WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.
EXECUTION
VERSION
WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.
THE
GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN
and
PLAINFIELD
SPECIAL SITUATIONS MASTER FUND LIMITED,
as
Initial Purchaser
Dated
as of March 20, 2008
Up
to $38,300,000
10-1/2%
Senior Exchange Notes Due 2009
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
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ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
|
1
|
|
SECTION
1.1
|
DEFINITIONS.
|
1
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SECTION
1.2
|
RULES
OF CONSTRUCTION.
|
7
|
ARTICLE
2
THE
NOTES; CLOSING
|
7
|
|
SECTION
2.1
|
NOTES;
EXCHANGE OF THE NOTES.
|
7
|
SECTION
2.2
|
CLOSING.
|
7
|
SECTION
2.3
|
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING.
|
8
|
SECTION
2.4
|
REPLACEMENT
NOTES.
|
10
|
SECTION
2.5
|
OUTSTANDING
NOTES.
|
10
|
SECTION
2.6
|
TRANSFER
AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES.
|
10
|
SECTION
2.7
|
TREASURY
NOTES
|
11
|
SECTION
2.8
|
DEFAULTED
INTEREST.
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11
|
ARTICLE
3 PREPAYMENT
|
11
|
|
SECTION
3.1
|
PREPAYMENT.
|
11
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SECTION
3.2
|
SELECTION
OF NOTES TO BE PREPAID.
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11
|
SECTION
3.3
|
NOTICE
OF PREPAYMENT.
|
12
|
SECTION
3.4
|
EFFECT
OF NOTICE OF PREPAYMENT.
|
12
|
SECTION
3.5
|
NOTES
PREPAID IN PART.
|
13
|
ARTICLE
4
|
REPRESENTATIONS,
WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
|
13
|
SECTION
4.1
|
REPRESENTATIONS
OF THE COMPANY
|
13
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SECTION
4.2
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS
|
16
|
SECTION
4.3
|
PAYMENT
OF NOTES.
|
17
|
SECTION
4.4
|
SEC
REPORTS; 144A INFORMATION.
|
17
|
SECTION
4.5
|
LIMITATION
ON LIENS.
|
18
|
SECTION
4.6
|
LIMITATION
ON SALE/LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS.
|
19
|
SECTION
4.7
|
COMPLIANCE
CERTIFICATES.
|
20
|
SECTION
4.8
|
NOTICE
OF DEFAULTS.
|
20
|
SECTION
4.9
|
PAYMENT
OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS.
|
20
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SECTION
4.10
|
CORPORATE
EXISTENCE.
|
20
|
SECTION
4.11
|
MAINTENANCE
OF PROPERTIES.
|
21
|
SECTION
4.12
|
PAYMENT
OF EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION.
|
21
|
SECTION
4.13
|
FURTHER
INSTRUMENTS AND ACTS.
|
21
|
ARTICLE
5
SUCCESSOR
CORPORATION
|
22
|
|
SECTION
5.1
|
LIMITATION
ON CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS.
|
22
|
SECTION
5.2
|
SUCCESSOR
CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED.
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23
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ARTICLE
6
|
DEFAULT
AND REMEDIES
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23
|
SECTION
6.1
|
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT.
|
23
|
SECTION
6.2
|
ACCELERATION.
|
24
|
SECTION
6.3
|
OTHER
REMEDIES.
|
25
|
SECTION
6.4
|
WAIVER
OF DEFAULTS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
|
25
|
SECTION
6.5
|
CONTROL
BY MAJORITY.
|
26
|
SECTION
6.6
|
RIGHTS
OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PAYMENT.
|
26
|
SECTION
6.7
|
RESTORATION
OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.
|
26
|
SECTION
6.8
|
RIGHTS
AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.
|
26
|
SECTION
6.9
|
DELAY
OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.
|
26
|
ARTICLE
7
AMENDMENTS,
SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
|
27
|
|
SECTION
7.1
|
CONSENT
OF HOLDERS.
|
27
|
SECTION
7.2
|
REVOCATION
AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS.
|
27
|
SECTION
7.3
|
NOTATION
ON OR EXCHANGE OF NOTES.
|
28
|
SECTION
7.4
|
RECORD
DATE FOR VOTE OR CONSENT OF NOTEHOLDERS.
|
28
|
ARTICLE
8 GUARANTEE
OF NOTES
|
28
|
|
SECTION
8.1
|
UNCONDITIONAL
GUARANTEE.
|
28
|
SECTION
8.2
|
SEVERABILITY.
|
29
|
SECTION
8.3
|
LIMITATION
OF GUARANTOR’S LIABILITY.
|
29
|
SECTION
8.4
|
CONTRIBUTION.
|
29
|
SECTION
8.5
|
EXECUTION
OF GUARANTEE.
|
30
|
SECTION
8.6
|
OBLIGATIONS
OF EACH GUARANTOR UNCONDITIONAL.
|
30
|
SECTION
8.7
|
NOTICE
TO PURCHASERS.
|
30
|
SECTION
8.8
|
RELIANCE
ON JUDICIAL ORDER OR CERTIFICATE OF LIQUIDATING AGENT.
|
31
|
SECTION
8.9
|
SUCCESSORS
AND ASSIGNS.
|
31
|
SECTION
8.10
|
NO
WAIVER.
|
31
|
SECTION
8.11
|
|
31
|
SECTION
8.12
|
ADDITIONAL
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS.
|
32
|
SECTION
8.13
|
MODIFICATION.
|
32
|
SECTION
8.14
|
RELEASE
OF GUARANTOR.
|
32
|
SECTION
8.15
|
THIS
ARTICLE 8 NOT TO PREVENT EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
|
33
|
ARTICLE
9 MISCELLANEOUS
|
33
|
|
SECTION
9.1
|
NOTICES.
|
33
|
SECTION
9.2
|
LEGAL
HOLIDAYS.
|
34
|
SECTION
9.3
|
GOVERNING
LAW.
|
34
|
SECTION
9.4
|
NO
ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS.
|
34
|
SECTION
9.5
|
NO
RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS.
|
34
|
SECTION
9.6
|
SUCCESSORS.
|
34
|
SECTION
9.7
|
MULTIPLE
COUNTERPARTS.
|
34
|
SECTION
9.8
|
SEPARABILITY.
|
34
|
SECTION
9.9
|
TABLE
OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.
|
34
|
EXHIBIT
A
— FORM
OF NOTE
|
A-1
|
|
B-1
|
||
EXHIBIT
C
— FORM
OF GUARANTOR SUPPLEMENT
|
C-1
|
NOTE
EXCHANGE AND DEBENTURE AGREEMENT dated as of March 20, 2008 among WOLVERINE
TUBE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the GUARANTORS (as
hereinafter defined) and PLAINFIELD SPECIAL SITUATIONS MASTER FUND LIMITED,
a
Cayman Islands Company, as Initial Purchaser (together with its successors
and
assigns, collectively, the “Purchasers” and each a “Purchaser”).
Each
party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal
and ratable benefit of the Purchasers:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION
1.1 DEFINITIONS.
The
terms
defined in this Section 1.1 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided
or
unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Exchange
Agreement and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective
meanings specified in this Section 1.1.
“Adjusted
Net Assets” of a Guarantor at any date means the lesser of (x) the amount by
which the fair value of the property of such Guarantor at such date exceeds
the
total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, the probable amount
of contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent
liabilities incurred or assumed on such date) of such Guarantor at such date,
but excluding liabilities under the Guarantee of such Guarantor, and (y) the
amount by which the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Guarantor
at such date exceeds the amount that will be required to pay the probable
liability of such Guarantor on its debts (after giving effect to all other
fixed
and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date and after giving
effect to any collection from any Subsidiary of such Guarantor in respect of
any
obligations of such Subsidiary under the Guarantee of such Guarantor), excluding
debt in respect of the Guarantee of such Guarantor, as they become absolute
and
matured.
“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 Person, means the power to direct the management or policies
of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and
“controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. For purposes of this
Exchange Agreement, the Initial Purchaser shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate
of the Company or any Guarantor.
“Attributable
Indebtedness”, when used with respect to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction, means,
as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate
set
forth or implicit in the terms of the lease included in such transaction) of
the
total obligations of the lessee for rental payments (other than amounts required
to be paid on account of property taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance,
assessments, utilities, operating and labor costs and other items which do
not
constitute payments for property rights) during the remaining term of the lease
included in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which
such
lease has been extended).
“Bank
Credit Facility” means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
April 28, 2005 among the Company, its U.S. subsidiaries, the lenders named
therein and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, as
amended, modified or supplemented.
“Board
of
Directors” means, with respect to any Person, the Board of Directors of such
Person or any committee of the Board of Directors authorized to act
therefor.
“Business
Day” means a day that is not a Legal Holiday (as such terms is defined in
Section 9.2).
“Capitalized
Lease Obligation” of any Person means any obligation of such Person to pay rent
or other amounts under a lease of property, real or personal, that is required
to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP;
and
the amount of such obligation shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined
in accordance with GAAP.
“Cash”
or
“cash” means such coin or currency of the United States as at any time of
payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private
debts.
“Closing”
means the closing of the exchange and issuance of the Notes in accordance with
Section 2.2.
“Company”
means the party named as such in this Exchange Agreement until a successor
replaces it pursuant to this Exchange Agreement and thereafter means the
successor.
“Comparable
Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an
Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining
term of the Notes to be prepaid that would be utilized, at the time of selection
and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues
of
corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such
Notes.
“Comparable
Treasury Price” means with respect to any prepayment date for the Notes (i) the
average of four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such prepayment date,
after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, or (ii) if the Company obtains fewer than four such Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
“Consolidated
Net Tangible Assets” means as of any particular time the aggregate amount of
assets (less depreciation and valuation reserves and other reserves and items
deductible from gross book value of specific asset accounts under GAAP) after
deducting therefrom:
(a)
all
current liabilities except for (i) notes and loans payable, (ii) current
maturities of long-term debt, and (iii) current maturities of obligations under
capital leases; and
2
(b)
all
deferred debt issuance costs, goodwill, patents, and other like
intangibles,
all
as
set forth on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company and
its
consolidated Subsidiaries and computed in accordance with GAAP.
