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EXECUTION COPY
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP.
ISSUER
10 3/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2011
___________________________
INDENTURE
Dated as of June 26, 2000
___________________________
United States Trust Company of New York
Trustee
___________________________
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Trust Indenture
Act Section Indenture Section
310 (a)(1)............................................................... 7.10
(a)(2)............................................................... 7.10
(a)(3)............................................................... N.A.
(a)(4)............................................................... N.A.
(a)(5)............................................................... 7.10
(b).................................................................. 7.10
(c).................................................................. N.A.
311 (a).................................................................. 7.11
(b).................................................................. 7.11
(c).................................................................. N.A.
312 (a).................................................................. 2.05
(b).................................................................. 11.03
(c).................................................................. 11.03
313 (a).................................................................. 7.06
(b)(1)............................................................... N.A.
(b)(2)............................................................... 7.07
(c).................................................................. 7.06;11.02
(d).................................................................. 7.06
314 (a).................................................................. 4.03;11.02
(b).................................................................. N.A.
(c)(1)............................................................... 11.04
(c)(2)............................................................... 11.04
(c)(3)............................................................... N.A.
(d).................................................................. N.A.
(e).................................................................. 11.05
(f).................................................................. N.A.
315 (a).................................................................. 7.01
(b).................................................................. 7.05;11.02
(c).................................................................. 7.01
(d).................................................................. 7.01
(e).................................................................. 6.11
316 (a)(last sentence)................................................... 2.09
(a)(1)(A)............................................................ 6.05
(a)(1)(B)............................................................ 6.04
(a)(2)............................................................... N.A.
(b).................................................................. 6.07
(c).................................................................. 2.12
317 (a)(1)............................................................... 6.08
(a)(2)............................................................... 6.09
(b).................................................................. 2.04
318 (a).................................................................. 11.01
(b).................................................................. N.A.
(c).................................................................. 11.01
N.A. means not applicable.
* This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01. Definitions..................................................................................... 1
Section 1.02. Other Definitions............................................................................... 19
Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act............................................... 19
Section 1.04. Rules of Construction........................................................................... 20
ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Form and Dating................................................................................. 20
Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication.................................................................... 21
Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent...................................................................... 21
Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust............................................................. 22
Section 2.05. Holder Lists.................................................................................... 22
Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange........................................................................... 22
Section 2.07. Replacement Notes............................................................................... 25
Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes............................................................................... 25
Section 2.09. Treasury Notes.................................................................................. 26
Section 2.10. Temporary Notes................................................................................. 26
Section 2.11. Cancellation.................................................................................... 26
Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest.............................................................................. 27
ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee.............................................................................. 27
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed............................................................... 27
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption............................................................................ 28
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.................................................................. 28
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price..................................................................... 28
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.......................................................................... 29
Section 3.07. Optional Redemption............................................................................. 29
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption............................................................................ 30
Section 3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds............................................. 30
ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes................................................................................ 31
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency................................................................. 32
Section 4.03. Reports......................................................................................... 32
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate.......................................................................... 33
Section 4.05. Taxes........................................................................................... 34
Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.................................................................. 34
Section 4.07. Restricted Payments............................................................................. 34
Section 4.08. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.................................. 37
Section 4.09. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock...................................... 39
Section 4.10. Asset Sales..................................................................................... 42
Section 4.11. Transactions with Affiliates.................................................................... 43
Section 4.12. Liens........................................................................................... 44
Section 4.13. Business Activities............................................................................. 45
Section 4.14. Corporate Existence............................................................................. 45
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Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control...................................................... 45
Section 4.16. Sale and Leaseback Transactions................................................................. 47
Section 4.17. Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries................... 47
Section 4.18. Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees of Indebtedness........................................... 48
ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets........................................................ 48
Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted............................................................... 49
ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01. Events of Default............................................................................... 49
Section 6.02. Acceleration.................................................................................... 51
Section 6.03. Other Remedies.................................................................................. 51
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults......................................................................... 51
Section 6.05. Control by Majority............................................................................. 51
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits............................................................................. 52
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment................................................... 52
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee...................................................................... 52
Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim................................................................ 52
Section 6.10. Priorities...................................................................................... 53
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs........................................................................... 53
ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee............................................................................... 54
Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee............................................................................... 55
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.................................................................... 55
Section 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer............................................................................ 55
Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.............................................................................. 56
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes...................................................... 56
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity...................................................................... 56
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.......................................................................... 57
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc................................................................ 58
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification................................................................... 58
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company............................................... 58
ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance........................................ 58
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.................................................................. 58
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance............................................................................. 59
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance...................................................... 59
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions... 61
Section 8.06. Repayment to Company............................................................................ 61
Section 8.07. Reinstatement................................................................................... 61
ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes............................................................. 62
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes................................................................ 62
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act............................................................. 64
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Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents............................................................... 64
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes................................................................ 64
Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc................................................................. 64
ARTICLE 10 NOTE GUARANTEES
Section 10.01. Guarantee....................................................................................... 65
Section 10.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability............................................................... 66
Section 10.03. Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee........................................................ 66
Section 10.04. Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.............................................. 67
Section 10.05. Releases Following Sale of Assets............................................................... 67
ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.................................................................... 68
Section 11.02. Notices......................................................................................... 68
Section 11.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes................................... 69
Section 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.............................................. 69
Section 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion................................................... 69
Section 11.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents..................................................................... 70
Section 11.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders........................ 70
Section 11.08. Governing Law................................................................................... 70
Section 11.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements................................................... 70
Section 11.10. Successors...................................................................................... 70
Section 11.11. Severability.................................................................................... 70
Section 11.12. Counterpart Originals........................................................................... 71
Section 11.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc................................................................ 71
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A FORM OF NOTE
Exhibit B FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT
GUARANTORS
Exhibit C FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
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INDENTURE dated as of June 26, 2000 between Crown Castle International
Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and United States Trust Company
of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee").
The Company and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other
and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 10 3/4% Senior Notes
due 2011 (each, a "Note", and, collectively, the "Notes"):
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01. Definitions.
"9% Senior Notes" means the Company's 9% Senior Notes due 2011.
"10-3/8% Senior Discount Notes" means the Company's 10-3/8% Senior Discount
Notes due 2011.
"Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person
is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person,
including, without limitation, Indebtedness incurred in connection
with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or
becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person; and
(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such
specified Person.
"Additional Notes" means up to $100.00 million in aggregate principal
amount of Notes issued under this Indenture, in accordance with Sections 2.02
and 4.09 hereof.
"Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow" means, as of any date of determination,
the sum of:
(1) the Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company for the four most recent full
fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which
internal financial statements are available, less the Company's Tower
Cash Flow for such four-quarter period; plus
(2) the product of four times the Company's Tower Cash Flow for the most
recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are
available.
For purposes of making the computation referred to above:
(1) acquisitions that have been made by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations
and including any related financing transactions, during the reference
period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the
calculation date shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day of
the reference period and Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference
period shall be calculated without giving effect to clause (2) of the
proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Income;
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(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as
determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses
disposed of prior to the calculation date, shall be excluded; and
(3) the corporate development expense of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries calculated in a manner consistent with the audited
financial statements of the Company included in the Prospectus shall be
added to Consolidated Cash Flow to the extent it was included in
computing Consolidated Net Income.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by"
and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that
beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person shall be
deemed to be control.
"Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of
or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the
Depositary, Euroclear and Cedel that apply to such transfer or exchange.
"Asset Sale" means:
(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or
rights (including, without limitation, by way of a sale and leaseback);
provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole will be governed by the Section 4.15 and Article 5
hereof and not by Section 4.10 hereof; and
(2) the issue or sale by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of Equity Interests of any of the Company's Subsidiaries (other than
directors' qualifying shares or shares required by applicable law to be
held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), in
the case of either clause (1) or (2), whether in a single transaction
or a series of related transactions:
(a) that have a fair market value in excess of $1.0 million; or
(b) for net proceeds in excess of $1.0 million.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following items shall not be deemed to
be Asset Sales:
(1) a transfer of assets by the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary or by a
Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted
Subsidiary;
(2) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary to the Company or to
another Restricted Subsidiary;
(3) a transfer or issuance of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary to an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such
transfer or issuance does not result in a decrease in the percentage of
ownership of the voting securities of such transferee Unrestricted
Subsidiary that are collectively held by the Company and its
Subsidiaries;
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(4) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07 hereof;
(5) grants of leases or licenses in the ordinary course of business; and
(6) disposals of Cash Equivalents.
"Attributable Debt" in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means,
at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate of
interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP) of
the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term
of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any
period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the
lessor, be extended).
"August 1999 Senior Note Indenture" means that certain indenture dated as
of August 3, 1999 between the Company and the United States Trust Company of New
York, as Trustee, governing the Company's 9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2011.
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state
law for the relief of debtors.
"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any
authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
"Broker-Dealer" means any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange
Act.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
"Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination thereof is
to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would
at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with
GAAP.
"Capital Stock" means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares,
interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however
designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership
or membership interests (whether general or limited); and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right
to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of
assets of, the issuing Person.
"Cash Equivalents" means:
(1) United States dollars;
(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the
United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof
(provided that the full faith and credit of the United
3
States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more
than six months from the date of acquisition;
(3) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of
six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers' acceptances
with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank deposits,
in each case with any lender party to the Senior Credit Facility or
with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess
of $500.0 million and a Xxxxxxxx Bank Watch Rating of "B" or better;
(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for
underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3)
above entered into with any financial institution meeting the
qualifications specified in clause (3) above;
(5) commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from Xxxxx'x
Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Ratings Group and in each
case maturing within six months after the date of acquisition; and
(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash
Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1)-(5) of this
definition.
"CCAIC" means CCA Investment Corp., which is an indirect wholly owned
Subsidiary of the Company and was formed to hold the Company's Equity Interests
in Crown Atlantic Holding Company LLC.
