchange or
transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture) or (B) the merger of such
Subsidiary Guarantor into the Issuers or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or the
liquidation and dissolution of such Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case to the
extent not prohibited by this Indenture) or (ii) following delivery of a written
notice of such release or discharge by the Issuers to the Trustee, upon the
release or discharge of all guarantees by such Subsidiary Guarantor of any Debt
of the Issuers other than obligations arising under this Indenture and any Debt
Securities issued hereunder, except a discharge or release by or as a result of
payment under such guarantees.
(b) The
Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any release of a
Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guarantee upon receipt of a written request of the
Issuers accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel the
Subsidiary Guarantor is entitled to such release in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not so
released remains liable for the full amount of principal of (and premium, if
any, on) and interest on the Debt Securities entitled to the benefits of such
Guarantee as provided in this Indenture, subject to the limitations of Section
14.03.
Section
14.05 Subsidiary Guarantor
Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable
contribution among the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby
agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any
Subsidiary Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under its Guarantee, such Funding
Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary
Guarantor (if any) in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each
Subsidiary Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages
and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Issuers’
obligations with respect to the Debt Securities or any other Subsidiary
Guarantor’s obligations with respect to its Guarantee.
ARTICLE
XV
SUBORDINATION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
Section
15.01 Applicability of Article; Agreement
to Subordinate. The provisions of this Article XV shall be
applicable to the Debt Securities of any series (Debt Securities of such series
being referred to in this Article XV as “Subordinated Debt Securities”) except
to the extent such provisions may be changed or added to pursuant to Section
2.03. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated Debt Security agrees that the
indebtedness evidenced by such Subordinated Debt Security is subordinated in
right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article XV,
to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness and that the subordination is
for the benefit of and enforceable by the holders of Senior Indebtedness. All
provisions of this Article XV shall be subject to Section 15.12.
59
Section
15.02 Liquidation, Dissolution,
Bankruptcy. Upon any payment or distribution of the
assets of the Issuers to creditors upon a voluntary or involuntary liquidation
or a dissolution of the Issuers or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Issuers or their
property:
(1)
holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full in
cash of the Senior Indebtedness (including interest (if any), accruing on or
after the commencement of a proceeding in bankruptcy, whether or not allowed as
a claim against the Issuers in such bankruptcy proceeding) before Holders of
Subordinated Debt Securities shall be entitled to receive any payment of
principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Subordinated Debt
Securities; and
(2)
until the Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, any distribution to which Holders
of Subordinated Debt Securities would be entitled but for this Article XII shall
be made to holders of Senior Indebtedness as their interests may appear, except
that such Holders may receive Equity Interests and any debt securities that are
subordinated to Senior Indebtedness to at least the same extent as the
Subordinated Debt Securities.
Section
15.03 Default on Senior
Indebtedness. The Issuers may not pay the principal of, or
premium, if any, or interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities or make any
deposit into a defeasance trust or pursuant to Article XI and may not
repurchase, redeem or otherwise retire (except, in the case of Subordinated Debt
Securities that provide for a mandatory sinking fund pursuant to Section 3.04,
by the delivery of Subordinated Debt Securities by the Issuers to the Trustee
pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 3.05) any Debt Securities
(collectively, “pay the Subordinated Debt Securities”) if (i) any principal,
premium, interest or any other amount payable in respect of Senior Indebtedness
is not paid within any applicable grace period (including at maturity) or (ii)
any other default on Senior Indebtedness occurs and the maturity of such Senior
Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms unless, in either case,
(x) the default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been
rescinded or (y) such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash;
provided, however, that the Issuers may pay the Subordinated Debt Securities
without regard to the foregoing if the Issuers and the Trustee receive written
notice approving such payment from the Representative of each issue of
Designated Senior Indebtedness. During the continuance of any default (other
than a default described in clause (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence) with
respect to any Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be
accelerated immediately without further notice (except such notice as may be
required to effect such acceleration) or the expiration of any applicable grace
periods, the Issuers may not pay the Subordinated Debt Securities for a period
(a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing upon the receipt by the Issuers and the
Trustee of written notice of such default from the Representative of any
Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to effect a Payment
Blockage Period (a “Blockage Notice”) and ending 179 days thereafter (or earlier
if such Payment Blockage Period is terminated (i) by written notice to the
Trustee and the Issuers from the Person or Persons who gave such Blockage
Notice, (ii) by repayment in full in cash of such Designated Senior Indebtedness
or (iii) because the default giving rise to such Blockage Notice is no longer
continuing). Notwithstanding the provisions described in the immediately
preceding sentence (but subject to the provisions contained in the first
sentence of this Section 15.03), unless the holders of such Designated Senior
Indebtedness or the Representative of such holders shall have: accelerated the
maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, the Issuers may resume payments
on the Subordinated Debt Securities after such Payment Blockage Period. Not more
than one Blockage Notice may be given in any consecutive 360-day period,
irrespective of the number of defaults with respect to any number of issues of
Senior Indebtedness during such period. For purposes of this Section 15.03, no
default or event of default which existed or was continuing on the date of the
commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Senior
Indebtedness initiating such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or be made, the
basis of the commencement of a subsequent Payment Blockage Period by the
Representative of such Senior Indebtedness, whether or not within a period of
360 consecutive days, unless such default or event of default shall have been
cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.