“Default”
or “default” means any event which is, or after the giving of notice or the
passage of time, or both, would be, an Event of Default.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Exchange
Agreement” means this Note Exchange and Debenture Agreement among the Company,
the Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser, as amended, restated or supplemented
from time to time.
“Existing
Notes” means the 7-3/8% Senior Notes Due 2008 in the original principal amount
of $38,300,000 which are owned by the Initial Purchaser and issued pursuant
to
that certain Indenture dated as of August 4, 1998, among the Company, the
Guarantors party thereto and the Existing Note Trustee.
“Existing
Note Trustee” means U.S. Bank Corporate Trust Services (successor to First Union
National Bank), as Trustee, under that certain Indenture dated as of August
4,
1998, by and among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and the Existing
Note Trustee.
“Facilities
Amendments” means, collectively, amendments to certain provisions of the Amended
and Restated Credit Agreement among the Company and its U.S. subsidiaries,
the
lenders named therein and Wachovia, as administrative agent, as amended, and
the
Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement and the Receivables Sales
Agreement among the Company, Wachovia and the other parties thereto, each as
in
the form previously delivered by the Company to the Initial Purchaser.
“Fairness
Opinion” means that certain opinion of Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc., dated as
March 14, 2008 in the form previously delivered by the Company to the Initial
Purchaser.
“Funded
Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness (including Indebtedness incurred under any
revolving credit, letter of credit or working capital facility) that matures
by
its terms, or that is renewable at the option of any obligor thereon to a date,
more than one year after the date on which such Indebtedness is originally
incurred.
“GAAP”
means generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied as in effect
in the United States from time to time.
“Guarantee”
means, as the context may require, individually, a guarantee, or collectively,
any and all guarantees, of the Obligations of the Company with respect to the
Notes made by each Guarantor pursuant to the terms of Article 9 hereof,
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B.
3
“Guarantor”
shall initially mean each of TF Investor, Inc., Tube Forming L.P. Wolverine
Finance, LLC, Wolverine China Investments, LLC, Wolverine Joining Technologies,
LLC, Tube Forming Holdings, Inc. and WT Holding Company, Inc. and “Guarantors”
shall initially mean such entities, collectively.
“Hedging
Obligations” of any Person means the net obligation (not the notional amount) of
such Person pursuant to any interest rate swap agreement, foreign currency
exchange agreement, interest rate collar agreement, option or future contract
or
other similar agreement or arrangement relating to interest rates or foreign
exchange rates.
“Holder”
or “Noteholder” means the person in which name a Note is registered on the
Company’s books.
“Indebtedness”
of any Person at any date means, without duplication, (i) all indebtedness
of
such Person for borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is
to
the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof), (ii)
all
obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other
similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person in respect of letters
of credit or other similar instruments (or reimbursement obligations with
respect thereto), other than standby letters of credit and performance bonds
issued by such Person in the ordinary course of business, to the extent not
drawn or, to the extent drawn, if such drawing is reimbursed not later than
the
third Business Day following demand for reimbursement, (iv) all obligations
of
such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property or
services, except trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary
course of business, (v) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person, (vi)
all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person,
whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, (vii) all
Indebtedness of others guaranteed by such Person to the extent of such guarantee
and (viii) all Hedging Obligations of such Person.
“Independent
Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the
Holders after consultation with the Company.
“Initial
Purchaser” means Plainfield Special Situations Master Fund Limited, a Cayman
Islands Company.
“Instrument”
means any agreement, indenture, instrument or other document under which any
obligation is evidenced, assumed, guaranteed or secured.
“Investment”
means, with respect to any Person, directly or indirectly, any advance, loan
or
other extension of credit or capital contribution to, or any purchase,
acquisition or ownership by such Person of any capital stock, bonds, notes,
debentures, partnership or joint venture interests or other securities of,
the
acquisition, by purchase or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the
business or assets or stock or other evidence of beneficial ownership of, any
Person or the making of any investment in, any Person or transfers of property
or assets to any Affiliate other than sales of assets or payment for services
rendered in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice.
“Lien”
means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security
interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not
filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law. For the purposes
of
this Exchange Agreement, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company shall
be
deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject
to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement,
Capitalized Lease Obligation or other title retention agreement relating to
such
asset.
4
“Maturity
Date” means March 28, 2009.
“Notes”
means the 10-1/2% Senior Exchange Notes Due 2009 or any of them (each, a
“Note”), as amended or supplemented from time to time, that are issued pursuant
to this Exchange Agreement.
“Obligations”
means, with respect to any Indebtedness, any principal, premium, interest,
penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other expenses
payable under the documentation governing such Indebtedness.
“Officer”
means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President, any
Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Secretary
of
the Company or a Guarantor, as appropriate.
“Officer’s
Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by an
Officer of such Person that shall comply with applicable provisions of this
Exchange Agreement.
“Opinion
of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel acceptable to the
Purchasers. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the
Company.
“Pari
Passu Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding
on the date on which the Notes are originally issued or thereafter created,
incurred or assumed, unless, in the case of any particular Indebtedness, the
instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is
outstanding expressly provides that such Indebtedness shall be subordinated
in
right of payment to the Notes.
“Payment
in full” or “paid in full” means payment in full in cash.
“Person”
or “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization or government (including any agency or political subdivision
thereof).
“Principal”
or “principal” of a debt security, including the Notes, means the principal of
the security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the
security.
“Purchaser”
or “Purchasers” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Reference
Treasury Dealer” means each of Credit Suisse, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
Incorporated and two other primary United States Government securities dealers
in New York City (each, a “Primary Treasury Dealer”) appointed by the Purchasers
in consultation with the Company; provided, however, that if any of the
foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall
substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.
5
“Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury
Dealer and any prepayment date, the average, as determined by the Purchasers,
of
the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each
case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the
Purchasers by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time)
on the third Business Day preceding such prepayment date.
“Restricted
Security” has the same meaning as “Restricted Security” set forth in Rule
144(a)(3) promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule
144” means Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule
144A” means Rule 144A as promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Sale/Leaseback
Transaction” means any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, for a period of more than three
years, of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or
is
to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Subsidiary to such Person
in
contemplation of such leasing.
“SEC”
or
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Series
A
Holders Consent” means that certain Series A Holders Consent and Agreement,
dated as of March 20, 2008, by and among Alkest, LLC, The Alpine Group, Inc.
and
the Initial Purchaser in the form previously delivered by the Company to the
Initial Purchaser.
“Significant
Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company which is a “significant
subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act (as such Regulation is in effect on the date
hereof).
“Subsidiary”
means any corporation of which at least a majority of the outstanding capital
stock having voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect directors of
such corporation shall at the time be held, directly or indirectly, by the
Company, by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries or by one or more
Subsidiaries.
“Treasury
Rate” means, with respect to any prepayment date for the Notes, (i) the yield,
under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding
week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated
“H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on
actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity
under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding
to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before
or after the Maturity Date, yields for the two published maturities most closely
corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the
Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a
straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release
(or
any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the
calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal
to
the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue,
calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a
percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price
for
such prepayment date. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third
Business Day preceding the prepayment date.
6
“Wachovia”
means Wachovia Bank, National Association.
SECTION
1.2 RULES
OF
CONSTRUCTION.
Unless
the context otherwise requires:
(1)
a
term
has the meaning assigned to it herein;
(2)
an
accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in
accordance with GAAP;
(3)
“or”
is
not exclusive;
(4)
words
in
the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the
singular;
(5)
provisions
apply to successive events and transactions; and
(6)
“herein,”
“hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Exchange Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other
subdivision.
ARTICLE
2
THE
NOTES; CLOSING
SECTION
2.1 NOTES;
EXCHANGE OF THE NOTES.
The
Company has duly authorized the issue and exchange of $38,300,000 aggregate
principal amount of its Notes, such Notes to be in the form set out in Exhibit
A.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to
deliver to the Initial Purchaser $38,300,000 aggregate principal amount of
its
Notes, upon surrender by the Initial Purchaser in exchange therefor of
$38,300,000 of aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes.
SECTION
2.2 CLOSING.
.
At
the
Closing, the Company will (i) deliver to Initial Purchaser the Notes to be
purchased by it in the form of a single Note (or such greater number of Notes
in
denominations of at least $500,000 as Initial Purchaser may request prior to
the
Closing), dated the date of the Closing and registered in Initial Purchaser’s
name (but not in the name of a nominee), against surrender of the Existing
Notes
of the same aggregate principal amount to be exchanged by such Noteholder and
(ii) pay to the Initial Purchaser all accrued interest on the Existing Notes
through the date of the Closing by wire transfer in accordance with the Initial
Purchaser’s wire transfer instructions previously provided to the Company by the
Initial Purchaser. Immediately following the Closing, the Company shall deliver
the Existing Notes marked “Cancelled” to the Note Trustee.
7
If
at the
Closing the Company shall fail to tender such Notes as provided above in this
Section 2.2, or any of the conditions specified in Section 2.3 shall not
have been fulfilled to Initial Purchaser’s satisfaction, Initial Purchaser
shall, at its election, be relieved of all further obligations under this
Exchange Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights it may have by reason
of
such failure or such nonfulfillment.
SECTION
2.3 CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING.
(a)
Initial
Purchaser’s obligation to surrender the Existing Notes in exchange for the Notes
to be issued at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment, prior to or at the
Closing, of the following conditions:
(i) Performance;
No Default.
The
Company and each Guarantor shall have performed and complied with all agreements
and conditions contained in this Exchange Agreement, the Notes and the Guarantee
required to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the
Closing
and,
after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes, no Default or Event
of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(ii) Compliance
Certificates.
(1)
Officer’s
Certificate.
The
Company shall have delivered to Initial Purchaser an Officer’s Certificate,
executed by the President of the Company and dated the date of the Closing,
certifying (i) that the conditions specified in Sections 2.3(a)(i) have
been fulfilled and (ii) no event described in Sections 6.1(6) or (7) has
occurred or is continuing in respect of the Company or any
Guarantor.
(2)
Authorized
Officer’s Certificate.
The
Company and each Guarantor shall have delivered to Initial Purchaser a
certificate of its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or other appropriate
person, dated the date of the Closing, certifying as to the resolutions attached
thereto and other corporate proceedings relating to the authorization, execution
and delivery of this Exchange Agreement and the Notes.
(iii) Opinions
of Counsel.