"Cedel" means Cedel Bank, S.A.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than
by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related
transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole to any "person" (as
such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than a
Principal or a Related Party of a Principal;
(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of
the Company;
(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any
merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any "person" (as
defined above), other than the Principals and their Related Parties,
becomes the "beneficial owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be
deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all securities that such
person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently
exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent
condition), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting
Stock of the Company (measured by voting power rather than number of
shares); provided that transfers of Equity Interests in the Company
between or among the beneficial owners of the Company's Equity
Interests and/or Equity Interests in CTSH, in each case as of the date
hereof, will not be deemed to cause a Change of Control under this
clause (3) so long as no single Person together with its Affiliates
acquires a beneficial interest in more of the Voting
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Stock of the Company than is at the time collectively beneficially
owned by the Principals and their Related Parties;
(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors are not Continuing Directors; or
(5) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or
any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in
any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the
outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged
for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction
where:
(a) the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to
such transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock
(other than Disqualified Stock) of the surviving or transferee
Person constituting a majority of the outstanding shares of such
Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person (immediately
after giving effect to such issuance); or
(b) the Principals and their Related Parties own a majority of such
outstanding shares after such transaction.
"Company" means Crown Castle International Corp., and any and all
successors thereto.
"Completed Tower" means any wireless transmission tower owned or managed by
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that, as of any date of
determination:
(1) has at least one wireless communications or broadcast tenant that has
executed a definitive lease with the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, which lease is producing revenue with respect to the
tower as of the date of determination; and
(2) has capacity for at least two tenants in addition to the tenant
referred to in clause (1) of this definition.
"Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period; plus
(1) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such
provision for taxes was included in computing such Consolidated Net
Income; plus
(2) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or
not capitalized (including, without limitation, amortization of debt
issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments,
the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the
interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease
Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred
in respect of letters of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and
net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations), to the extent
that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net
Income; plus
5
(3) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of goodwill and
other intangibles and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-
cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve
for cash expenses in any future period) of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such
depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus
(4) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period
(excluding any items that were accrued in the ordinary course of
business),
in each case on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person as of any
date of determination, the sum, without duplication, of
(1) the total amount of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries; plus
(2) the total amount of Indebtedness of any other Person, to the extent
that such Indebtedness has been Guaranteed by the referent Person or
one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus
(3) the aggregate liquidation value of all Disqualified Stock of such
Person and all preferred stock of Restricted Subsidiaries of such
Person, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance
with GAAP.
"Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person for any
period:
(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP,
whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including,
without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original
issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of
any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all
payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest
with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other
fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers'
acceptance financings, and net payments, if any, pursuant to Hedging
Obligations); plus
(2) all preferred stock dividends paid or accrued in respect of the
Company's and its Restricted Subsidiaries' preferred stock to Persons
other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company other than preferred stock dividends paid by the Company in
shares of preferred stock that is not Disqualified Stock.
"Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP;
provided that
(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person other than the Company that
is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity
method of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount
of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person or a
Restricted Subsidiary thereof;
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(2) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests
transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition shall
be excluded;
(3) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be
excluded; and
(4) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be
excluded whether or not distributed to the Company or one of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Consolidated Tangible Assets" means, with respect to the Company, the
total consolidated assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, less
the total intangible assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as
shown on the most recent internal consolidated balance sheet of the Company and
such Restricted Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance
with GAAP.
"Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any member
of the Board of Directors who:
(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of the August 1999
Senior Note Indenture;
(2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with
the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members
of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election;
or
(3) is a designee of a Principal or was nominated by a Principal.
"Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" shall be at the address of the
Trustee specified in Section 11.02 hereof or such other address as to which the
Trustee may give notice to the Company.
"Credit Facilities" means one or more debt facilities (including, without
limitation, the Senior Credit Facility) or commercial paper facilities with
banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term
loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such
lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders
against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended,
restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in
part from time to time.
"CTI" means Castle Transmission International Limited.
"CTSH" means Crown Transmission Services (Holdings) Ltd and its successors.
"Custodian" means the Trustee, as Custodian with respect to the Notes in
global form, or any successor entity thereto.
"Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio" means, as of any date of
determination, the ratio of:
(1) the Consolidated Indebtedness of the Company as of such date to
(2) the Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company as of such date.
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"Default" means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
"Definitive Note" means a certificated Note registered in the name of the
Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially
in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global
Note Legend and shall not have the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the
Global Note" attached thereto.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole
or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the
Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto
appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the
applicable provision of this Indenture.
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the
terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable, in each case, at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the
happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a
sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder
thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the
date on which the Notes mature; provided, however, that any Capital Stock that
would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the
right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the
occurrence of a Change of Control or an Asset Sale shall not constitute
Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company
may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions
unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 hereof.
"Eligible Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness other than:
(1) Indebtedness in the form of, or represented by, bonds or other
securities or any guarantee thereof; and
(2) Indebtedness that is, or may be, quoted, listed or purchased and sold
on any stock exchange, automated trading system or over-the-counter or
other securities market (including, without prejudice to the generality
of the foregoing, the market for securities eligible for resale
pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act).
"Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other
rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
"Euroclear" means Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels
office, as operator of the Euroclear system.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facility) in
existence on August 3, 1999, until such amounts are repaid.
8
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession, which are in effect on the date hereof.
"Global Note Legend" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f), which
is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
"Global Notes" means, the global Notes, substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto.
"Governance Agreement" means the agreement among the Company, TdF and its
affiliates, dated as of August 21, 1998, to provide for certain rights and
obligations of the Company, TdF and its affiliates with respect to the
management of the Company.
"Government Securities" means direct obligations of, or obligations
guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the
United States pledges its full faith and credit.
"Guarantee" means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or
indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of
assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness. The term "Guarantor" shall
mean any Person Guaranteeing any obligation.
"Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of
such Person under:
(1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and
interest rate collar agreements; and
(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person
against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of such
Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by
bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker's acceptances or
representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of the
purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging Obligations, except
any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, if and to
the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and
Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such
Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as all Indebtedness of others
secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person whether or not such Indebtedness
is assumed by such Person (the amount of such Indebtedness as of any date being
deemed to be the lesser of the value of such property or assets as of such date
or the principal amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person so secured)
and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by such Person of any
Indebtedness of any other Person. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as
of any date shall be:
9
(1) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with
original issue discount; and
(2) the principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that
is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.
"Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to
time.
"Indirect Participant" means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a
Global Note through a Participant.
"Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such
Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or
indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations),
advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business),
purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity
Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be
classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.
If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise
disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issues any of its Equity
Interests such that, in each case, after giving effect to any such sale or
disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,
the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such
sale or disposition equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of
such Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in
the final paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof.
"Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by
law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a
Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the
next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on
such payment for the intervening period.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law
(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in
the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under
the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction).
"May 1999 Senior Discount Note Indenture" means that certain indenture,
dated as of May 17, 1999, between the Company and the United States Trust
Company of New York, as trustee, governing the Company's 10-3/8% Senior Discount
Notes
"Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of
such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in
respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:
(1) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such
gain or loss, realized in connection with:
10
(a) any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, dispositions
pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions); or
(b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness
of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(2) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for
taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss.
"Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including,
without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any
non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:
(1) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without
limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales
commissions) and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof;
(2) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account
any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing
arrangements);
(3) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness (other
than Indebtedness under a Credit Facility) secured by a Lien on the
asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale;
(4) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority
interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such Asset
Sale;
(5) the deduction of appropriate amounts provided by the seller as a
reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with
the assets disposed of in such Asset Sale and retained by the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Sale; and
(6) without duplication, any reserves that Board of Directors determines in
good faith should be made in respect of the sale price of such asset or
assets for post closing adjustments;
provided that in the case of any reversal of any reserve referred to in clause
(5) or (6) above, the amount so reversed shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds from
an Asset Sale as of the date of such reversal.
"Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness:
(1) as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries:
(a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking,
agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness);
(b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise);
or
(c) constitutes the lender;
11
(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders
thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted
Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any
holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness
or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its
stated maturity; and
(3) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will
not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries (except that this clause (3) will not apply
to any Indebtedness incurred by CTSH and its Subsidiaries prior to the
date CTSH became a Subsidiary).
"Notes" has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.
"Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
"Offering" means the offering of the Notes by the Company.
"Officer" means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief
Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the
Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company
by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive
officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal
accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 11.04
hereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 11.04 hereof.
The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company or the Trustee.
"Participant" means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Cedel, a
Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Cedel, respectively
(and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Cedel).
"Permitted Business" means any business conducted by the Company, its
Restricted Subsidiaries or CTSH and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof and any
other business related, ancillary or complementary to any such business.
"Permitted Investment" means:
(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company;
(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;
(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:
12
(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or
(b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into,
or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is
liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company;
(4) any Restricted Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash
consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in
compliance with Section 4.10 hereof;
(5) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity
Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(6) receivables created in the ordinary course of business;
(7) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business
since the date of the August 1999 Senior Note Indenture not to exceed
$2.0 million at any one time outstanding;
(8) securities and other assets received in settlement of trade debts or
other claims arising in the ordinary course of business;
(9) purchases of additional Equity Interests in CTSH for cash pursuant to
the governance agreement as the same is in effect on the date of the
May 1999 Senior Discount Notes Indenture for aggregate cash
consideration not to exceed $20.0 million since the beginning of the
quarter during which the May 1999 Senior Discount Notes Indenture was
executed;
(10) Investments since the date of the August 1999 Senior Note Indenture of
up to an aggregate of $100.0 million (each such Investment being
measured as of the date made and without giving effect to subsequent
changes in value); and
(11) other Investments in Permitted Businesses since the date of the August
1999 Senior Note Indenture not to exceed an amount equal to $10.0
million plus 10% of the Company's Consolidated Tangible Assets at any
one time outstanding (each such Investment being measured as of the
date made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).
"Permitted Liens" means:
(1) Liens securing Eligible Indebtedness of the Company under one or more
Credit Facilities that was permitted by the terms hereof to be
incurred;
(2) Liens securing any Indebtedness of any of the Company's Restricted
Subsidiaries that was permitted by the terms hereof to be incurred;
(3) Liens in favor of the Company;
(4) Liens existing on the date of the August 1999 Senior Note Indenture;
(5) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are
not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and
13
diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate
provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been
made therefor;
(6) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under clause (5)
of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; and
(7) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company since the date of the August 1999
Senior Note Indenture with respect to obligations that do not exceed
$5.0 million at any one time outstanding and that:
(a) are not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the
obtaining of advances or credit (other than trade credit in the
ordinary course of business); and
(b) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the
property or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of
business by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary.
"Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net
proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or
refund, other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
(other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:
(1) the principal amount (or initial accreted value, if applicable) of such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount
of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus accrued interest on, the
Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded (plus the amount of expenses and prepayment premiums incurred
in connection therewith);
(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later
than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to
Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity
of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
defeased or refunded;
(3) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes,
such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of
payment to the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of
Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded; and
(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the
Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or agency or political subdivision thereof (including any subdivision
or ongoing business of any such entity or substantially all of the assets of any
such entity, subdivision or business).
14
"Principals" means Berkshire Fund III, Limited Partnership; Berkshire Fund
IV, Limited Partnership; Berkshire Investors LLC; Berkshire Partners LLC;
Centenial Fund IV, L.P.; Centenial Fund V, L.P.; Centenial Entrepreneurs Fund V,
L.P.; Nassau Capital Partners II, L.P.; and NAS Partners I, L.L.C. and any
Related Party of the foregoing.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus, dated as of July 30, 1999, included in
the Company's registration statement (File No. 333-83395), as supplemented by
the prospectus supplement dated June 21, 2000 relating to the offering of the
Notes, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other
amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material
incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
"Public Equity Offering" means an underwritten primary public offering of
common stock of the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act.
"Related Party" with respect to any Principal means:
(1) any controlling stockholder, 80% (or more) owned Subsidiary of such
Principal; or
(2) any trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries,
stockholders, members, partners, owners or Persons beneficially holding
an 80% or more controlling interest of which consist of such Principal
and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding
clause (1).
"Responsible Officer" with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within
the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any successor group of the
Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions
similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also
means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to
whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with
the particular subject.
"Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.
"Restricted Subsidiary" of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent
Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Senior Credit Facility" means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of
March 15, 2000, by and among The Chase Manhattan Bank, Key Corporate Capital,
Inc. The Bank of Nova Scotia, as agents for the several lenders, and Crown
Castle Operating Company and the Company, including any related notes,
guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in
connection therewith, and in each case as amended, modified, renewed, refunded,
replaced or refinanced from time to time.
"Significant Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted
Subsidiary of such Person that would be a "significant subsidiary" of such
Person as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated
pursuant to the Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date hereof,
15
except that all references to "10 percent" in Rule 1-02(w)(1), (2) and (3) shall
mean "5 percent" and that all Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company shall be
excluded from all calculations under Rule 1-02(w).
"Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any installment of interest or
principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of
interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to
repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date
originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
"Stockholders' Agreement" means the agreement among the Company and certain
stockholders of the Company, dated as of August 21, 1998, to provide for certain
rights and obligations of the Company and such stockholders with respect to the
governance of the Company and such stockholders' shares of Common Stock and/or
Class A Common Stock of the Company.
"Strategic Equity Investment" means a cash contribution to the common
equity capital of the Company or a purchase from the Company of common Equity
Interests (other than Disqualified Stock), in either case by or from a Strategic
Equity Investor and for aggregate cash consideration of at least $50.0 million.
"Strategic Equity Investor" means a Person engaged in a Permitted Business
whose Total Equity Market Capitalization exceeds $1.0 billion.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person:
(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more
than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled
(without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the
election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or
more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination
thereof); and
(2) any partnership:
(a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which
is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person; or
(b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or
more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).
"TdF" means TeleDiffusion de France International S.A.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA.
16
"Total Equity Market Capitalization" of any Person means, as of any day of
determination, the sum of:
(1) the product of:
(a) the aggregate number of outstanding primary shares of common
stock of such Person on such day (which shall not include any
options or warrants on, or securities convertible or exchangeable
into, shares of common stock of such person); multiplied by
(b) the average closing price of such common stock listed on a
national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market System
over the 20 consecutive business days immediately preceding such
day; plus
(2) the liquidation value of any outstanding shares of preferred stock of
such Person on such day.
"Tower Asset Exchange" means any transaction in which the Company or one of
its Restricted Subsidiaries exchanges assets for Tower Assets and/or cash or
Cash Equivalents where the fair market value (evidenced by a resolution of the
Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the
Trustee) of the Tower Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents received by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such exchange is at least equal to
the fair market value of the assets disposed of in such exchange.
"Tower Assets" means wireless transmission towers and related assets that
are located on the site of a transmission tower.
"Tower Cash Flow" means, for any period, the Consolidated Cash Flow of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period that is directly
attributable to site rental revenue or license fees paid to lease or sublease
space on communication sites owned or leased by the Company, all determined on a
consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP. Tower Cash Flow will not include
revenue or expenses attributable to non-site rental services provided by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to lessees of communication sites
or revenues derived from the sale of assets.
"Trustee" means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it
in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter
means the successor serving hereunder.
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company that is
designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a
board resolution; but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:
(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;
(2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding
with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the
terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are
no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than
those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not
Affiliates of the Company;
17
(3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation:
(a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests; or
(b) to maintain or preserve such Person's financial condition or to
cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating
results;
(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit
support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; and
(5) has at least one director on its Board of Directors that is not a
director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries and has at least one executive officer that is not a
director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries.
Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the
Trustee by filing with the trustee a certified copy of the board resolution
giving effect to such designation and an Officers' Certificate certifying that
such designation complied with the foregoing conditions and was permitted by
Section 4.07 hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to
meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall
thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this
Indenture, and any Indebtedness of that Subsidiary shall be deemed to be
incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date (and, if such
Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09
hereof, the Company shall be in default of Section 4.09 hereof). The Board of
Directors may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a
Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the designation shall be deemed to be an
incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any
outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and the designation
shall only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09
hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at
the beginning of the four-quarter reference period and (2) no Default would
occur or be in existence following such designation.
"U.S. Person" means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(o) under the
Securities Act.
"Voting Stock" of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such
Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of
directors of such Person.
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any Indebtedness
at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:
(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying :
(a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund,
serial maturity or other required payments of principal,
including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof; by
(b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that
will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by
(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
18
"Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary" of any Person means a Restricted
Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other
ownership interests of which (other than directors' qualifying shares) shall at
the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.
Section 1.02. Other Definitions.
Defined in
Term Section
---- -------
"Affiliate Transaction"................................. 4.11
"Asset Sale"............................................ 4.10
"Asset Sale Offer"...................................... 3.09
"Authentication Order".................................. 2.02
"Change of Control Offer"............................... 4.15
"Change of Control Payment"............................. 4.15
"Change of Control Payment Date"........................ 4.15
"Covenant Defeasance"................................... 8.03
"Event of Default"...................................... 6.01
"Excess Proceeds"....................................... 4.10
"incur"................................................. 4.09
"Legal Defeasance"...................................... 8.02
"Offer Amount".......................................... 3.09
"Offer Period".......................................... 3.09
"Paying Agent".......................................... 2.03
"Payment Default"....................................... 6.01
"Permitted Debt"........................................ 4.09
"Purchase Date"......................................... 3.09
"Registrar"............................................. 2.03
"Restricted Payments"................................... 4.07
Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following
meanings:
"indenture securities" means the Notes;
"indenture security Holder" means a Holder of a Note;
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;
"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee; and
"obligor" on the Notes means the Company and any successor obligor upon
the Notes.
19
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA,
defined by the TIA's reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under
the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.04. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to
it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) "or" is not exclusive;
(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include
the singular;
(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(f) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be
deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted
by the SEC from time to time.
ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Form and Dating.
(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication
shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have
notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or
usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall
be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are
hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company and the Trustee,
by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms
and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of
any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions
of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in
the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon
and the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and
without the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as
shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed
thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented
thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to
reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect
the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Notes
20
represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the
direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder
thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.
(c) Euroclear and Cedel Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the
"Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System" and "Terms and Conditions
Governing Use of Euroclear" and the "General Terms and Conditions of Cedel Bank"
and "Customer Handbook" of Cedel Bank shall be applicable to transfers of
beneficial interests in Global Notes that are held by Participants through
Euroclear or Cedel Bank.
Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile
signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at
the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of
the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been
authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by two
Officers (an "Authentication Order"), authenticate Notes for original issue up
to the aggregate principal amount stated in paragraph 4 of the Notes. The
aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed such
amount except as provided in Section 2.08 hereof.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company
to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever
the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by
the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has
the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be
presented for registration of transfer or for exchange ("Registrar") and an
office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent"). The
Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange.
The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional
paying agents. The term "Registrar" includes any co-registrar and the term
"Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any
Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company shall
notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party
to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity
as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any
of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") to act
as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and
Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
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Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to
agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of the
Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of
principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the
Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any
such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money
held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent
to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee,
the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no
further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying
Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of
the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or
reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as
Paying Agent for the Notes.
Section 2.05. Holder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of
all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA (S) 312(a). If the Trustee is
not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven
Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the
Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the
Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of
Notes, and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA (S) 312(a).
Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be
transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary,
by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the
Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary
or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged
by the Company for Definitive Notes if (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee
notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as
Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the
Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary or
(ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in
whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a
written notice to such effect to the Trustee. Upon the occurrence of either of
the preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in
such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may
be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and
2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu
of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06, or
Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form
of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another
Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); however, beneficial
interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in
Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.
The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be
effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Transfers of beneficial
22
interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either
subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the
other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note.
Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who
take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Global
Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to
the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).
(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in
Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial
interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) above, the transferor of
such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a
written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the
Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the
Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another
Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred
or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable
Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be
credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or
an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the
Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a
Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be
transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the
Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such
Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange
referred to in (1) above. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for
transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in
this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities
Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global
Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof.
(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
If any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to
exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such
beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a
Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal
amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to
Section 2.06(g) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a
Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note
issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)
shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination
or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the
Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or
Indirect Participant
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests
in Global Notes.
A Holder of a Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial
interest in a Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who
takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note
at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the
Trustee shall cancel the applicable Definitive Note and increase or cause to
be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Notes.
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(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.
Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such requesting Holder's
presenting or surrendering to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly
endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its
attorney, duly authorized in writing, the Registrar shall register the
transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes.
(f) Legends. Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the
following form:
"THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE
INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY
PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE
SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF
THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT
IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL
NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP."