60
Section
15.04 Acceleration of Payment of Debt
Securities. If payment of the Subordinated Debt Securities is
accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Issuers or the Trustee shall
promptly notify the holders of the Designated Senior Indebtedness (or their
Representatives) of the acceleration.
Section
15.05 When Distribution Must Be Paid
Over. If a distribution is made to Holders of Subordinated
Debt Securities that because of this Article XV should not have been made to
them, the Holders who receive suchdistribution shall hold it in trust for
holders of Senior Indebtedness and pay it over to them as their interests may
appear.
Section
15.06 Subrogation. After all
Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and until the Subordinated Debt Securities
are paid in full, Holders thereof shall be subrogated to the rights of holders
of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions applicable to Senior
Indebtedness. A distribution made under this Article XV to holders of Senior
Indebtedness which otherwise would have been made to Holders of Subordinated
Debt Securities is not, as between the Issuers and such Holders, a payment by
the Issuers on Senior Indebtedness.
Section
15.07 Relative
Rights. This Article XV defines the relative rights of Holders
of Subordinated Debt Securities and holders of Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in
the Indenture shall:
(1)
impair, as between the Issuers and Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities, the
obligation of the Issuers, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal
of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities in
accordance with their terms; or
(2)
prevent the Trustee or any Holder of Subordinated Debt Securities from
exercising its available remedies upon an Event of Default, subject to the
rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions otherwise
payable to Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities.
Section
15.08 Subordination May Not Be Impaired by
Issuers. No right of any holder of Senior Indebtedness to
enforce the subordination of the indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Debt
Securities shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Issuers or by
their failure to comply with the Indenture.
61
Section
15.09 Rights of Trustee and Paying
Agents. Notwithstanding Section 15.03, the Trustee or any
paying agent may continue to make payments on Subordinated Debt Securities and
shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of facts that would
prohibit the making of any such payments unless, not less than two Business Days
prior to the date of such payment, a responsible officer of the Trustee receives
notice satisfactory to it that payments may not be made under this Article XV.
The Issuers, the Registrar, any paying agent, a Representative or a holder of
Senior Indebtedness may give the notice; provided, however, that, if an issue of
Senior Indebtedness has a Representative, only the Representative may give the
notice. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold
Senior Indebtedness with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.
The Registrar and any paying agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee
shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV with respect to
any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent
as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness; and nothing in Article VII shall
deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article
XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to
Section 7.06.
Section
15.10 Distribution or Notice to
Representative. Whenever a distribution is to be made
or a notice given to holders of Senior Indebtedness, the distribution may be
made and the notice given to their Representative (if any).
Section 15.11 Article XIII Not to Prevent Defaults
or Limit Right to Accelerate. The failure to make a payment
pursuant to the Debt Securities by reason of any provision in this Article XV
shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a Default. Nothing in
this Article XV shall have any effect on the right of the Holders or the Trustee
to accelerate the maturity of the Subordinated Debt Securities.
Section 15.12 Trust Moneys Not
Subordinated. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of U.S. Government Obligations
held in a defeasance trust or in trust under Article XI by the Trustee for the
payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Subordinated
Debt Securities shall not be subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior
Indebtedness or subject to the restrictions set forth in this Article XV, and
none of the Holders thereof shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to
the Issuers or any holder of Senior Indebtedness or any other creditor of the
Issuers.