Initial
Purchaser shall have received an opinion in form and substance satisfactory
to
Initial Purchaser, dated the date of the Closing from counsel for the
Company and the Guarantors covering such other matters incident to such
transactions as Initial Purchaser may reasonably request.
8
(iv) Guarantees.
A
Guarantee, dated on or before the date of the Closing, shall have been executed
and delivered by each Guarantor in the form of Exhibit B and shall be in full
force and effect.
(v) Purchase
Permitted by Applicable Law, etc.
On
the
date of the Closing the purchase of the Notes shall (a) be permitted by the
laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to which the parties to this Exchange
Agreement are subject, (b) not violate any applicable law or regulation
(including without limitation Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors
of
the Federal Reserve System) and (c) not subject Initial Purchaser to any
tax, penalty or liability under or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(vi) Related
Documents.
The
Company shall have delivered to the Initial Purchaser true, complete and
executed copies of (1) the Series A Holder Consent, (2) the Facilities
Amendments and (3) the Fairness Opinion.
(vii) Proceedings
and Documents.
All
corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Exchange Agreement, the Guarantees and all documents and instruments
incident to such transactions shall be reasonably satisfactory to Initial
Purchaser, and Initial Purchaser shall have received all such counterpart
originals or certified or other copies of such documents as it may reasonably
request.
(viii) Fees
On
or
prior to Closing, the Company shall, in the aggregate, have paid the Initial
Purchaser a commitment fee equal to $383,000 (representing the final one-third
installment of the commitment fee not previously paid to the Initial Purchaser)
via wire transfer in accordance with wire transfer instructions previously
provided to the Company by the Initial Purchaser.
(b)
The
Company’s obligation to issue and exchange the Notes in exchange for Existing
Notes at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment, prior to or at the Closing,
of the following conditions:
(i
) Performance;
No Default.
The
Initial Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all agreements and
conditions contained in this Exchange Agreement required to be performed or
complied with by it prior to the Closing.
(ii) Related
Documents.
9
The
Company shall have obtained (1) the Series A Holders Consent, (2) the Facilities
Amendments and (3) the Fairness Opinion.
SECTION
2.4 REPLACEMENT
NOTES.
If
any
mutilated Note is surrendered to the Company, or the Company receives evidence
to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, and there
is
delivered to the Company such Note or indemnity as may be required by it to
save
it harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company that such Note has
been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and deliver,
in exchange for any such mutilated Note or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost
or stolen Note, a new Note of like tenor and principal amount.
In
case
any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is about to
become due and payable, or is about to be prepaid by the Company pursuant to
Article 3, the Company, in its discretion, may, instead of issuing a new Note,
pay or prepay such Note, as the case may be.
Upon
the
issuance of any new Notes under this Section 2.4, the Company may require the
payment by the Purchaser of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses in connection therewith.
Every
new
Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.4 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or
stolen Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation
of
the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be at
any
time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all benefits of this
Exchange Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes
duly
issued hereunder.
The
provisions of this Section 2.4 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent
lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment
of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.
SECTION
2.5 OUTSTANDING
NOTES.
If
a Note
is replaced pursuant to Section 2.4, it ceases to be outstanding unless the
Company receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by
a
bona fide purchaser. Subject to the restrictions contained in Section 2.6,
a
Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of
the
Company holds the Note.
SECTION
2.6 TRANSFER
AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES.
Upon
surrender of any Note at the principal executive office of the Company for
registration of transfer or exchange (and in the case of a surrender for
registration of transfer accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly
executed by the registered Holder of such Note or such Holder’s attorney duly
authorized in writing and accompanied by the address for notices of each
transferee of such Note or part thereof), within ten Business Days thereafter
the Company shall execute and deliver, at the Company’s expense (except as
provided below), one or more new Notes (as requested by the Holder thereof)
in
exchange therefor, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unpaid
principal amount of the surrendered Note. Each such new Note shall be payable
to
such Person as such Holder may request. Each such new Note shall be dated and
bear interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on the
surrendered Note or dated the date of the surrendered Note if no interest shall
have been paid thereon. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
to
cover any stamp tax or governmental charge imposed in respect of any such
transfer of Notes. Notes shall not be transferred or registered in denominations
of less than $500,000 or any integral multiple of $10,000 in excess thereof,
provided that if necessary to enable the registration of transfer by a holder
of
its entire holding of Notes, one Note may be in a denomination of less than
$500,000 or such integral multiple. In order to effectuate any transfer pursuant
to this Section 2.6, the transferor and transferee shall have completed the
Transfer Notice attached to the form of Note attached as Exhibit A
hereto.
10
SECTION
2.7 TREASURY
NOTES
In
determining whether the Purchasers of the required principal amount of Notes
have concurred in any notice, direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by
the
Company or any other obligor on the Notes or by any Affiliate of the Company
or
of such other obligor shall be disregarded.
SECTION
2.8 DEFAULTED
INTEREST.
If
the
Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Company shall pay
defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent
lawful) at the rate specified therefor in the Notes in any lawful manner. The
Company may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Purchasers on
a
subsequent special payment date. The Company shall promptly mail to each
Purchaser a notice that states the special payment date and the amount of
defaulted interest to be paid.
ARTICLE
3
PREPAYMENT
SECTION
3.1 PREPAYMENT.
The
Company may, at its option, from time to time prepay all or any part of the
Notes (in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 and otherwise in multiples
of
$500,000) on any date prior to maturity, upon notice as set forth below, and
at
the prepayment prices set forth in paragraph 5 of the form of Note attached
hereto as Exhibit A, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the
date of prepayment. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate
of the Company to the effect that such prepayment will comply with the
conditions herein.
SECTION
3.2 SELECTION
OF NOTES TO BE PREPAID.
If
less
than all of the Notes are to be prepaid, the Company shall, not more than 30
days prior to the prepayment date, select the Notes to be prepaid by lot, pro
rata or by another method the Company considers fair and appropriate. The
Company shall make the selection from the Notes outstanding and not previously
called for prepayment. The Company may select for prepayment portions of the
principal of Notes that have denominations larger than $1,000. Provisions of
this Exchange Agreement that apply to Notes called for prepayment also apply
to
portions of Notes called for prepayment.
11
SECTION
3.3 NOTICE
OF
PREPAYMENT.
At
least
15 days but not more than 30 days before a prepayment date, the Company shall
mail or cause to be mailed a notice of prepayment by first-class mail to each
Purchaser of Notes to be prepaid at such Purchaser’s address as it appears on
the Company’s books.
The
notice shall identify the Notes to be prepaid and shall state:
(1)
the
prepayment date;
(2)
the
prepayment price, or method by which it is to be calculated;
(3)
that
Notes called for prepayment must be presented and surrendered to the Company
to
collect the prepayment price plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any;
(4)
that,
unless the Company defaults in making the prepayment, interest on Notes called
for prepayment ceases to accrue on and after the prepayment date and the only
remaining right of the Purchaser is to receive payment of the prepayment price
upon presentation and surrender to the Company of the Notes; and
(5)
if
any
Note is being prepaid in part, the portion of the principal amount of such
Note
to be prepaid and that, after the prepayment date, upon presentation and
surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the
unpaid portion thereof will be issued.
SECTION
3.4 EFFECT
OF
NOTICE OF PREPAYMENT.
Once
the
notice of prepayment described in Section 3.3 is mailed, Notes called for
prepayment become due and payable on the prepayment date and at the prepayment
price stated in the notice. Upon presentation and surrender to the Company,
such
Notes shall be paid at the prepayment price, plus accrued and unpaid interest,
if any, to the prepayment date; provided, that if the prepayment date is on
an
interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable to
the
Purchaser of the prepaid Notes registered on the relevant record date; provided,
further, that if the prepayment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made
on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the period
from such prepayment date to such succeeding Business Day. The notice, if mailed
in the manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been
duly
given, whether or not the Purchaser receives such notice. In any case, failure
to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Purchaser of
any
Note designated for prepayment as a whole or in part shall not affect the
validity of the proceedings for the prepayment of any other Note.
12
SECTION
3.5 NOTES
PREPAID IN PART.
Upon
surrender of a Note that is prepaid in part, the Company shall execute for
the
Purchaser (at the Company’s expense) a new Note equal in principal amount to the
unpaid portion of the Note surrendered.
ARTICLE
4
REPRESENTATIONS,
WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
SECTION
4.1 REPRESENTATIONS
OF THE COMPANY
The
Company represents and warrants to Initial Purchaser that:
(a)
Organization;
Power and Authority.
The
Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws
of
its jurisdiction of incorporation, and is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by
law.
The Company and each Guarantor has the requisite corporate power and authority
to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under
lease, to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact, to
execute and deliver this Exchange Agreement and the Notes and to perform the
provisions hereof and thereof.
(b)
Authorization.
This
Exchange Agreement and the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company and each Guarantor, and this
Exchange Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery thereof each
Note will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company
and
each Guarantor enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of
equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding
in equity or at law).
(c)
Organization
and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries; Affiliates.
(1)
The
Company does not directly or indirectly control or own any interest in any
Subsidiary, except as set forth in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2006, as amended. The Company owns, directly or indirectly,
all of the capital stock of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Lien, other
than Liens arising under the Bank Credit Facility, and all the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and
are fully paid, non-assessable (or its equivalent under applicable law) and
free
of preemptive and similar rights.
(2)
Each
Subsidiary is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized, validly
existing and, where legally applicable, in good standing under the laws of
its
jurisdiction of organization, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation
or
other legal entity and, where legally applicable, is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law. Each such
Subsidiary has the requisite corporate or other power and authority to own
or
hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease and
to
transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact.
13
(3)
Other
than the Bank Credit Facility, no Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject
to any legal restriction or any agreement restricting the ability of such
Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar
distributions of profits to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that owns
outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of such
Subsidiary.
(d)
Compliance
with Laws, Other Instruments, etc.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Company or any Guarantor of this
Exchange Agreement and the Notes will not (i) contravene, result in any
breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any
Lien
in respect of any property of the Company or any Guarantor under, any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate
charter, memorandum and articles of association, regulations or by-laws, or
any
other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor
is
bound or by which the Company or any Guarantor or any of their respective
properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a
breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment,
decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority applicable
to the Company or any Guarantor or (iii) violate any provision of any
statute or other rule or regulation of any governmental authority applicable
to
the Company or any Guarantor.