(g) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all
beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for
Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or
canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or
retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At
any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note
is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in
the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive
Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be
reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the
Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such
reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred
to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest
in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly
and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the
Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
(h) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive
Notes upon the Company's order or at the Registrar's request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial
interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any
registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of
a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge
payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or
similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to
Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 hereof).
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(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of
or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any
registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes
shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or
Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(v) The Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the
transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening
of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption
under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of
selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so
selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of
any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to
exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding Interest
Payment Date.
(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of
any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the
Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such
Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on
such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or
the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes
in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.
(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel
required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to
effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
Section 2.07. Replacement Notes.
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the
Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft
of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee's
requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity
bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the
Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any
authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is
replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and
shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the
Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation,
those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in
accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section
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as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not
cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds
the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company
shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(b) hereof.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be
outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01
hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate
of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient
to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall
be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.
Section 2.09. Treasury Notes.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of
Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the
Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with the Company, shall be considered as
though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent,
only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.10. Temporary Notes.
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company
may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall
authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the
form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers
appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee
shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of
this Indenture.
Section 2.11. Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation.
The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes
surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The
Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of
transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy
canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange
Act). Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes shall be delivered
to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it
has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
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Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall
pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner, plus, to the extent lawful,
interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a
subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes
and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of
the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date
of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such
special record date and payment date, provided that no such special record date
shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted
interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon
the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense
of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states
the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such
interest to be paid.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption
provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 30
days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers'
Certificate setting forth (1) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the
redemption shall occur, (2) the redemption date, (3) the principal amount of
Notes to be redeemed and (4) the redemption price (expressed as a percentage of
the principal amount).
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer
to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed as
follows:
(1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in
compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange,
if any, on which the Notes are listed; or
(2) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a
pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair
and appropriate.
No Notes of $1,000 of principal amount or less will be redeemed in part.
Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that
apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for
redemption. Notices of redemption will be mailed by first class mail at least
30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes
to be redeemed at its registered address. Notices of redemption may not be
conditional.
If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that
relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount of that
Note to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed
portion of the original Note presented for redemption will be issued in the name
of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. Notes called for
redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the
redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of them called
for redemption.
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Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption.
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not
more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause to
be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(1) the redemption date;
(2) the redemption price;
(3) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal
amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon
surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;
(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying
Agent to collect the redemption price;
(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment,
interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the
redemption date;
(7) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant
to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of
the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption
in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption
date, an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and
setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the
preceding paragraph.
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03
hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the
redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be
conditional.
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.
One Business Day prior to the redemption date, the Company shall deposit
with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption
price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The
Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any
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money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of
the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on,
all Notes to be redeemed.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on
and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or
the portions of the Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or
after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment
date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose
name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If
any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for
redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding
paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption
date until such principal is paid, and, to the extent lawful, on any interest
not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the
Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue
and, upon the Company's written request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the
Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the
unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
Section 3.07. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as provided in clause (b) of this Section 3.07, the Notes will
not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to August 1, 2005. On or after
August 1, 2005, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as
percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid
interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date
(subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to
receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during
the twelve-month period beginning on August 1 of the years indicated below:
Year Percentage
---- ----------
2005..................................................... 105.375%
2006..................................................... 103.583%
2007..................................................... 101.792%
2008 and thereafter...................................... 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.07, at
any time during the period after the date of the original issuance of the Notes
until August 1, 2003, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to
35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued at a
redemption price equal to 110.75% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes
to be redeemed on the redemption date with the net cash proceeds of one or more
Public Equity Offerings and/or Strategic Equity Investments provided that:
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally
issued remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption
(excluding Notes held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries); and
(2) the redemption occurs within 60 days of the date of the closing of
such Public Equity Offering or Strategic Equity Investment.
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(c) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to
the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption.
The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking
fund payments with respect to the Notes.
Section 3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.
In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall be
required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an "Asset Sale
Offer"), it shall follow the procedures specified below.
The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days
following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer
period is required by applicable law (the "Offer Period"). No later than five
Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the "Purchase Date"),
the Company shall purchase the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as
applicable) of Notes and other senior Indebtedness of the Company required to be
purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (on a pro rata basis if Notes and
other senior Indebtedness of the Company tendered are in excess of the Excess
Proceeds) (which maximum amount shall be the "Offer Amount") or, if less than
the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other senior Indebtedness
tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so
purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.
If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or
before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall
be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of
business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to
Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall send, by
first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy
to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials
necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale
Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which
shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:
(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09
and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain
open;
(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;
(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to
accrue interest;
(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note
accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue
interest after the Purchase Date;
(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset
Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in integral multiples of $1,000
only;
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(f) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset
Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled
"Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Note completed, or
transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a depositary, if appointed by
the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least
three days before the Purchase Date;
(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the
Company, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not
later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal
amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such
Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;
(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as
applicable) of Notes and other senior Indebtedness of the Company surrendered by
Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes to be
purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed
appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or
integral multiples thereof, shall be purchased); and
(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued
new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes
surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).
On or before the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful,
accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer
Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer,
or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other senior
Indebtedness tendered, and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the
Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the
Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any
case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each
tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by
such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall
promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the
Company shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in
a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.
Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to
the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the
Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.
Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase
pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of
Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes.
The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the
Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the
date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary
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thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by
the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to
pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.
The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to
1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the
extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest
(without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent
lawful.
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New
York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate
of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for
registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or
upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The
Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any
change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company
shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to
furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders,
notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices
or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such
purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however,
that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company
of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan,
the City of New York, for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written
notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in
the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as
one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.
Section 4.03. Reports.
Whether or not required by the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding,
the Company shall furnish to the Holders of Notes:
(1) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be
required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if
the Company were required to file such Forms, including a "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations"
that describes the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (showing in reasonable detail, in
the footnotes to the financial statements and in the "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations"
(in each case to the extent not prohibited by the SEC's rules and
regulations):
(a) the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial
condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries
of the Company; and
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(b) the Tower Cash Flow for the most recently completed fiscal
quarter and the Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow for the most recently
completed four-quarter period) and, with respect to the annual
information only, a report thereon by the Company's certified
independent accountants; and
(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the
SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports, in each
case within the time periods specified in the Company's rules and
regulations.
In addition, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the
SEC, the Company shall file a copy of all such information and reports with the
SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules
and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and make such
information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon
request. The Company shall at all times comply with TIA (S) 314(a).
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate.
(1) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the
end of each fiscal year, an Officers' Certificate stating that a review of
the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding
fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers
with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed,
performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further
stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best
of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and
fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in
default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions
and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of
which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her
knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which
payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes
is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and
what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
(2) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial
statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03(a) above shall be accompanied
by a written statement of the Company's independent public accountants (who
shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the
examination necessary for certification of such financial statements,
nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that
the Company has violated any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof
or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of
existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be
liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain
knowledge of any such violation.
(3) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding,
deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any
Default or Event of Default, an Officers' Certificate specifying such
Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto.
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Section 4.05. Taxes.
The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay,
prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies
except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or
where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect
to the Holders of the Notes.
Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it
shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or
take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or
the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such
law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay
or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall
suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has
been enacted.
Section 4.07. Restricted Payments.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or
distribution on account of the Company's or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries' Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment
in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the
Company's or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries' Equity Interests in their
capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity
Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or to the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);
(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value
(including without limitation, in connection with any merger or
consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or
any direct or indirect parent of the Company (other than any such Equity
Interests owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries);
(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem,
defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is
subordinated to the Notes, except a payment of interest or principal at
Stated Maturity; or
(4) make any Restricted Investment, (all such payments and other
actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above, including those
occurring since the date of the May 1999 Senior Discount Note Indenture,
being collectively referred to as "Restricted Payments"),
unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
(1) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a
consequence of the Restricted Payment; and
34
(2) the Company would have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of
additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash
Flow Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof;
provided that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be
required to comply with this clause (2) in order to make any Restricted
Investment; and
(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all
other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries after the date of the May 1999 Senior Discount Note Indenture
(excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3) and (4) of the
paragraph of exceptions below), is less than the sum, without duplication,
of:
(a) 100% of the Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company for the
period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the
fiscal quarter during which the May 1999 Senior Discount Note
Indenture was executed to the end of the Company's most recently ended
fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available
at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if the Consolidated Cash
Flow for such period is a deficit, less 100% of the deficit), less
1.75 times the Consolidated Interest Expense of the Company since the
beginning of the fiscal quarter during which the May 1999 Senior
Discount Note Indenture was executed; plus
(b) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the
Company since the beginning of the fiscal quarter during which the May
1999 Senior Discount Note Indenture was executed as a contribution to
its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity
Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and except to
the extent such net cash proceeds are used to incur new Indebtedness
outstanding pursuant to clause (11) of the second paragraph of Section
4.09 hereof) or from the issue or sale of Disqualified Stock or debt
securities of the Company that have been converted into Equity
Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or
convertible debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company and
other than Disqualified Stock or convertible debt securities that have
been converted into Disqualified Stock); plus
(c) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made
after the date of the May 1999 Senior Discount Note Indenture is sold
for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of:
(A) the cash return of capital with respect to the
Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any), and
(B) the initial amount of the Restricted Investment; plus
(d) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company
and all of its Subsidiaries are designated as Restricted Subsidiaries
after the date of the May 1999 Senior Discount Note Indenture, the
lesser of:
(A) the fair market value of the Company's Investments in
such Subsidiaries as of the date of such designation; or
(B) the sum of:
35
(x) the fair market value of the Company's Investments
in such Subsidiaries as of the date on which such
Subsidiaries were originally designated as Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, and
(y) the amount of any Investments made in such
Subsidiaries subsequent to such designation (and treated as
Restricted Payments) by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary;
provided that:
(i) in the event the Unrestricted Subsidiaries designated as
Restricted Subsidiaries are CTSH and its Subsidiaries, the
references in clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (d) to fair
market value of the Company's Investments in such Subsidiaries
shall mean the amount by which the fair market value of all such
Investments exceeds 34.3% of the fair market value of CTSH and
its Subsidiaries as a whole; and
(ii) in the event the Unrestricted Subsidiaries designated
as Restricted Subsidiaries are CCAIC and its Subsidiaries, the
references in clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (d) to fair
market value of the Company's Investments in such Subsidiaries
shall mean the amount by which the fair market value of all such
Investments exceeds $250.0 million; plus
(e) 50% of any dividends received by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary after the date of the May 1999 Senior Discount Note
Indenture from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company, to the
extent that such dividends were not otherwise included in Consolidated
Net Income of the Company for such period.