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Section
15.13 Trustee Entitled to
Rely. Upon any payment ordistribution pursuant to this Article
XV, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely (i) upon any order or
decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in which any proceedings of the
nature referred to in Section 13.02 are pending, (ii) upon a certificate of the
liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution
to the Trustee or to such Holders or (iii) upon the Representatives for the
holders of Senior Indebtedness for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons
entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the
Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Issuers, the amount thereof or
payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other
facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV. In the event that the Trustee
determines, in good faith, that evidence is required with respect to the right
of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment
or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person
to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the
amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such
Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and other
facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and, if such
evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person
pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such
payment. The provisions of Sections 7.01 and 7.02 shall be applicable to all
actions or omissions of actions by the Trustee pursuant to this Article
XV.
Section
15.14 Trustee to Effectuate
Subordination. Each Holder by
accepting a Subordinated Debt Security authorizes and directs the Trustee on its
behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or
effectuate the subordination between the Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities
and the holders of Senior Indebtedness as provided in this Article XV and
appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for any and all such
purposes.
Section 15.15 Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of
Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe
any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable
to any such holders if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of
Subordinated Debt Securities or the Issuers or any other Person, money or assets
to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this
Article XV or otherwise. Reliance by Holders of Senior Indebtedness on
Subordination Provisions. Each Holder by accepting a Subordinated
Debt Security acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing subordination
provisions are, and are intended to be, an inducement and a consideration to
each holder of any Senior Indebtedness, whether such Senior Indebtedness was
created or acquired before or after the issuance of the Subordinated Debt
Securities, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior
Indebtedness and such holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively
to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to
hold, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.
[Remainder
of This Page Intentionally Left Blank.]
63
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly
executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
PENN
VIRGINIA RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.
|
||
By:
|
PENN
VIRGINIA RESOURCE GP, LLC,
|
|
Its
General Partner
|
||
By:
|
||
PENN
VIRGINIA RESOURCE FINANCE CORPORATION
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
XXXXX LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PENN
VIRGINIA OPERATING CO., LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
MIDSTREAM LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
GAS RESOURCES, LLC
|
||
By:
|
64
DULCET
ACQUISITION LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
FIELDCREST
RESOURCES LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
K
RAIL LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
LOADOUT
LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
SUNCREST
RESOURCES LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
XXXXX
FORK LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
CONNECT
ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
|
||
By:
|
65
CONNECT
GAS GATHERING, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
CONNECT
GAS PIPELINE LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
CONNECT
NGL PIPELINE, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
CHEROKEE GAS PROCESSING LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
EAST TEXAS GAS PROCESSING, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
GAS PIPELINE, LLC
|
||
By:
|
66
PVR
GAS PROCESSING LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
XXXXXX, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
HYDROCARBONS LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
XXXXXXX GAS PROCESSING LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
NORTH TEXAS GAS GATHERING, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS GATHERING LLC
|
||
By:
|
67
ANNEX
A
NOTATION
OF GUARANTEE
Each of
the Subsidiary Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the
Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent
set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the
due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest
on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture
and the Debt Securities by the Issuers.
The
obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders of Debt Securities and
to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set
forth in Article XIV of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the
Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.
PVR
XXXXX LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PENN
VIRGINIA OPERATING CO., LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
MIDSTREAM LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
GAS RESOURCES, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
DULCET
ACQUISITION LLC
|
||
By:
|
Notation
of Guarantee Signature Pages
FIELDCREST
RESOURCES LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
K
RAIL LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
LOADOUT
LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
SUNCREST
RESOURCES LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
XXXXX
FORK LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
CONNECT
ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
|
||
By:
|
Notation
of Guarantee Signature Pages
CONNECT
GAS GATHERING, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
CONNECT
GAS PIPELINE LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
CONNECT
NGL PIPELINE, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
CHEROKEE GAS PROCESSING LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
EAST TEXAS GAS PROCESSING, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
GAS PIPELINE, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
GAS PROCESSING LLC
|
||
By:
|
Notation
of Guarantee Signature Pages
PVR
XXXXXX, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
HYDROCARBONS LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
XXXXXXX GAS PROCESSING LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
NORTH TEXAS GAS GATHERING, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
PVR
OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS GATHERING LLC
|
||
By:
|
Notation
of Guarantee Signature Pages