(e)
Governmental
Authorizations.
No
consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration
with, any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance by the Company or any Guarantor of this Exchange
Agreement or the Notes (other than a filing by the Company of a Form D with
respect to the Notes).
(f)
Litigation;
Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders.
There
are
no material actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or any
property of the Company or any Subsidiary in any court or before any arbitrator
of any kind or before or by any governmental authority.
Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default under any term of any material
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or any
order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or governmental
authority or is in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule or
regulation of any governmental authority.
(g)
Taxes.
The
Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all income and other material tax
returns that are required to have been filed in any jurisdiction, and the
Company and its Subsidiaries have paid all taxes and assessments shown to be
due
and payable on such returns and all other material taxes and assessments levied
upon them or their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent
such
taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become
delinquent, except for any taxes and assessments the amount, applicability
or
validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and with respect to which the Company has established adequate
reserves in accordance with GAAP. The charges, accruals and reserves on the
books of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes for all financial
periods are adequate in accordance with GAAP.
14
(h)
Private
Offering.
Neither
the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has offered the Notes or any similar
securities for sale to, or solicited any offer to buy any of the same from,
or
otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any Person other
than the Initial Purchaser, which has been offered the Notes at a private sale
for investment. Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has taken,
or will take, any action that would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes
to
the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act. The
representation by the Company in this Section 4.1(h) is made in reliance upon
and is subject to the accuracy of the Initial Purchaser’s representations in
Section 4.2.
(i)
Brokers.
No
brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company
to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent,
investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Exchange Agreement.
(j)
Foreign
Assets Control Regulations, etc.
Neither
the sale of the Notes by the Company hereunder nor its use of the proceeds
thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of
the
foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department
(31
CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive
order relating thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Company
nor
any Subsidiary (i) is a blocked person described in Section 1 of Executive
Order
13224 of September 23, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions
With
Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg.
49049
(2001)) or (ii) knowingly engages or will knowingly engage in any dealings
or
transactions, or be otherwise associated, with any such person. The
Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with
the Uniting And Strengthening America By Providing Appropriate Tools Required
To
Intercept And Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA Patriot Act of 2001).
No
part
of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly
or
indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political
party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone
else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct
business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended, assuming in all cases that such Act applies
to the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(k)
Ranking.
The
obligations of the Company under this Agreement and the Notes will, upon
issuance of the Notes, rank at least pari passu,
without
preference or priority, with all other unsecured and unsubordinated Indebtedness
of the Company.
15
SECTION
4.2 REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS
Initial
Purchaser hereby, represents and warrants to the Company as
follows:
(a)
Organization;
Authority. The Purchaser is an entity duly organized, validly existing and
in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the
requisite corporate, limited liability company or partnership power and
authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this
Exchange Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and
thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this
Exchange Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited
liability company or partnership action on the part of the Purchaser. This
Exchange Agreement has been duly executed by the Purchaser and, when delivered
by such Purchaser in accordance with terms hereof, will constitute the valid
and
legally binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms.
(b)
Purchaser
Status. At the time the Purchaser was offered the Notes, it was, and at the
date
hereof it is, an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the
Securities Act. The Purchaser is not a registered broker-dealer under Section
15
of the Exchange Act.
(c)
Experience
of the Purchaser. The Purchaser, either alone or together with its
representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business
and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks
of
the prospective investment in the Notes, and has so evaluated the merits and
risks of such investment. The Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of
an
investment in the Notes and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete
loss of such investment.
(d)
General
Solicitation. The Purchaser is not purchasing the Notes as a result of any
advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Notes
published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over
television or radio or presented at any seminar or any other general
solicitation or general advertisement.
(e)
Investment
Intent. The Purchaser is acquiring the Notes as principal for its own account
for investment purposes and not with a view to distributing or reselling such
Notes or any part thereof in violation of applicable securities laws, without
prejudice, however, to the Purchaser’s right at all times to sell or otherwise
dispose of all or any part of such Notes in compliance with applicable federal
and state securities laws. Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed a representation or warranty by the
Purchaser to hold the Notes for any period of time. The
Purchaser understands that the Notes have not been registered under the
Securities Act, and therefore the Notes may not be sold, assigned or transferred
in the U.S. other than pursuant to (i) an effective registration statement
under
the Securities Act or (ii) an exemption from such registration requirements.
The
Purchaser acknowledges that it is able to bear the financial risks associated
with an investment in the Notes and that it has received such information as
it
has deemed necessary or appropriate to conduct its due diligence investigation
and has sufficient knowledge and experience in investing in companies similar
to
the Company so as to be able to evaluate the risks and merits of its investment
in the Company.
16
(f)
Reliance
on Exemptions.
The
Purchaser understands that the Notes are being offered and sold to it in
reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of U.S.
federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon
the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s representations and warranties
set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions
and
the eligibility of such Purchaser to acquire the Notes.
(g)
Brokers.
No brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the
Purchasers to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement
agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Exchange Agreement, and no Purchaser has taken any action
that would cause the Company to be liable for any such fees or
commissions.
SECTION
4.3 PAYMENT
OF NOTES.
The
Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause
to be
paid the principal amount at maturity, and interest, in respect of each of
the
Notes at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein
and in the Notes. Each installment of interest on the Notes may be paid by
mailing checks for the interest payable to or upon the written order of the
Purchaser of Notes entitled thereto as they shall appear on the registry books
of the Company.
The
Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor
in the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest
at
the same rate to the extent lawful as provided in Section 2.8.
SECTION
4.4 SEC
REPORTS; 144A INFORMATION.
The
Company shall file all reports and other information and documents which it
is
required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act. The Company will cause any quarterly and annual reports which it mails
to
its stockholders to be mailed to the Purchasers.
Unless
otherwise consented to by the Purchasers, in the event the Company is at any
time no longer subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d)
of
the Exchange Act, the Company will prepare, for the first three quarters of
each
fiscal year, quarterly financial statements substantially equivalent to the
financial statements required to be included in a report on Form 10-Q under
the
Exchange Act. In such event, the Company will also prepare, on an annual basis,
complete audited consolidated financial statements including, but not limited
to, a balance sheet, a statement of income and retained earnings, a statement
of
cash flows and all appropriate notes. All such financial statements will be
prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for changes with which the Company’s
independent accountants concur, and except that quarterly statements may be
subject to year-end adjustments. The Company will cause a copy of such financial
statements to be mailed to the Purchasers within 50 days after the close for
each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year and within 95 days after
the close of each fiscal year.
17
At
any
time when the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act,
upon the request of a Purchaser or beneficial owner of a Note, the Company
will
promptly furnish or cause to be furnished Rule 144A Information (as defined
below) to such holder, to such beneficial owner or to a prospective purchaser
designated by such Purchaser or beneficial owner, as the case may be, in order
to permit compliance by such Purchaser or beneficial owner with Rule 144A under
the Securities Act in connection with the resale of such Note by such Purchaser
or beneficial owner; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to
furnish such information in connection with any request made on or after the
date which is two years from the later of (i) the date such Note (or any
predecessor Note) was acquired from the Company or (ii) the date such Note
(or
any predecessor Note) was last acquired from an “affiliate” of the Company
within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. “Rule 144A Information”
shall be such information as is specified pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under
the
Securities Act (or any successor provision thereto).
SECTION
4.5 LIMITATION
ON LIENS.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, issue,
assume or guarantee any Indebtedness for borrowed money secured by any Lien
on
any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or such
Subsidiary without making effective provision whereby any and all Notes then
or
thereafter outstanding will be secured by a Lien equally and ratably with any
and all other obligations thereby secured for so long as any such obligations
shall be so secured. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company may, without so securing the Notes, issue, assume
or
guarantee Indebtedness for borrowed money secured by the following
Liens:
(a)
Liens
existing on the date on which the Notes are originally issued or provided for
under the terms of agreements existing on such date;
(b)
Liens
on
property securing (i) all or any portion of the cost of acquiring, constructing,
altering, improving or repairing any property or assets, real or personal,
or
improvements used or to be used in connection with such property or (ii)
Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company prior
to
or within one year after the later of the acquisition, the completion of
construction, alteration, improvement or repair or the commencement of
commercial operation of such property, which Indebtedness is incurred for the
purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof or
construction or improvements thereon;
(c)
Liens
securing Indebtedness owed by a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or
to
any other Subsidiary of the Company;
(d)
Liens
on
the property of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary
of the Company and not incurred as result of (or in connection with or in
anticipation of) such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Company, provided
that
such Liens do not extend to or cover any property or assets of the Company
or
any of its Subsidiaries other than the property encumbered at the time such
Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company and do not secure Indebtedness with
a
principal amount in excess of the principal amount outstanding at such
time;
18
(e)
Liens
on
any property securing (i) Indebtedness incurred in connection with the
construction, installation or financing of pollution control or abatement
facilities or other forms of industrial revenue bond financing or (ii)
Indebtedness issued or guaranteed by the United States or any State thereof
or
any department, agency or instrumentality of either;
(f)
Liens
on
any property of the Company or any Subsidiary in favor of governmental
bodies;
(g)
Liens
to
secure taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by the
Company or a Subsidiary;
(h)
Liens
extending, renewing, refinancing or replacing (or successive extensions,
renewals, refinancings or replacements of) any Lien, in whole or in part, of
any
type permitted under the foregoing clauses (a) through (g) above, provided
that
such Lien extends to or covers only the property that is subject to the Lien
being extended, renewed, refinanced or replaced and that the principal amount
of
the Indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of
Indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal, refinancing
or
replacement; or
(i)
Liens
(exclusive of any Lien of any type otherwise permitted under clauses (a) through
(h) above) securing Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company in an aggregate principal amount which, together
with
the aggregate amount of Attributable Indebtedness deemed to be outstanding
in
respect of all Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered into pursuant to clause
(a)
of Section 4.6 hereof (exclusive of any such Sale/Leaseback Transactions
otherwise permitted under clauses (a) through (h) above), does not at the time
such Indebtedness is incurred exceed the greater of $50 million and 10% of
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, as determined on the consolidated balance
sheet of the Company as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending
at
least 45 days prior thereto.