The preceding provisions shall not prohibit:
(1) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of
declaration of that dividend, if at said date of declaration such payment
would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;
(2) the making of any Investment or the redemption, repurchase,
retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any subordinated
Indebtedness or Equity Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of
the net cash proceeds from the sale since the beginning of the fiscal
quarter during which the May 1999 Senior Discount Note Indenture was
executed (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of Equity Interests of
the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock); provided that the net cash
proceeds are not used to incur new Indebtedness pursuant to clause (11) of
the second paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof); and provided further that, in
each case, the amount of any net cash proceeds that are so utilized will be
excluded from clause (3)(b) of the preceding paragraph;
(3) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of
subordinated Indebtedness with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
36
(4) the payment of any dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;
(5) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for
value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company held by any member of the Company's (or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries') management pursuant to any management equity
subscription agreement or stock option agreement in effect as of the date
of the May 1999 Senior Discount Note Indenture; provided that the aggregate
price paid for all of the repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity
Interests may not exceed (a) $500,000 in any twelve-month period and (b)
$5.0 million in the aggregate since the date of the August 1999 Senior Note
Indenture; or
(6) the payment of scheduled dividends on the Company's 123/4% Senior
Exchangeable Preferred Stock due 2010, whether paid in cash or in kind
through the issuance of additional shares of such preferred stock, all in
accordance with the certificate of designations governing such preferred
stock as in effect on the date of the May 1999 Senior Discount Note
Indenture.
The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary if such designation would not cause a Default. For
purposes of making such determination, all outstanding Investments by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid in cash) in
the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments at the
time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted
Payments under the first paragraph in this Section 4.07. All of those
outstanding Investments will be deemed to constitute Investments in an amount
equal to the fair market value of the Investments at the time of such
designation. Such designation will only be permitted if the Restricted Payment
would be permitted at the time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets
the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors may
designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if the
designation would not cause a Default.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair
market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the assets or securities
proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or the applicable Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair
market value of any property, assets or Investments required by this covenant to
be valued will be valued by the Board of Directors whose resolution with respect
to the determination will be delivered to the Trustee.
Section 4.08. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to
exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Subsidiary to:
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on its Capital Stock or with respect to
any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits;
(2) pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
37
(3) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; or
(4) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries.
The preceding restrictions shall not apply to encumbrances or restrictions
existing under or by reason of:
(1) Existing Indebtedness as in effect on the date hereof, and any
amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements,
refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof; provided that such
amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements,
refundings, replacements or refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as
a whole, with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than
those contained in the applicable series of Existing Indebtedness as in
effect on the date hereof;
(2) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary under any Credit
Facility that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof;
provided that such Credit Facility and Indebtedness contain only such
encumbrances and restrictions on such Restricted Subsidiary's ability to
engage in the activities set forth in clauses (1) through (4) of the
preceding paragraph as are, at the time such Credit Facility is entered
into or amended, modified, restated, renewed, increased, supplemented,
refunded, replaced or refinanced, ordinary and customary for a Credit
Facility of that type as determined in the good faith judgment of the Board
of Directors (and evidenced in a board resolution), which determination
shall be conclusively binding;
(3) encumbrances and restrictions applicable to any Unrestricted
Subsidiary, as the same are in effect as of the date on which the
Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, and as the same may be amended,
modified, restated, renewed, increased, supplemented, refunded, replaced or
refinanced; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements,
renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacement or refinancings
are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to the dividend and
other payment restrictions than those contained in the applicable series of
Indebtedness of such Subsidiary as in effect on the date on which such
Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;
(4) any Indebtedness incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof
or any agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued if the
encumbrance or restriction applies only in the event of a payment default
or default with respect to a financial covenant contained in the
Indebtedness or agreement and the encumbrance or restriction is not
materially more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes than is
customary in comparable financings (as determined by the Company) and the
Company determines that any such encumbrance or restriction will not
materially affect the Company's ability to pay interest or principal on the
Notes;
(5) this Indenture;
(6) applicable law;
(7) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person
acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect
at the time that Person is acquired by
38
the Company (except to the extent the Indebtedness was incurred in
connection with or in contemplation of the acquisition), which encumbrance
or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets
of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the
Person, so acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, the
Indebtedness was permitted by the terms hereof to be incurred;
(8) customary non-assignment provisions in leases or licenses entered
into in the ordinary course of business;
(9) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary
course of business that impose restrictions of the nature described in
clause (5) in the second paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof on the property
so acquired;
(10) the provisions of agreements governing Indebtedness incurred
pursuant to clause (4) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof;
(11) any agreement for the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary that
restricts that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale;
(12) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the
restrictions contained in the agreements governing the Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than
those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being
refinanced;
(13) Liens permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of
Section 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to transfer the
assets subject to such Liens;
(14) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of
assets or property in joint venture agreements and other similar
agreements; and
(15) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by
customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business.
Section 4.09. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee
or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise,
with respect to (collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including Acquired
Debt) and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock;
provided that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or
issue shares of Disqualified Stock and the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries may
incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue preferred stock if, in
each case, the Company's Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio at the
time of incurrence of the Indebtedness or the issuance of the preferred stock,
after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance as of such date and
to the use of proceeds from such incurrence or issuance as if the same had
occurred at the beginning of the most recently ended four full fiscal quarter
period of the Company for which internal financial statements are available,
would have been no greater than 7.5 to 1.
39
The provisions of the first paragraph of this Section 4.09 shall not
prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness or to the
issuance of any of the following items of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock
(collectively, "Permitted Debt"):
(1) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under Credit Facilities since the date of the
August 1999 Senior Note Indenture in an aggregate principal amount (with
letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the
maximum potential liability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
thereunder) at any one time outstanding not to exceed the product of
$150,000 times the number of Completed Towers on the date of such
incurrence;
(2) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of
the Existing Indebtedness;
(3) the incurrence by the Company of the Indebtedness represented by
notes issued on the date of the May 1999 Senior Discount Note Indenture;
(4) the issuance by the Company of additional shares of its 12 3/4%
Senior Exchangeable Preferred Stock due 2010 solely for the purpose of
paying dividends thereon and the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness
represented by the Company's 12 3/4% Senior Subordinated Exchange
Debentures due 2010;
(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness since the date of the August 1999 Senior Note
Indenture represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or
purchase money obligations, in each case incurred for the purpose of
financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or
improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount,
including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund,
refinance or replace any other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this
clause (5), not to exceed $10.0 million at any one time outstanding;
(6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the
net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace,
defease or refund Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or Disqualified Stock of the Company (other than intercompany
Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under the
first paragraph of this Section 4.09 or clauses (2), (3), (4), (5) or this
clause (6) of this paragraph;
(7) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that:
(i) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such
Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in
cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes of such series and
that:
40
(ii)(A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests
that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other
than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, and
(B) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a
Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,
shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of the
Indebtedness by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may be;
(8) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations that are incurred for the purpose of
fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any floating rate
Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be
outstanding or currency exchange risk;
(9) the guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this
Indenture;
(10) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Acquired Debt in connection with the acquisition of assets
or a new Subsidiary and the incurrence by the Company's Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness as a result of the designation of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, in the
case of any such incurrence of Acquired Debt, such Acquired Debt was
incurred by the prior owner of such assets or such Restricted Subsidiary
prior to such acquisition by the Company or one of its Restricted
Subsidiaries and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation
of, the acquisition by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
and provided further that, in the case of any incurrence pursuant to this
clause (10), as a result of such acquisition by the Company or one of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, the Company's Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash
Flow Ratio at the time of incurrence of such Acquired Debt, after giving
pro forma effect to such incurrence as if the same had occurred at the
beginning of the most recently ended four full fiscal quarter period of the
Company for which internal financial statements are available, would have
been less than the Company's Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio
for the same period without giving pro forma effect to such incurrence;
(11) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock not to exceed, at any
one time outstanding, the sum of:
(i) 2.0 times the aggregate net cash proceeds, plus
(ii) 1.0 times the fair market value of non-cash proceeds
(evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an
Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee), in each case, from the
issuance and sale, other than to a Subsidiary, of Equity Interests (other
than Disqualified Stock) of the Company since the beginning of the fiscal
quarter during which the May 1999 Senior Discount Note Indenture was
executed (less the amount of such proceeds used to make Restricted Payments
as provided in clause (3)(b) of the first paragraph or clause (2) of the
second paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof); and
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(12) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries since the date of the August 1999 Senior Note Indenture of
additional Indebtedness and/or the issuance by the Company of Disqualified
Stock in an aggregate principal amount, accreted value or liquidation
preference, as applicable, at any time outstanding, not to exceed $25.0
million.
In addition, the Company shall not:
(1) incur any Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated in
right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company unless such
Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the
Notes on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no
Indebtedness of the Company will be deemed to be contractually subordinated
in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company solely by
virtue of being unsecured; and
(2) permit any of its Unrestricted Subsidiaries to incur any
Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event
that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the
categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (12) above or is
entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09,
the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify (or later reclassify in
whole or in part) such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with
this Section 4.09. Accrual of interest, accretion or amortization of original
issue discount and the payment of interest in the form of additional
Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for
purposes of this Section 4.09. Indebtedness under Credit Facilities outstanding
on the date hereof shall be deemed to have been incurred on such date in
reliance on the exception provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted
Debt. The debt represented by the Notes issued on the date hereof shall be
deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided
by clause (11) of the definition of Permitted Debt.
Section 4.10. Asset Sales.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be)
receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the
fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or
otherwise disposed of;
(2) fair market value is determined by the Board of Directors and
evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an
Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee; and
(3) except in the case of a Tower Asset Exchange, at least 75% of the
consideration received in such Asset Sale by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents.
For purposes of this provision, each of the following shall be deemed to be
cash:
(a) any liabilities, as shown on the Company's or such Restricted
Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet, of the Company's or any
Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and
liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any
guarantee of the Notes)
42
that are assumed by the transferee of any assets pursuant to a
customary novation agreement that releases the Company or the
Restricted Subsidiary from further liability; and
(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are
converted by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary into cash within
20 days of the applicable Asset Sale, to the extent of the cash
received in that conversion.
Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale,
the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary may apply those Net Proceeds to:
(1) reduce Indebtedness under a Credit Facility;
(2) reduce other Indebtedness of any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;
(3) the acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of a
Permitted Business;
(4) the acquisition of Voting Stock of a Permitted Business from a
Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Company; provided that, after giving
effect to the acquisition, the Company or its Restricted Subsidiary owns a
majority of the Voting Stock of that business; or
(5) the making of a capital expenditure or the acquisition of other
long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business.
Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company may
temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net
Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.
Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as
provided in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to constitute "Excess
Proceeds". When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million,
the Company shall make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes, and all
holders of other senior Indebtedness of the Company containing provisions
similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase
or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, to purchase the maximum
principal amount of Notes and such other senior Indebtedness of the Company that
may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale
Offer will be payable in cash and will be 100% of the principal amount of the
Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, if any. In the
case of any other senior Indebtedness, the offer price shall be 100% of the
principal amount of the Indebtedness plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon,
if any, to the date of purchase. Each Asset Sale Offer shall be made in
accordance with the procedures set forth herein and the other senior
Indebtedness of the Company. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of
an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use the remaining Excess Proceeds for any
purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal
amount, as applicable, of Notes and the other senior Indebtedness of the Company
tendered into the Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the
Trustee shall select the Notes and such other senior Indebtedness to be
purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of the Asset Sale Offer, the
amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
Section 4.11. Transactions with Affiliates.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or
assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract,
agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit
of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an "Affiliate Transaction"), unless:
43
(1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable
to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would
have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and
(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:
(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in
excess of $1.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors set
forth in an Officers' Certificate certifying that the Affiliate
Transaction complies with clause (1) above and that the Affiliate
Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board of Directors; and
(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in
excess of $10.0 million, an opinion to the Holders of the Notes as to
the fairness of the Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of
view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of
national standing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following items shall not be deemed
Affiliate Transactions:
(1) any employment arrangements with any executive officer of the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is entered into by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with compensation arrangements of similarly situated executive
officers at comparable companies engaged in Permitted Businesses;
(2) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(3) payment of directors fees in an aggregate annual amount not to
exceed $25,000 per Person;
(4) Restricted Payments that are permitted under Section 4.07 hereof;
(5) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Company; and
(6) transactions pursuant to the provisions of the Governance
Agreement and the Stockholders' Agreement, as the same are in effect on the
date hereof.
Section 4.12. Liens.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist any Lien securing Indebtedness or trade payables on any asset now owned or
hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom or assign or convey any
right to receive income therefrom, except Permitted Liens.
44
Section 4.13. Business Activities.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in
any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to the extent as would not
be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section 4.14. Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:
(1) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other
existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective
organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of
the Company or any such Subsidiary and
(2) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the
Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not
be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the
corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if
the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no
longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in
any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.
If a Change of Control occurs, the Company shall make an offer (a "Change
of Control Offer") to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000
or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's Notes at a purchase price, in
cash, equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased,
plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, (subject to the right of
Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the
relevant interest payment date), to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control
Payment"). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall
mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that
constitute a change of control and stating:
(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this
covenant and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment;
(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no
earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is
mailed (the "Change of Control Payment Date");
(3) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;
(4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of
Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of
Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control
Payment Date;
(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a
Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the
form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect
45
Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the
address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third
Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;
(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the
Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second
Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram,
telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the
Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a
statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes
purchased; and
(7) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be
issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of
the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $1,000 in
principal amount or an integral multiple thereof.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the
extent lawful,
(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of the Notes properly
tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of
Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of the Notes so
tendered; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so
accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the aggregate
principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the
Company.
The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of Notes properly
tendered payment in an amount equal to the purchase price for the Notes (the
"Change of Control Payment"), and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and
mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal
in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered by such
Holder, if any; provided, that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount
of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company shall publicly announce
the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after
the Change of Control Payment Date.
The Change of Control provisions described above shall be applicable
whether or not any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable. The
Company shall comply with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act
and any other securities laws or regulations to the extent those laws and
regulations are applicable to any Change of Control Offer. If the provisions of
any of the applicable securities laws or securities regulations conflict with
the provisions of this Section 4.15, the Company shall comply with the
applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have
breached its obligations under this Section 4.15 by virtue of the compliance.
The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a
Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the
manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth
in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company
and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of
Control Offer. The provisions under this Indenture relating to the Company's
obligation to make an
46
offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of a Change of Control may be waived
or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a at least a majority in
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.
Section 4.16. Sale and Leaseback Transactions.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided,
however, that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into a
sale and leaseback transaction if:
(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, could
have:
(a) incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable
Debt relating to such sale and leaseback transaction pursuant to the
Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio test set forth in the
first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; or
(b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to the
provisions of Section 4.12 hereof;
(2) the gross cash proceeds of such sale and leaseback transaction are
at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors) of the property that is the subject of the sale and
leaseback transaction; and
(3) the transfer of assets in the sale and leaseback transaction is
permitted by, and the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in
compliance with, Section 4.10 hereof.
Section 4.17. Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Capital Stock of Restricted
Subsidiaries.
The Company:
(1) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any Equity
Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to any Person (other
than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);
and
(2) shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any
of its Equity Interests (other than, if necessary, shares of its Capital
Stock constituting directors' qualifying shares) to any Person other than
to the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,
unless, in each such case:
(a) as a result of such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or
other disposition or issuance, such Restricted Subsidiary no longer
constitutes a Subsidiary; and
(b) the cash Net Proceeds from such transfer, conveyance, sale,
lease or other disposition or issuance are applied in accordance with
Section 4.10 hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the issuance or sale of shares of Capital
Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will not violate the
provisions of the immediately preceding sentence if such shares are issued or
sold in connection with (x) the formation or capitalization of a Restricted
Subsidiary or (y) a single transaction or a series of substantially
contemporaneous transactions whereby such
47
Restricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company by reason
of the acquisition of securities or assets from another Person.
Section 4.18. Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees of Indebtedness.
The Company shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, to Guarantee or pledge any assets to secure the payment of any other
Indebtedness of the Company unless such Subsidiary simultaneously executes and
delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture governing the Notes
providing for the Guarantee of the payment of the Notes by such Subsidiary,
which Guarantee shall be senior to or pari passu with such Subsidiary's
Guarantee of or pledge to secure such other Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any Guarantee by a Subsidiary of the Notes shall provide by its terms
that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon
any sale, exchange or transfer, to any Person other than a Subsidiary of the
Company, of all of the Company's stock in, or all or substantially all the
assets of, such Subsidiary, which sale, exchange or transfer is made in
compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture. The form of such
Guarantee is attached as Exhibit C hereto.
ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.
The Company shall not:
(1) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the
surviving corporation); or
(2) sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related
transactions, to another corporation, Person or entity, unless:
(a) either (A) the Company is the surviving corporation; or (B) the
entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if
other than the Company) or to which the sale, assignment, transfer, lease,
conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized
or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia;
(b) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation
or merger (if other than the Company) or the entity or Person to which the sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been
made assumes all the Obligations of the Company under the Notes and this
Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory
to the Trustee;
(c) immediately after such transaction no Default exists; and
(d) except in the case of (A) a merger of the Company with or into a
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (B) a merger entered into
solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction:
(x) in the case of a merger or consolidation in which the Company is the
surviving corporation, the Company's Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow
Ratio at the time of the transaction, after
48
giving pro forma effect to the transaction as of such date for balance sheet
purposes and as if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the most
recently ended four full fiscal quarter period of the Company for which internal
financial statements are available for income statement purposes, would have
been less than the Company's Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio for
the same period without giving pro forma effect to such transaction, or
(y) in the case of any other such transaction, the Debt to Adjusted
Consolidated Cash Flow of the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which the sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been
made, at the time of the transaction, after giving pro forma effect to the
transaction as of such date for balance sheet purposes and as if such
transaction had occurred at the beginning of the most recently ended four full
fiscal quarter period of such entity or Person for which internal financial
statements are available for income statement purposes, would have been less
than the Company's Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio for the same
period without giving pro forma effect to such transaction; provided that for
purposes of determining the Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio of any
entity or Person for purposes of this clause (d) the entity or Person will be
substituted for the Company in the definition of Debt to Adjusted Consolidated
Cash Flow Ratio and the defined terms included therein under Section 4.09
hereof.
Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation
formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is
made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date
of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the
provisions of this Indenture referring to the "Company" shall refer instead to
the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may exercise every right
and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such
successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that
the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the
principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of
the Company's assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01. Events of Default.
Each of the following constitutes an Event of Default:
(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes;
(2) default in payment when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on
the Notes;
(3) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with the
provisions described under Article 5 hereof or failure by CCIC to consummate
a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture;
49
(4) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for 30 days after
notice by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class, to comply with
any of its other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes;
(5) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there
may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness
for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or
the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is
created after the date of this Indenture, which default:
(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or
interest on the Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period
provided in such Indebtedness on the date of the default (a "Payment
Default"); or
(b) results in the acceleration of the Indebtedness prior to its
express maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such
Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such
Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity
of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $20.0 million or more;
(6) failure by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries to pay
final judgments aggregating in excess of $20.0 million, which judgments are
not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; or
(7) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to or
within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:
(a) commences a voluntary case,
(b) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an
involuntary case,
(c) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or
substantially all of its property,
(d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(e) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or
(8) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any
Bankruptcy Law that:
(a) is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in an involuntary case;
(b) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or
(c) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.
50
Section 6.02. Acceleration.
If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may
declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon any such
declaration, the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest if any, on such
Notes shall become due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.01 hereof
occurs with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, all
outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without further action or
notice. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the
Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not
conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default
(except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has become due solely
because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.
Section 6.03. Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue
any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of, premium, if any,
and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the
Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of
the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or
omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or
remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies
are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of
all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its
consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes
(including in connection with an offer to purchase) (provided, however, that the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related
payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver,
such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom
shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
Section 6.05. Control by Majority.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power
conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that
conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly
prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the
Trustee in personal liability.