SECTION
4.6 LIMITATION
ON SALE/LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, enter
into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with any Person (other than the Company
or a
Subsidiary of the Company) unless:
(a)
the
Company or such Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Indebtedness, in a
principal amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness with respect to such
Sale/Leaseback Transaction, secured by a Lien on the property subject to such
Sale/Leaseback Transaction pursuant to Section 4.5 without equally and ratably
securing the Notes pursuant hereto;
(b)
after
the
date on which the Notes are originally issued and within a period commencing
six
months prior to the consummation of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction and ending
six months after the consummation thereof, the Company or such Subsidiary shall
have expended for property used or to be used in the ordinary course of business
of the Company and its Subsidiaries an amount equal to all or a portion of
the
net proceeds of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction and the Company shall have
elected to designate such amount as a credit against such Sale/Leaseback
Transaction (with any such amount not being so designated to be applied as
set
forth in clause (c) below); or
19
(c)
the
Company, during the 12-month period after the effective date of such
Sale/Leaseback Transaction, shall have applied to the voluntary prepayment
or
retirement of Notes or any Pari Passu Indebtedness an amount equal to the
greater of the net proceeds of the sale or transfer of the property leased
in
such Sale/Leaseback Transaction and the fair value, as determined by the Board
of Directors of the Company, of such property at the time of entering into
such
Sale/Leaseback Transaction (in either case adjusted to reflect the remaining
term of the lease and any amount expended by the Company as set forth in clause
(b) above), less an amount equal to the principal amount of Notes and Pari
Passu
Indebtedness voluntarily prepaid or retired by the Company within such 12-month
period and not designated as a credit against any other Sale/Leaseback
Transaction entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary during such
period.
SECTION
4.7 COMPLIANCE
CERTIFICATES.
The
Company and the Guarantors shall deliver to the Purchasers within 120 days
after
the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate as to the
signer’s knowledge of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ compliance with all
conditions and covenants on their part contained in this Exchange Agreement
and
stating whether or not the signer knows of any default or Event of Default.
If
such signer knows of such a default or Event of Default, the Officers’
Certificate shall describe the default or Event of Default and the efforts
to
remedy the same. For the purposes of this Section 4.7, compliance shall be
determined without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice provided
pursuant to the terms of this Exchange Agreement.
SECTION
4.8 NOTICE
OF
DEFAULTS.
The
Company and the Guarantors will give notice to the Purchasers, promptly upon
becoming aware thereof, of the existence of any Event of Default
hereunder.
SECTION
4.9 PAYMENT
OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS.
The
Company and the Guarantors will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries
to,
pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become
delinquent, (1) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied
or imposed upon the Company, directly or by reason of its ownership of any
Subsidiary, the Guarantors or their Subsidiaries or upon the income, profits
or
property of the Company, the Guarantors or their Subsidiaries; and (2) all
material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies, which, if unpaid,
might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company, the Guarantors
or
their Subsidiaries; provided, however, that none of the Company, the Guarantors
or their Subsidiaries shall 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 and for which adequate provision has been made.
SECTION
4.10 CORPORATE
EXISTENCE.
Subject
to Article 5, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary
to
preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and rights
(charter and statutory) and the corporate, partnership or other existence of
each Subsidiary, in accordance with the respective organizational documents
(as
the same may be amended from time to time) of each Subsidiary and the rights
(charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its
Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership
or
other existence of any of its Subsidiaries if the Company shall determine that
the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business
of the Company and its Subsidiaries and that the loss thereof is not, and will
not be, adverse in any material respect to the Purchasers.
20
SECTION
4.11 MAINTENANCE
OF PROPERTIES.
The
Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, cause all material
properties owned, leased or licensed in the conduct of their business to be
maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied
with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs,
renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof and thereto, all
as
in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried
on
in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all
times while any Notes are outstanding; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 4.11 shall prevent the Company from doing otherwise if, in the judgment
of the Company, the same is desirable in the conduct of the Company’s business
and is not, and will not be, adverse in any material respect to the
Purchasers.
SECTION
4.12 PAYMENT
OF EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION.
The
Company agrees to (a) pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of
(i)
the Initial Purchaser in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution
and delivery of this Agreement, the Note and the other documents and instruments
referred to herein or therein and any amendment, waiver or consent relating
hereto and thereto including, but not limited to, any such amendments, waivers
or consents resulting from or related to any work-out, renegotiation or
restructure relating to the performance by the Company or Guarantors under
this
Agreement or the Notes and (ii) the Noteholders in connection with enforcement
of this Agreement, the Notes and the documents and instruments referred to
herein or therein (including, without limitation, in connection with any such
enforcement, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for each of the
Noteholders), and (b) indemnify each Noteholder, its officers, directors,
employees, representatives and agents from and hold each of them harmless
against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses incurred
by
any of them as result of, or arising out of, or in any way related to, or by
reason of, any investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether or not
any
Noteholder is a party thereto) related to the entering into and/or performance
of this Agreement, the Notes or the consummation of any other transactions
contemplated in this Agreement or the Notes, including, without limitation,
the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel incurred in connection with any
such investigation, litigation or other proceeding (but excluding any such
losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses to the extent they are incurred
by reason of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Persons
to be indemnified).
SECTION
4.13 FURTHER
INSTRUMENTS AND ACTS.
Upon
request of the Holders of a majority of the principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments
and
do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out
more
effectively the purposes of this Exchange Agreement.
21
ARTICLE
5
SUCCESSOR
CORPORATION
SECTION
5.1 LIMITATION
ON CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any Guarantor (unless such Guarantor
shall have been released from its Guarantee pursuant to Section 8.14 hereof)
to,
consolidate with or merge into any Person, or sell, lease, convey, transfer
or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person,
unless:
(a)
the
Person formed by or surviving such consolidation (if other than the Company
or
such Guarantor, as the case may be), or to which such sale, lease, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition shall be made, shall be a Subsidiary of the
Company or a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the
United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia (or,
alternatively, in the case of a Guarantor organized under the laws of a
jurisdiction outside the United States, a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of such foreign jurisdiction), and shall expressly assume, by
a
joinder hereto, executed and delivered to the Holders, in form satisfactory
to
the Holders of a majority of the principal amount of the Notes then outstanding,
the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on all the Notes and the performance or observance of every covenant
of
this Exchange Agreement or the Guarantees on the part of the Company or such
Guarantor, as the case may be, to be performed or observed;
(b)
immediately
after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which
becomes an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary as a result of such
transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the
time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice
or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred
and be continuing;
(c)
if,
as a
result of the transaction, property of the Company or any Subsidiary would
become subject to a Lien that would not be permitted under Section 4.5 hereof,
the Company or such Subsidiary takes such steps as shall be necessary to secure
the Notes equally and ratably with (or prior to) the Indebtedness secured by
such Lien; and
(d)
the
Company has delivered to the Purchaser an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion
of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, lease,
conveyance, transfer or disposition and, if a joinder is required in connection
with such transaction, such joinder comply with this Article and that all
conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have
been
complied with.
22
SECTION
5.2 SUCCESSOR
CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED.
Upon
any
consolidation of the Company or any Guarantor with, or merger of the Company
or
any Guarantor into, any other Person or any sale, lease, conveyance, transfer
or
disposition of the properties and assets of the Company or any Guarantor
substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor
corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company or such
Guarantor is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or
disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise
every right and power of, the Company or such Guarantor under this Exchange
Agreement with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named
as the Company or such Guarantor herein, and thereafter, except in the case
of a
lease, the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and
covenants under this Exchange Agreement and the Notes.
ARTICLE
6
DEFAULT
AND REMEDIES
SECTION
6.1 EVENTS
OF
DEFAULT.
An
“Event
of Default” occurs if:
(1)
the
Company or any Guarantor defaults in the payment of any interest on the Notes
when the same becomes due and payable and the default continues for a period
of
30 days;
(2)
the
Company or any Guarantor defaults in the payment of the principal of or premium,
if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon
prepayment or otherwise;
(3)
the
Company or any Guarantor fails to comply with any of its other covenants or
agreements contained in, or provisions of, the Notes, the Guarantees or this
Exchange Agreement and such failure continues for the period and after the
notice specified below;
(4)
any
default shall occur which results in the acceleration of the maturity of any
Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company having an
outstanding principal amount of $10 million or more individually or, taken
together with all other such Indebtedness that has been so accelerated, in
the
aggregate; or any default shall occur in the payment of any principal or
interest in respect of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the
Company having an outstanding principal amount of $10 million or more
individually or, taken together with all other such indebtedness with respect
to
which any such payment has not been made, in the aggregate and such default
shall be continuing for a period of 30 days without the Company or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be, effecting a cure of such default;
(5)
a
judgment or order is rendered against the Company, a Guarantor or any
Significant Subsidiary which requires the payment in money by the Company,
a
Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary, either individually or in the
aggregate, of an amount (to the extent not covered by insurance) in excess
of
$10,000,000, and such judgment or order remains unsatisfied, undischarged,
unvacated, unbonded and unstayed for 30 days;
23
(6)
the
Company, a Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the
meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (as hereinafter defined):
(A)
commences
a voluntary case or proceeding;
(B)
consents
to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or
proceeding;
(C)
consents
to the appointment of a Custodian (as hereinafter defined) of it or for all
or
substantially all of its property; or
(D)
makes
a
general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(7)
a
court
of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law
that:
(A) is
for
relief against the Company, a Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary in an
involuntary case or proceeding;
(B) appoints
a Custodian of the Company, a Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary or for
all
or substantially all of the property of any of them; or
(C) orders
the liquidation of the Company, a Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary;
and
in each case the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60
days.
The
term
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or state law
for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee,
assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy
Law.
A
default
under clause (3) is not an Event of Default until the Holders of at least 25%
in
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding notify the Company of the
default, and the Company does not cure the default within 60 days after receipt
of such notice. The notice given pursuant to this Section 6.1 must specify
the
default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of
Default.” When a default is cured, it ceases.
SECTION
6.2 ACCELERATION.
If
an
Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(6)
or
(7)) occurs and is continuing, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding may, by notice to the Company, declare
all
unpaid principal of and premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of
acceleration on the Notes then outstanding (if not then due and payable) to
be
due and payable upon any such declaration, and the same shall become and be
immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(6)
or (7) occurs, all unpaid principal of and premium, if any, and accrued interest
on the Notes then outstanding shall ipso facto become and be immediately due
and
payable without any declaration or other act on the part of any
Holder.