51
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.
A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or
the Notes only if:
(1) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
(2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested,
provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss,
liability or expense;
(4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after
receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of
indemnity; and
(5) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction
inconsistent with the request.
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of
another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another
Holder of a Note.
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any
Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note
(including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be
impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as
trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of
principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and
interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such
further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of
collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or
documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the
Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the
Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall
be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other
property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any Custodian in any such
judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to
the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of
such payments directly to the Holders, to
52
pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and
any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that
the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied
for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be
paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other
properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding
whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or
otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or
the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the
claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.10. Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall pay
out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under
Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and
liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and
expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes
for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes
for principal, premium, if any and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent
jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to
Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by
it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party
litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the
court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to
the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant.
This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a
Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
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ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee
shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and
use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own
affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that
are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;
and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the
Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not
they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own
negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful
misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this
Section;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in
good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes
or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it
pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of
this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs
(a), (b), and (c) of this Section.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend
or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the
request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee
security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received
by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in
trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
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Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to
be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The
Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an
Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not
be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on
such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with
counsel and the written and oral advice of such counsel or any Opinion of
Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be
responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to
take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand,
request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by
an Officer of the Company.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of
the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner
or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of
the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However,
in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must
eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to
continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and
duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.
Section 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer.
The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to
the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be
accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money
paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction under any provision of this
Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money
received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be
responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or
any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this
Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.
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Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is
known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the
Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case
of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a
committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding
the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.
Within 60 days after each August 1 beginning with the August 1 following
the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the
Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such
reporting date that complies with TIA (S) 313(a) (but if no event described in
TIA (S) 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting
date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA
(S) 313(b). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by
TIA (S) 313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes
shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on
which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA (S) 313(d). The Company shall
promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable
compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The
Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly
upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or
made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses
shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the
Trustee's agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses,
liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the
costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including
this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by
the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with
the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to
the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its
negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any
claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the
Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company
shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The
Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees
and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made
without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
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To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee
shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected
by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on
particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) hereof occurs, the expenses and the
compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and
counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
Bankruptcy Law.
The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA (S) 313(b)(2) to the
extent applicable.
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor
Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of
appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the
trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so
notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the
Trustee if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for
relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its
property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office
of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a
successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the
retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or
the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Trustee.
If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder
for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and
the appointment of a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment
to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or
removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor
Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this
57
Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to
Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it
as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee
hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07
hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section
7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the
benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or
substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the
successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or
of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $75 million
as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements
of TIA (S) 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA (S) 310(b).
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA (S) 311(a), excluding any creditor
relationship listed in TIA (S) 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been
removed shall be subject to TIA (S) 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE 8
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a
resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time, elect to have
either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon
compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Eight.
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been
discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on the
date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal
Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall
be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the
outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be "outstanding" only for
the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture
referred to in (1) and
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(2) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and
this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company,
shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the
following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or
discharged hereunder:
(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the
trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such
Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest
on such Notes when such payments are due;
(2) the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2
and Section 4.02 hereof;
(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee
hereunder and the Company's obligations in connection therewith; and
(4) this Article Eight.
Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the Company may exercise
its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its
option under Section 8.03 hereof.
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its
obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10,
4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17 and 4.18 hereof and clause (4) of Section
5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the
conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant
Defeasance"), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not "outstanding" for the
purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and
the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall
continue to be deemed "outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder (it being
understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting
purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to
the outstanding Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no
liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such
covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere
herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant
to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to
comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01
hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such
Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company's exercise
under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof,
subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof,
Sections 6.01(3) through 6.01(6) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section
8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
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(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for
the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable
Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the
outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable
redemption date, as the case may be;
(2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:
(a) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the
Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
(b) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the
applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and
based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of
the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and
at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had
not occurred;
(3) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the
outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
either:
(a) on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of
Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such
deposit); or
(b) insofar as Sections 6.01(7) or 6.01(8) hereof are concerned, at
any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;
(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or
instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries is bound;
(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
to the effect that on the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will
not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally;
(7) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent
of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the
intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of
the Company or others; and
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(8) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant
Defeasance have been complied with.
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust;
Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government
Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other
qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the
"Trustee") pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes
shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the
provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or
through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the
Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to
become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but
such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required
by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or
other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government
Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and
interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other
charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request
of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as
provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under
Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be
required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance.
Section 8.06. Repayment to Company.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by
the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal,
and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the
Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from
such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the
Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying
Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as
trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or
such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the
expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The
Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed
and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days
from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such
money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
Section 8.07. Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States
dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or
8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of
61
any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining,
restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company's
obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated
as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until
such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in
accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided,
however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if
any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the
Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to
receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company and the
Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent
of any Holder of Notes:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of
certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article 2 hereof (including the
related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any
Holder;
(3) to provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to the
Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Company pursuant to Article 5 hereof;
(4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal
rights hereunder of any Holder of Notes;
(5) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain
the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
(6) to provide for the issuance of the Additional Notes in accordance with
the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the date hereof.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board
of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section
7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any
amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this
Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that
may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into
such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes.
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee
may amend or supplement this Indenture (including Section 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15
hereof) and the Notes with the consent
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of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding, voting as a single class, (including, without limitation, consents
obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase
of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing
Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a
payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or
compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with
the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes, voting as a single class, (including consents obtained in
connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the
Notes). Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be
"outstanding" for purposes of this Section 9.02.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board
of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the
Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by
the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall
join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture
unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case
the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into
such amended or supplemental Indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under
this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or
waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance
thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes
effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a
notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of
the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in
any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, voting as
a single class, may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company
with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent
of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not
(with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an
amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or
alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the
Notes, except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15
hereof;
(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest,
including default interest, on any Note;
(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration
of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted
from such acceleration);
63
(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;
(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to
waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments
of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;
(7) waive a redemption payment (but not any payment pursuant to Sections
3.09, 4.10 or 4.15 hereof) with respect to any Note;
(8) except as provided under Article Eight hereof or in accordance with
the terms of any Note Guarantee, release any Guarantor from any of its
obligations under its Note Guarantee or make any change in a Note Guarantee that
would adversely affect the Holders of the Notes; or
(9) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in the foregoing
amendment and waiver provisions.
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set
forth in a amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then
in effect.
Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to
it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and
every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same
debt as the consenting Holder's Note, even if notation of the consent is not
made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a
Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written
notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes
effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance
with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment,
supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in
exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment,
supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not
affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized
pursuant to this Article Nine if the amendment or supplement does not adversely
affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The
Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board of
Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the
Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall
be fully protected in relying upon, in
64
addition to the documents required by Section 11.04 hereof, an Officer's
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended
or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.
ARTICLE 10
NOTE GUARANTEES
Section 10.01. Guarantee.
The provisions of this Article 10 shall apply only to those Subsidiaries
of the Company, if any, that execute one or more supplemental indentures to this
Indenture in the form of Exhibit C to this Indenture in compliance with the
requirements of Section 4.18 of this Indenture.
Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and
severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns,
irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or
the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal
of and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at
maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue
principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other
obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder
will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms
hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or
renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be
promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the
extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.
Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so
guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally
obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a
guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the
Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any
waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions
hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action
to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. 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 covenant that this Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete
performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.
If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to
return to the Company, the Guarantors or any Custodian, trustee, liquidator or
other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the
Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note
Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full
force and effect.
Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of
subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed
hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each
Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and
65
the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the
obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof
for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or
other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations
guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of
such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or
not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors
for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to
seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such
right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.
Section 10.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.
Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby
confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of
such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes
of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent
Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any
Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders
and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such
Guarantor will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other
contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such
laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive
contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in
respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result
in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a
fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
Section 10.03. Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee.
To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01, each Guarantor
hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in the form
included in Exhibit E shall be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor on each
Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture shall be
executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President or one of its Vice
Presidents.
Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section
10.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to
endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.
If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note
Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the
Note on which a Note Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee shall be valid
nevertheless.
The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof
hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this
Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
In the event that the Company creates or acquires any new Subsidiaries
subsequent to the date of this Indenture, if required by Section 4.18 hereof,
the Company shall cause such Subsidiaries to execute supplemental indentures to
this Indenture and Note Guarantees in accordance with Section 4.18 hereof and
this Article 10, to the extent applicable.
66
Section 10.04. Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.05, no Guarantor may
consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the
surviving Person) another Person whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor
unless:
(a) subject to Section 10.05 hereof, the Person formed by or surviving any
such consolidation or merger (if other than a Guarantor or the Company)
unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a
supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee, under the Notes, the Indenture and the Note Guarantee on the terms set
forth herein or therein; and
(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or
Event of Default exists.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the
assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and
delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note
Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of
the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor,
such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with
the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor
Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be
endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not
have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note
Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit
under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in
accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note
Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.
Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding
clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the
Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the
Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the
property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the
Company or another Guarantor.
Section 10.05. Releases Following Sale of Assets.
In the event of a 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 to the capital stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a
Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transactions) a
Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other
disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital
stock of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event
of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such
Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note
Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are
applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture,
including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof. Upon delivery by the Company
to the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance
with the provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10
hereof, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to
evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note
Guarantee.
67
Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee
shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the
Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as
provided in this Article 10.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by TIA (S)318(c), the imposed duties shall control.
Section 11.02. Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the others is
duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier or
overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others' address:
If to the Company:
Crown Castle International Corp.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
If to the Trustee:
Unites States Trust Company of New York
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Corporate Trust Division
The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
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All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be
deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally
delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage
prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged,
if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier,
if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class
mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept
by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any
Person described in TIA (S) 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure
to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not
affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within
the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a
copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 11.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA (S) 312(b) with other Holders with
respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the
Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA (S)
312(c).
Section 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any
action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05
hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent
and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been satisfied; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05
hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions
precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
Section 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided
pursuant to TIA (S) 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA (S)
314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has
read such covenant or condition;
69
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made
such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
satisfied; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such
condition or covenant has been satisfied.