24
The
Purchasers of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding
by
notice to the Company may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if (i)
all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal
of
and accrued interest on the Notes which has become due solely by such
declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived; (ii) the Company has
paid or deposited with an escrow agent reasonably acceptable to the Holders
of a
majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding a sum sufficient
to
pay (a) all overdue interest on the Notes, (b) the principal of any Note which
has become due otherwise then by such declaration of acceleration, and (c)
to
the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue
installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise
than by such declaration of acceleration; and (iii) the rescission would not
conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.
No
such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon. Anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding,
in the event of any acceleration pursuant to this Section 6.2, the Company shall
not be obligated to pay any premium which it would have had to pay if it had
then elected to prepay the Notes pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Notes, except
in
the case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful action
(or
inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company or a Guarantor
with the intention of avoiding payment of the premium which it would have had
to
pay if it had then elected to prepay the Notes pursuant to paragraph 5 of the
Notes, in which case an equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately
due and payable to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION
6.3 OTHER
REMEDIES.
In
case
of an Event of Default hereunder, each Purchaser may in its discretion proceed
to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Exchange Agreement by
such appropriate judicial proceedings as such Purchaser shall deem most
effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity
or
by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the
specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Exchange
Agreement or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Exchange
Agreement, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the
Purchasers by this Exchange Agreement or by law.
A
delay
or omission by any Purchaser in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon
an
Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver
of
or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other
remedy. All available remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by
law.
SECTION
6.4 WAIVER
OF
DEFAULTS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
Subject
to Section 6.6, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes
then
outstanding by notice to the Company may waive any past default or Event of
Default and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal
of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Note as specified in clauses (1)
and
(2) of Section 6.1, or a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof
which cannot be modified or amended pursuant to Section 7.1 without the consent
of the Holder of each Note affected thereby. When a default or Event of Default
is waived, it is cured and ceases, but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or impair any consequent right.
25
SECTION
6.5 CONTROL
BY MAJORITY.
Except
as
set forth in Section 6.3, the Purchasers of a majority in principal amount
of
the Notes then outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Purchasers.
SECTION
6.6 RIGHTS
OF
HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PAYMENT.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Exchange Agreement, the right of any Purchaser
of a
Note to receive payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest
on
the Note, on or after the respective dates on which such payments are due as
expressed in the Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment
on or after such respective dates, is absolute and unconditional and shall
not
be impaired or affected without the consent of such Purchaser.
SECTION
6.7 RESTORATION
OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.
If
any
Purchaser has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under
this Exchange Agreement and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned
for any reason, or has been determined adversely to such Purchaser, then and
in
every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company,
the Guarantors and the Purchasers shall be restored severally and respectively
to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies
of
the Purchasers shall continue as though no such proceeding had been
instituted.
SECTION
6.8 RIGHTS
AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.
Except
as
otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in the last paragraph of Section 2.4, no right
or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Purchasers is intended to
be
exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to
the
extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right
and
remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or
otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or
otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any
other
appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION
6.9 DELAY
OR
OMISSION NOT WAIVER.
No
delay
or omission of any Purchaser to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon
any
Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver
of
any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy
given by this Article 6 or by law to the Purchasers may be exercised from time
to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Purchasers, as the
case
may be.
26
ARTICLE
7
AMENDMENTS,
SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
SECTION
7.1 CONSENT
OF HOLDERS.
The
Company and the Guarantors with the written consent of the Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may amend,
supplement or waive this Exchange Agreement or the Notes without notice to
any
individual Holder. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of
the Notes then outstanding may waive compliance in a particular instance by
the
Company with any provision of this Exchange Agreement or the Notes without
notice to any Holder. Subject to Section 7.2, without the written consent of
each Holder affected, however, an amendment, supplement or waiver, including
a
waiver pursuant to Section 6.4, may not:
(1)
reduce
the amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement
or
waiver;
(2)
reduce
the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default
interest, on any Note;
(3)
reduce
the principal amount of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the
premium or other provisions with respect to prepayment under Article 3 or
specified in the Notes;
(4)
make
any
Note payable in money other than that stated in the Note;
(5)
impair
the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal
of
or premium, if any, or interest on any Note pursuant to Section
6.3;
(6)
make
any
change in the percentage of principal amount of Notes necessary to waive
compliance with certain provisions of this Exchange Agreement pursuant to
Section 6.4 or 6.6 hereof or this clause of this Section 7.1; or
(7)
waive
a
continuing default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or
premium, if any, or interest on the Notes.
After
an
amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes effective, the
Company shall mail to the Purchasers affected thereby a notice briefly
describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company
to
mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair
or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.
27
SECTION
7.2 REVOCATION
AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS.
Until
an
amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder
is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note
or
portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note,
even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such
Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Note or portion
of
a Note if the Company receives the notice of revocation before the date the
amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective.
After
an
amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every
Purchaser, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through
(7)
of Section 7.1. In that case the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind
each
Holder of a Note who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note
or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s
Note.
SECTION
7.3 NOTATION
ON OR EXCHANGE OF NOTES.
If
an
amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Company may
require the Holder of the Note to deliver it to the Company. The Company may
place an appropriate notation on the Note about the changed terms and return
it
to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company so determines, the Company in
exchange for the Note shall issue a new Note that reflects the changed
terms.
SECTION
7.4 RECORD
DATE FOR VOTE OR CONSENT OF NOTEHOLDERS.
The
Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of
Noteholders entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent
authorized or permitted under this Agreement, which record date shall be not
less than 10 days prior to the first solicitation of such vote or consent.
If a
record date is fixed, those persons who were Holders of Notes at such record
date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be
entitled to take such action by vote or consent or to revoke any vote or consent
previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be holders after
such
record date.
ARTICLE
8
GUARANTEE
OF NOTES
SECTION
8.1 UNCONDITIONAL
GUARANTEE.
Each
Guarantor hereby unconditionally, jointly and severally, guarantees to each
Purchaser of a Note and its successors and assigns, the Note or the obligations
of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (i) the principal of and interest
on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable
grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise and interest
on
the overdue principal, if any, and interest on any interest, to the extent
lawful, of the Notes and all other obligations of the Company to the Purchasers
hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in
accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (ii) in case of any extension
of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or of any such other obligations,
the
same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with
the
terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period,
whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, subject, however,
in
the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, to the limitations set forth in Section
8.3. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Obligations hereunder shall be
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of
the
Notes or this Exchange Agreement, the absence of any action to enforce the
same,
any waiver or consent by any Purchaser with respect to any provisions hereof
or
thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce
the same or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal
or
equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives
diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in
the
event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever
and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete
performance of the obligations contained in the Notes, this Exchange Agreement
and in this Guarantee. If any Purchaser is required by any court or otherwise
to
return to the Company, any Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator
or
other similar official acting in relation to the Company or any Guarantor,
any
amount paid by the Company or any Guarantor to such Purchaser, this Guarantee,
to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and
effect as to such amount only. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between
each Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Purchasers, on the other hand, (x)
the
maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided
in
Article 6 for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay,
injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of
the
Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any acceleration of
such
obligations as provided in Article 6, such Obligations (whether or not due
and
payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Guarantor for the
purpose of this Guarantee.
28
SECTION
8.2 SEVERABILITY.
In
case
any provision of this Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable,
the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not
in
any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION
8.3 LIMITATION
OF GUARANTOR’S LIABILITY.
Each
Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Purchaser, hereby confirms that
it
is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Guarantor
pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance
for
purposes of any Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the
Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar Federal or state law. To
effectuate the foregoing intention, the Purchasers and such Guarantor hereby
irrevocably agree that the Obligations of such 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 Guarantor and after giving effect
to
any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor
in
respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Guarantee or
pursuant to Section 8.5, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under
its
Guarantee not constituting such fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
SECTION
8.4 CONTRIBUTION.
In
order
to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the
Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is
made by any Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under this Guarantee, such Funding
Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from all other Guarantors in
a pro
rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of each Guarantor (including the
Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that
Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the
Notes or any other Guarantor’s Obligations with respect to this
Guarantee.
29
SECTION
8.5 EXECUTION
OF GUARANTEE.
To
evidence their guarantee to the Purchasers specified in Section 8.1, the
Guarantors hereby agree to execute the Guarantee in substantially the form
of
Exhibit B to be endorsed on each Note. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its
Guarantee set forth in Section 8.1 shall remain in full force and effect
notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such
Guarantee. Each such Guarantee shall be signed on behalf of each Guarantor
by
two Officers, or an Officer and an Assistant Secretary or one Officer shall
sign
and one Officer or an Assistant Secretary (each of whom shall, in each case,
have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate actions) shall attest
to
such Guarantee prior to the authentication of the Note on which it is endorsed,
and the delivery of such Note by the Company, after the authentication thereof
hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of such Guarantee on behalf of such
Guarantor. Such signatures upon the Guarantee may be by manual or facsimile
signature of such Officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on
the
Guarantee, and in case any such Officer who shall have signed the Guarantee
shall cease to be such officer before the Note on which such Guarantee is
endorsed shall have been disposed of by the Company, such Note nevertheless
may
be disposed of as though the person who signed the Guarantee had not ceased
to
be such Officer of the Guarantor.
SECTION
8.6 OBLIGATIONS
OF EACH GUARANTOR UNCONDITIONAL.
Nothing
contained in this Article 8 or elsewhere in this Exchange Agreement or in the
Notes or the Guarantees is intended to or shall impair, as among any Guarantor,
its creditors, and the Purchasers, the obligation of such Guarantor, which
is
absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Purchasers the principal of and any
interest on the Notes as and when the same shall become due and payable in
accordance with the terms of the Guarantees, or is intended to or shall affect
the relative rights of the Purchasers and creditors of any Guarantor, nor shall
anything herein or therein prevent the Purchaser of any Note from exercising
all
remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Exchange
Agreement, subject to the rights, if any, in respect of cash, property or
securities of any Guarantor received upon the exercise of any such
remedy.
SECTION
8.7 NOTICE
TO
PURCHASERS.
The
Company or any Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Purchasers
of
any fact known to the Company or any such Guarantor which would prohibit the
making of any payment to or by the Purchasers in respect of the Guarantees
pursuant to the provisions of this Article 8. Regardless of anything to the
contrary contained in this Article 8 or elsewhere in this Exchange Agreement,
the Purchasers shall not be charged with knowledge of any facts which would
prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Purchasers unless and until
the
Purchasers shall have received notice in writing from the Company or a Guarantor
and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Purchasers shall
be
entitled to assume (in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary) that
no
such facts exist.
30
SECTION
8.8 RELIANCE
ON JUDICIAL ORDER OR CERTIFICATE OF LIQUIDATING AGENT.
Upon
any
payment or distribution of assets of any Guarantor referred to in this Article
8, the Purchasers shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by
any
court of competent jurisdiction in which bankruptcy, dissolution, winding-up,
liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or upon certificate
of
the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person
making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Purchasers, for the
purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such
distribution, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts
paid
or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article
8.
SECTION
8.9 SUCCESSORS
AND ASSIGNS.
This
Article 8 shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the
Purchasers and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any
Purchaser, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Exchange
Agreement and in the Notes shall automatically extend to and be vested in such
transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Exchange
Agreement.
SECTION
8.10 NO
WAIVER.
Neither
a
failure nor a delay on the part of the Purchasers in exercising any right,
power
or privilege under this Article 8 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall
a
single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of
any
right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Purchasers
herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights,
remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 8 at law, in
equity, by statute or otherwise.
SECTION
8.11 NO
SUBROGATION.
Notwithstanding
any payment or payments made by any of the Guarantors hereunder, no Guarantor
shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of any Purchaser against
the Company or any other Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee
or
right of offset held by any Purchaser for the payment of the Obligations, nor
shall any Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or
reimbursement from the Company or any other Guarantor in respect of payments
made by such Guarantor hereunder, until all amounts owing the Purchasers by
the
Company on account of the Obligations are paid in full. If any amount shall
be
paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when
all
of the Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held
by such Guarantor in trust for the Purchasers, segregated from other funds
of
such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned
over to the Purchasers in the exact from received by such Guarantor (duly
indorsed by such Guarantor to the Purchasers, if required), to be applied
against the Obligations.
31
SECTION
8.12 ADDITIONAL
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS.
Until
such time as all Guarantees by the Guarantors under this Exchange Agreement
shall have been released in accordance with Section 8.14, the Company shall
cause each Subsidiary that guarantees or becomes a co-obligor on the Company’s
obligations under the Bank Credit Facility to execute and deliver a supplement
to this Exchange Agreement providing that such Subsidiary will be a Guarantor
hereunder. In addition, if any Subsidiary of the Company guarantees or becomes
a
co-obligor on any Funded Indebtedness of the Company other than the Notes at
any
time subsequent to the date on which the Notes are originally issued (including,
without limitation, following any release of such Subsidiary from its Guarantee
pursuant to Section 8.14), the Company shall cause the Notes to be equally
and
ratably guaranteed by such Subsidiary, which Subsidiary shall execute and
deliver a supplement to this Exchange Agreement providing that such Subsidiary
will be a Guarantor hereunder. Each such supplement shall be substantially
in
the form of Exhibit C attached hereto. Subsidiaries that are Guarantors on
the
date any such supplement is executed by an additional Subsidiary shall not
be
required to become parties to such supplement and hereby agree to the execution
and delivery by any additional Subsidiary of any such supplement.
SECTION
8.13 MODIFICATION.
No
modification, amendment or waiver of any provisions of this Article 8, nor
the
consent to any departure by the Guarantors therefrom, shall in any event be
effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Holders of
a
majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and
then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance
and
for the purpose for which given; it being understood that the release of the
Guarantees of Guarantors pursuant to Section 8.14 shall not be an amendment
or
waiver of any provision of this Article 8 and shall not require any action
on
the part of the Holders. No notice to or demand on the Guarantors in any case
shall entitle the Guarantors to any other or further notice or demand in the
same, similar or other circumstances.
SECTION
8.14 RELEASE
OF GUARANTOR.
(a)
Except
as
set forth in subsection (c) below, upon the sale or other disposition of all
of
the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise,
or a
sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of such Guarantor, in
each
case in accordance with the terms of Section 5.1, such Guarantor (in the event
of a sale or other disposition, by way of such a merger, consolidation or
otherwise of all the capital stock of such Guarantor) shall be automatically
released from all its obligations under this Exchange Agreement and the
Guarantee without any action on the part of the Purchasers. The Purchasers
shall
receive written notice of the release of any Guarantor if such release is
effected other than under Section 5.1.
(b)
Except
as
set forth in subsection (c) below, upon the release of a Subsidiary as a
guarantor or co-obligor on the Company’s obligations under the Bank Credit
Facility, the Guarantee of such Subsidiary under this Exchange Agreement will
be
released and discharged at such time and will not be reinstated or renewed
in
the event any such Subsidiary thereafter guarantees or becomes a co-obligor
on
obligations of the Company under the Bank Credit Facility, so long as the
obligations of such Subsidiary under the Bank Credit Facility remain released
(i) until the next succeeding refinancing, restatement, renewal, extension
or
replacement of the Bank Credit Facility or amendment to increase the available
principal amount thereunder, or (ii) for a period of 90 consecutive days,
whichever is later.
32
(c)
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a Guarantor may be released from its Guarantee only if such
Guarantor is not a guarantor of (or co-obligor on) any Funded Indebtedness
of
the Company other than the Notes and other than Funded Indebtedness of the
Company (i) that is subject to a release provision similar to the release
provision described herein, and (ii) the related guarantee (or obligation)
of
which shall be released concurrently with the release of the Guarantee of such
Guarantor pursuant to such release provision; provided that no default or Event
of Default hereunder has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION
8.15 THIS
ARTICLE 8 NOT TO PREVENT EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
The
failure to make a payment on account of principal of or interest on the Notes
by
reason of any provision of this Article 8 will not be construed as preventing
the occurrence of an Event of Default.
ARTICLE
9
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
9.1 NOTICES.
Any
notice or communication shall be given in writing and delivered in person or
mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If
to the Company or the Guarantors:
Wolverine
Tube, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, President
If
to the Initial Purchaser:
Plainfield
Special Situations Master Fund Limited
c/o
Plainfield Asset Management LLC
00
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, General Counsel
Such
notices or communications shall be effective when received.
The
Company, the Guarantors or the Purchaser by notice to the others may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
Any
notice or communication mailed to a Purchaser shall be mailed by first class
mail to such Purchaser at his or her address shown on the register kept by
the
Company.
Failure
to mail a notice or communication to a Purchaser or any defect in it shall
not
affect its sufficiency with respect to other Purchasers. If a notice or
communication to a Purchaser is mailed in the manner provided above, it is
duly
given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
33
SECTION
9.2 LEGAL
HOLIDAYS.
A
“Legal
Holiday” is a Saturday, or a Sunday or a day on which state or Federally
chartered banking institutions in New York are not required to be open. 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.
SECTION
9.3 GOVERNING
LAW.
This
Exchange Agreement and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION
9.4 NO
ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS.
This
Exchange Agreement may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or
debt
agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof. Any such indenture, loan
or
debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Exchange
Agreement.
SECTION
9.5 NO
RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS.
All
liability described in paragraph 15 of the Notes of any director, officer,
employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company or any Guarantor is waived
and
released.
SECTION
9.6 SUCCESSORS.
All
agreements of the Company or the Guarantors in this Exchange Agreement and
the
Notes shall bind their respective successors in accordance with the terms hereof
and thereof.
SECTION
9.7 MULTIPLE
COUNTERPARTS.
The
parties may sign multiple counterparts of this Exchange Agreement. Each signed
counterpart shall be deemed an original, but all of them together represent
the
same agreement.
SECTION
9.8 SEPARABILITY.
In
case
any provision in this Exchange Agreement or in the Notes shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
SECTION
9.9 TABLE
OF
CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.
The
table
of contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Exchange Agreement
have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered
a
part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or
provisions hereof.
34
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands as of the
20th
day of March, 2008.
COMPANY:
|
|
WOLVERINE
TUBE, INC.
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
GUARANTORS:
|
|
TF
INVESTOR, INC.
|
|
as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
TUBE
FORMING L.P.
as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
WOLVERINE
FINANCE LLC,
as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
35
WOLVERINE
CHINA INVESTMENT, LLC
|
|
as
Guarantor
|
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By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
WOLVERINE
JOINING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
|
|
as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
TUBE
FORMING HOLDINGS, INC
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
WT
HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
INITIAL
PURCHASER:
|
|
PLAINFIELD
SPECIAL SITUATIONS MASTER FUND LIMITED,
as
Initial Purchaser
|
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By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
36
EXHIBIT
A
FORM
OF NOTE
THIS
NOTE
(OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “SECURITIES
ACT”), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE
ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH
PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY
BE
RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES
ACT
PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.
THE
HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS NOTE
MAY
BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) INSIDE THE UNITED
STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A
TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED
STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT
TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF
CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF
ANY
STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER
IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE
RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.
A-1
WOLVERINE
TUBE, INC.
10-1/2%
Senior Notes Due 2009
Wolverine
Tube, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay to
_________________ or registered assigns, the principal sum of
___________________ Dollars ($__________) on March 28, 2009 and to pay interest
on the principal amount of this Note beginning April 1, 2008 at the rate of
10-1/2% per annum.
Interest
Payment Dates: October 1 and April 1
Additional
provisions of this Note are set forth below.
1. Interest.
The
Company, promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the
rate per annum shown above. The Company shall pay interest semi-annually on
September 1 and March 1 of each year, commencing September 1, 2008. Interest
on
the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been
paid
or, if no interest has been paid, from March 20, 2008. Interest will be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
2. Method
of
Payment.
The
Company will pay interest on this Note (except defaulted interest) to the person
who is the registered Purchaser of this Note at the close of business on the
February 15 and August 15 next preceding the interest payment date. Interest
not
punctually paid will be paid to the persons who are registered Purchasers as
of
the close of business on a record date so designated by the Company. The
Purchaser must surrender this Note to the Company to collect payment of
principal. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United
States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts. The Company, however, may pay principal and interest by its
check
payable in such money and mailed to the Purchaser’s registered
address.
3. [Intentionally
Omitted.].
4. Exchange
Agreement.