Section 11.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of
Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set
reasonable requirements for its functions; provided that no such rule shall
conflict with the terms of this Indenture or the TIA.
Section 11.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or
stockholder of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture or for any claim
based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The
waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
Section 11.08. Governing Law.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO
CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF
ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
Section 11.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or
debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any
such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this
Indenture.
Section 11.10. Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind
its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its
successors.
Section 11.11. Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
70
Section 11.12. Counterpart Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed
copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same
agreement.
Section 11.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles
and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference
only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way
modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[Signatures on following page]
71
SIGNATURES
Dated as of June 26, 2000
Crown Castle International Corp.
By:____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Attest:
____________________________
Name:
Title:
United States Trust Company of New York
By:____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Attest:
____________________________
Authorized Signatory
Date:
EXHIBIT A
[Face of Note]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CUSIP/CINS ____________
10 3/4% Senior Notes due 2011
No. ___ $____________
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP.
promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns,
the principal sum of ___________________________________________________ DOLLARS
on August 1, 2011.
Interest Payment Dates: February 1 and August 1
Record Dates: January 15 and July 15
Dated: June 26, 2000
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP.
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
This is one of the Notes referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture:
United States Trust Company of New York,
as Trustee
By: __________________________________
Authorized Signatory
________________________________________________________________________________
______
[Back of Note]
10 3/4% Senior Notes due 2011
[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the
Indenture]
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in
the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Interest. Crown Castle International Corp., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note
at 10 3/4% per annum from June 26, 2000 until maturity. The Company will pay
interest semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, or if
any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an
"Interest Payment Date"). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent
date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the
date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment
of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to
on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall
accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that
the first Interest Payment Date shall be February 1, 2001. The Company shall pay
interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium and Special Interest, if any,
from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate
then in effect; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest
(without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at
the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except
defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the
close of business on the May 1 or November 1 next preceding the Interest Payment
Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before
such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture
with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal,
premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained
for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the
option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the
Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided
that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required
with respect to principal of and interest, premium on, all Global Notes and all
other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions
to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, United States Trust Company of
New York, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and
Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice
to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such
capacity.
4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as
June 26, 2000 ("Indenture") between the Company and the Trustee. The terms of
the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the
Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.
Code (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbbb) (the "Trust Indenture Act"). The Notes are subject to
all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a
statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with
the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall
govern and be controlling. The Notes are obligations of the Company limited to
$350.0 million in aggregate principal amount.
A-2
5. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as provided in clause (b) of this Paragraph 5, the Notes will
not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to August 1, 2005. On or after
August 1, 2005, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as
percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid
interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date
(subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to
receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during
the twelve-month period beginning on August 1 of the years indicated below:
Year Percentage
---- ----------
2005..................................................... 105.375%
2006..................................................... 103.583%
2007..................................................... 101.792%
2008 and thereafter...................................... 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Paragraph 5, at
any time during the period after the date of the original issuance of the Notes
until August 1, 2003, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to
35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued at a
redemption price equal to 110.75% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes
to be redeemed on the redemption date with the net cash proceeds of one or more
Public Equity Offerings and/or Strategic Equity Investments provided that:
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally
issued remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption
(excluding Notes held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries); and
(2) the redemption occurs within 60 days of the date of the closing of
such Public Equity Offering or Strategic Equity Investment.
6. Mandatory Redemption.
Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be
required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.
7. Repurchase at Option of Holder.
(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company shall be required to make
an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all or any part (equal to
$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's Notes at a purchase
price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and
unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control
Payment"). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall
mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change
of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.
(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales
when the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10 million, the Company
shall commence an offer to all Holders of Notes (as "Asset Sale Offer") pursuant
to Section 3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of
Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash
in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and
unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such
offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth
A-3
in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes tendered
pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company
(or such Restricted Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for any purpose not
otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of
Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the
Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of
Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale
Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have
such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect
Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes.
8. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30
days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations
larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of
$1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and
after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof
called for redemption.
9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided
in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among
other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the
Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or
permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company
need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days
before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record
date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
10. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated
as its owner for all purposes.
11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the
Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the
Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. Without the consent
of any Holder of Notes, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or
supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for
uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to
provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to Holders of the Notes
in case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that would provide any
additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not
adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, or to
comply with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in order
to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act.
12. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30
days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes; (ii) default in payment
when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes, (iii) failure by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with Section 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 or
5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
for 30 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at
least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with
certain other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes; (v) default under
certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company which default
(a) is caused by a
A-4
failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness
prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the
date of such default or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness
prior to its express maturity; (vi) certain final judgments for the payment of
money that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days; and (vii) certain events
of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or
the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
may declare all the Notes to be due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or
insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further
action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as
provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority
in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its
exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the
Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or
Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it
determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice
to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any
existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture
except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest on,
or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the
Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the
Company is required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to
deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
13. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any
other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services
for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or
its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
14. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or
for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or
their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the
issuance of the Notes.
15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by
the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a
Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).
17. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made
as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers placed thereon.
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a
copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to: Crown Castle International
Corp., 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, Attention: Chief
Financial Officer.
A-5
Assignment Form
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: __________________________________
(Insert assignee's legal name)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint ________________________________________________________
to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute
another to act for him.
Date:_________________
Your Signature:______________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the face of this Note)
Signature Guarantee*:______________________
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A-6
Option of Holder to Elect Purchase
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant
to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
[_] Section 4.10 [_] Section 4.15
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the
amount you elect to have purchased:
$_______________
Date:________________
Your Signature:______________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the face of this Note)
Tax Identification No.:______________________
Signature Guarantee*:___________________
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A-7
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in
another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another
Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been
made:
Principal Amount of Signature of
Amount of decrease in Amount of decrease in this Global Note authorized officer of
Principal Amount of Principal Amount of following such decrease Trustee or Note
Date of Exchange this Global Note this Global Note (or increase) Custodian
---------------- --------------------- --------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------
* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.
________________________________________________________________________________
A-8
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS
Supplemental Indenture (this "Supplemental Indenture"), dated as of
________, among __________________ (the "Guaranteeing Subsidiary"), a
subsidiary of CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. (or its permitted successor), a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), the Company, the other Guarantors (as
defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF
NEW YORK, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the "Trustee").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee
an indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of June 26, 2000 providing for the
issuance of an aggregate principal amount of up to $600.0 million of 10 3/4%
Senior Notes due 2011 (the "Notes");
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental
indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally
guarantee all of the Company's Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on
the terms and conditions set forth herein (the "Note Guarantee"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Indenture, the Trustee is
authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the
equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:
1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
2. Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees as
follows:
(a) Along with all Guarantors named in the Indenture, to jointly and
severally Guarantee to each Holder of a Note authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors
and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of
the Indenture, the Notes 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, whether at maturity, by acceleration,
redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue
principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful,
and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or
the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in
full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof
and thereof; and
B-1
(ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of
any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will
be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance
with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing
payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any
performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the
Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay
the same immediately.
(b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of
the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the
Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any
waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any
provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment
against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other
circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or
equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.
(c) The following is hereby waived: 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.
(d) This Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete
performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and the
Indenture.
(e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or
otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors, or any
Custodian, Trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting
in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount
paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note
Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be
reinstated in full force and effect.
(f) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to any right of
subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any
obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all
obligations guaranteed hereby.
(g) As between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and
the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the
obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in
Article 6 of the Indenture for the purposes of this Note
Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other
prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the
obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any
declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in
Article 6 of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due
and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the
Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee.
B-2
(h) The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any
non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does
not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.
(i) Pursuant to Section 10.02 of the Indenture, after giving effect
to any maximum amount and any other contingent and fixed
liabilities that are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or
fraudulent conveyance laws, and after giving effect to any
collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments
made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the
obligations of such other Guarantor under Article 10 of the
Indenture shall result in the obligations of such Guarantor under
its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or
conveyance.
3. Execution and Delivery. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the
Note Guarantees shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any
failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.
4. Guaranteeing Subsidiary May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms.
(a) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not consolidate with or merge with or
into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another
corporation, Person or entity whether or not affiliated with such
Guarantor unless:
(i) subject to Section 10.05 of the Indenture, the Person formed by
or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than a
Guarantor or the Company) unconditionally assumes all the
obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental
indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee, under the Notes, the Indenture and the Note Guarantee on
the terms set forth herein or therein; and
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default
or Event of Default exists.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon
the assumption by the successor corporation, by supplemental
indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in
form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and
the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and
conditions of the Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such
successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for the
Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a
Guarantor. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be
signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of
the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been
signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note
Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank
and benefit under the Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and
thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture as
though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the
execution hereof.
B-3
(c) Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 of the Indenture, and
notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in the
Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or
merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor,
or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor
as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or
another Guarantor.
5. Releases.
(a) In the event of a 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 to the capital stock of any Guarantor,
then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by
way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock
of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the
event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any
obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds
of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Indenture, including without limitation
Section 4.10 of the Indenture. Upon delivery by the Company to the
Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, including without
limitation Section 4.10 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall execute
any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of
any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.
(b) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note
Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and
interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor
under the Indenture as provided in Article 10 of the Indenture.
6. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director,
officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing
Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company
or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the
Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect
of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the
Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver
and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such
waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities
laws and it is the view of the Commission that such a waiver is against public
policy.
7. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE 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.
8. Counterparts The parties may sign any number of copies of this
Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them
together represent the same agreement.
9. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience
only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
B-4
10. The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner
whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental
Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which
recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above
written.
Dated:______________
[Guaranteeing Subsidiary]
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
Crown Castle International Corp.
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
[Other Guarantors]
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title
United States Trust Company of New York
as Trustee
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
B-5
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor
Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally
guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the
provisions in the Indenture dated as of June 26, 2000 (the "Indenture") among
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. and UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as
trustee (the "Trustee"), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on the Notes (as defined in the Indenture),
whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and
punctual payment of interest on overdue principal and premium, and, to the
extent permitted by law, interest, and the due and punctual performance of all
other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any extension of time of
payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same
will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms
of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the
Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth
in Article 10 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for
the precise terms of the Note Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting
the same, agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions.
[Name of Guarantor(s)]
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
C-1