This
Note
is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company designated as its
10-1/2% Senior Notes Due 2009 (the “Notes”), issued under a Note Exchange and
Debenture Agreement dated as of March 20, 2008 (the “Exchange Agreement”), among
the Company, the Guarantors named therein and the Initial Purchaser. This Note
is subject to all such terms, and the Purchaser of this Note is referred to
the
Exchange Agreement. Capitalized terms and certain other terms used herein and
not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Exchange
Agreement.
A-2
The
Notes
are senior unsecured obligations of the Company limited to $38,300,000 aggregate
principal amount. The Exchange Agreement imposes certain restrictions on the
ability of the Company to create liens, enter into sale and leaseback
transactions and enter into mergers and consolidations.
To
guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal and interest, if any,
on
the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Company under the Exchange
Agreement and the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether
at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Notes
and the Exchange Agreement, the Guarantors, as primary obligors and not merely
as surety, have unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, on a joint and
several basis, such obligations on a senior basis pursuant to the terms of
Article 8 of the Exchange Agreement.
5. Prepayment.
The
Notes
may be prepaid at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at any time and
from time to time upon any date. The prepayment prices for Notes shall be equal
to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid
or
(ii) the sum of the present value of the remaining scheduled payments of
principal and interest thereon from the prepayment date to the Maturity Date,
discounted to the prepayment date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day
year
consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points,
plus accrued interest thereon to the date of prepayment. Any interest payment
that is due and payable on or prior to such date of prepayment will be payable
to the Purchasers of such Notes, or one or more predecessor Notes, of record
at
the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face
hereof, all as provided in the Exchange Agreement.
6. Notice
of
Prepayment.
Notice
of
prepayment will be mailed by first class mail at least 15 days but not more
than
30 days before the prepayment date to each Purchaser of Notes to be prepaid
at
such Purchaser’s registered address. On and after the prepayment date, interest
ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of the Notes called for
prepayment.
7. Transfer,
Exchange.
A
Purchaser may register the transfer of or exchange Notes in accordance with
the
Exchange Agreement. The Company may require a Purchaser, among other things,
to
furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes
or
other governmental charges that may be imposed by law or permitted by the
Exchange Agreement.
8. Persons
Deemed Owners.
The
registered Purchaser of a Note may be treated as the owner of such Note for
all
purposes.
9. Unclaimed
Money.
If
money
for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the
Purchasers entitled to money must look to the Company for payment as general
creditors unless an abandoned property law designates another
person.
A-3
10. [Intentionally
Omitted].
11. Amendment,
Supplement, Waiver.
Subject
to certain exceptions, the Exchange Agreement or the Notes may be amended or
supplemented with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Notes then outstanding and any past default or compliance with any
provision may be waived in a particular instance with the consent of the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.
12. Successor
Corporation.
When
a
successor corporation assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under
the
Notes and the Exchange Agreement and the transaction complies with the terms
of
Article 5 of the Exchange Agreement, the predecessor corporation will, except
as
provided in Article 5 of the Exchange Agreement, be released from those
obligations.
13. Defaults
and Remedies.
Events
of
Default are set forth in the Exchange Agreement. Subject to certain limitations
in the Exchange Agreement, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.1(6) or (7) of the Exchange Agreement) occurs
and
is continuing, the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount
of
the outstanding Notes may, by written notice to the Company, declare all
principal of and accrued interest on all Notes to be immediately due and payable
and such amounts shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.1(6) or (7) of the Exchange Agreement occurs,
the
principal amount of and interest on, all Notes shall ipso facto become and
be
immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part
of
any Purchaser. Purchasers may not enforce the Exchange Agreement or the Notes
except as provided in the Exchange Agreement.
14. [Intentionally
Omitted].
15. No
Recourse Against Others.
A
director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company or the
Guarantors shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company
or
the Guarantors under the Notes or the Exchange Agreement or for any claim based
on, in respect or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. The
Purchaser of this Note, by accepting this Note, waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue
of
this Note.
A-4
16. [Intentionally
Omitted].
17. [Intentionally
Omitted].
18. Definitions.
All
capitalized terms used in this Note and not specifically defined herein are
defined in the Exchange Agreement and are used herein as so
defined.
19. Exchange
Agreement to Control.
In
the
case of any conflict between the provisions of this Note and the Exchange
Agreement, the provisions of the Exchange Agreement shall control.
The
Company will furnish to any Purchaser, upon written request and without charge,
a copy of the Exchange Agreement. Requests may be made to: Wolverine Tube,
Inc.,
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Attention:
Chief
Financial Officer.
20. Governing
Law.
The
Notes
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of
New York.
WOLVERINE
TUBE, INC.
|
||
By: |
|
|
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
||
[SEAL]
|
||
Attest:
|
||
By:_______________________
|
||
Name:
|
A-5
TRANSFER
NOTICE
This
Transfer Notice relates to $__________ principal amount of the 10-1/2% Senior
Notes Due 2009 of Wolverine Tube, Inc., a Delaware corporation, held by
______________________________ (the “Transferor”).
(I)
or
(we) assign and transfer this Note to
(Print
or
type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
(Insert
assignee’s social security or tax I.D. no.)
and
irrevocably appoint _______________________________ agent to transfer this
Note
on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for
him.
Your
Signature:
(Sign
exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)
Date:
Signature
Guarantee1 :
In
connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate
occurring prior to the date that is two years after the later of the date of
original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes
were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned
confirms that such Notes are being transferred:
CHECK
ONE BOX BELOW
(1) |
[
]
to Wolverine Tube, Inc.; or
|
(2) |
[
]
pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities
Act of
1933, as amended; or
|
(3) |
[
]
pursuant to and in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities
Act
of 1933, as amended; or
|
(4) |
[
]
to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1),
(2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that
has
furnished to the Company a signed letter containing certain
representations and agreements (the form of which letter can be obtained
from the Company)); or
|
1
(1) Signature
must be guaranteed by a commercial bank, trust company or member firm of
the New
York Stock Exchange.
A-6
(5) [
]
pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements
of the Securities Act of 1933; or
|
(6) |
[
]
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act
of 1933.
|
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Company will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (2), (3), (4) or (5) is checked, the Company may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act. |
Unless the box below is checked, the undersigned confirms that such Note is not being transferred to an “affiliate” of the Company as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (an “Affiliate”): |
(7) |
[
]
The transferee is an Affiliate of the
Company.
|
Signature | |
Date | |
Signature Guarantee2 |
2 |
(1)
|
Signature
must be guaranteed by a commercial bank, trust company or member
firm of
the New York Stock
Exchange.
|
A-7
TO
BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (2) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The
undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its
own
account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment
discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer”
within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware
that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges
that
it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has
requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such
information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the
undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from
registration provided by Rule 144A.
Date:_____________________________
|
_______________________________________________________________________________
|
|
[Signature
of executive officer of purchaser]
|
||
Name:___________________________________________________________________________
|
||
Title:___________________________________________________________________________
|
A-8
EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF GUARANTEE
Each
of
the undersigned (the “Guarantors”) hereby jointly and severally unconditionally
guarantees, to the extent set forth in the Note Exchange and Debenture Agreement
dated as of March 20, 2008 by and among WOLVERINE TUBE, INC., as issuer, the
GUARANTORS, as guarantors, and PLAINFIELD SPECIAL SITUATIONS MASTER FUND
LIMITED, as Initial Purchaser (as amended, restated or supplemented from time
to
time, the “Exchange Agreement”), and subject to the provisions of the Exchange
Agreement, (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium,
if
any, and interest on the Notes, when and as the same shall become due and
payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, the due and punctual
payment of interest on overdue principal of, and premium and, to the extent
permitted by law, interest, and the due and punctual performance of all other
obligations of the Company to the Purchasers, all in accordance with the terms
set forth in Article 8 of the Exchange Agreement, and (b) in case of any
extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other
obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed
in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.
The
obligations of the Guarantors to the Purchasers pursuant to this Guarantee
and
the Exchange Agreement are expressly set forth in Article 8 of the Exchange
Agreement and reference is hereby made to the Exchange Agreement for the precise
terms and limitations of this Guarantee.
[SIGNED
ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]
B-1
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Guarantors has caused this Guarantee to be signed
by a duly authorized officer.
TF
INVESTOR, INC.
as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
TUBE
FORMING L.P.
as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
WOLVERINE
FINANCE LLC,
as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
WOLVERINE
CHINA INVESTMENTS, LLC
|
|
as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
WOLVERINE
JOINING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
|
|
as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
B-2
TUBE
FORMING HOLDINGS, INC.
as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
WT
HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
as
Guarantor
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
B-3
EXHIBIT
C
FORM
OF GUARANTOR SUPPLEMENT
GUARANTOR
SUPPLEMENT, dated as of ___________, _____, by [NEW GUARANTOR], a
_______________ corporation (the “New Guarantor”) to the Note Exchange and
Debenture Agreement dated as of March 20, 2008 (as amended to the date hereof,
the “Exchange Agreement”) among the Wolverine Tube, Inc., the Guarantors named
therein and the Purchasers from time to time party thereto.
W
I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
Section 8.12 of the Exchange Agreement provides that until such time as all
Guarantees by the Guarantors under the Exchange Agreement shall have been
released in accordance with Section 8.14 of the Exchange Agreement, the Company
shall cause each Subsidiary that guarantees or becomes a co-obligor on the
Company’s obligations under the Bank Credit Facility to execute and deliver this
Guarantor Supplement pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall agree to be bound
by the provisions of Article 8 of the Exchange Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
the New Guarantor shall execute and deliver to the Purchasers this Guarantor
Supplement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, the New Guarantor shall execute and deliver to the Purchasers this
Guarantor Supplement.
1.
Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the
meaning specified in or pursuant to the Exchange Agreement.
2.
Guarantee. The New Guarantor hereby agrees to unconditionally assume all the
obligations of a Guarantor under the Exchange Agreement as described
therein.
4.
Effect
on Exchange Agreement. As supplemented by this Guarantor Supplement, the
Exchange Agreement is hereby ratified and confirmed in all aspects.
5.
Counterparts. This Guarantor Supplement may be executed in counterparts, each
of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.
6.
Governing Law. This Guarantor Supplement shall be governed by, and construed
in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York but without giving effect
to
applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application
of
the laws of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.
C-1
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Guarantor Supplement to
be
duly executed as of the date and year first above written.
[New Guarantor] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
C-2