INDENTURE DATED APRIL 24, 2006 BETWEEN EMPRESA DISTRIBUIDORA Y COMERCIALIZADORA NORTE S.A., AS ISSUER AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE, CO-REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT AND BANCO RÍO DE LA PLATA S.A., AS REGISTRAR, TRANSFER AND PAYING AGENT IN...
Exhibit
2.2
DATED
APRIL 24, 2006
BETWEEN
EMPRESA
DISTRIBUIDORA Y COMERCIALIZADORA NORTE S.A.,
AS
ISSUER
AND
THE
BANK OF NEW YORK,
AS
TRUSTEE, CO-REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT
AND
BANCO
RÍO DE LA PLATA S.A.,
AS
REGISTRAR, TRANSFER AND PAYING AGENT IN ARGENTINA AND
REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE TRUSTEE IN ARGENTINA
U.S.
$123,773,586 Fixed Rate Par Notes due December 14, 2016
U.S.
$12,656,086 Floating Rate Par Notes due December 14, 2019
U.S.
$239,999,985 Discount Notes due December 14, 2014
Page
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Article
1.
|
DEFINITIONS
AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
|
2
|
1.1
|
Definitions
|
2
|
1.2
|
Rules
of Construction
|
24
|
1.3
|
Compliance
Certificates and Opinions
|
25
|
1.4
|
Form
of Documents delivered to Trustee
|
25
|
1.5
|
Acts
of Holders; Record Dates
|
26
|
1.6
|
Notices,
etc., to Trustee and Company
|
26
|
1.7
|
Notice
to Holders
|
27
|
1.8
|
Trust
Indenture Act Deemed to Apply and Control
|
28
|
1.9
|
Waiver
of Certain Covenants
|
28
|
1.10
|
Effect
of Headings and Table of Contents
|
29
|
1.11
|
Successors
and Assigns
|
29
|
1.12
|
Separability
Clause
|
29
|
1.13
|
Benefits
of Indenture
|
29
|
1.14
|
Governing
Law
|
29
|
1.15
|
Legal
Holidays
|
29
|
1.16
|
Conversion
of Currency
|
29
|
1.17
|
Agent
for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction
|
30
|
1.18
|
Waiver
of Immunity
|
31
|
1.19
|
Foreign
Exchange Restrictions
|
31
|
1.20
|
Resignation
and Appointment of Agents
|
31
|
Article
2.
|
FORM
OF NOTES
|
32
|
2.1
|
Forms
of the Notes
|
32
|
2.2
|
Notes
Issuable in Series
|
32
|
Article
3.
|
THE
NOTES
|
33
|
3.1
|
Title
and Terms
|
33
|
3.2
|
Denominations
|
36
|
3.3
|
Execution,
Authentication, Delivery and Dating
|
36
|
3.4
|
Registration,
Registration of Transfer and Exchange Generally
|
37
|
3.5
|
Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes
|
40
|
3.6
|
Payment
of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved
|
41
|
3.7
|
Persons
Deemed Owners
|
41
|
3.8
|
Cancellation
|
42
|
3.9
|
Computation
of Interest
|
42
|
3.10
|
Common
Code/ISIN Numbers
|
42
|
i
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
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3.11
|
Prescription
|
42
|
3.12
|
Information
From Holders of Notes
|
42
|
3.13
|
Special
Provision Regarding Title VI of the Argentine Income Tax
Law
|
44
|
Article
4.
|
SATISFACTION
AND DISCHARGE
|
45
|
4.1
|
Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture
|
45
|
4.2
|
Application
of Trust Money
|
45
|
Article
5.
|
REMEDIES
|
46
|
5.1
|
Events
of Default
|
46
|
5.2
|
Acceleration
of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment
|
47
|
5.3
|
Collection
of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee
|
48
|
5.4
|
Trustee
May File Proofs of Claim
|
48
|
5.5
|
Trustee
May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes
|
49
|
5.6
|
Application
of Money Collected
|
49
|
5.7
|
Enforcement
by Holders of Notes
|
49
|
5.8
|
Unconditional
Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and
Interest
|
50
|
5.9
|
Restoration
of Rights and Remedies
|
50
|
5.10
|
Rights
and Remedies Cumulative
|
50
|
5.11
|
Delay
or Omission Not Waiver
|
50
|
5.12
|
Control
by Holders
|
50
|
5.13
|
Waiver
of Past Defaults
|
51
|
5.14
|
Undertaking
for Costs
|
51
|
5.15
|
Waiver
of Stay or Extension Laws
|
51
|
5.16
|
Adverse
Event
|
51
|
Article
6.
|
THE
TRUSTEE
|
52
|
6.1
|
Certain
Duties and Responsibilities
|
52
|
6.2
|
Notice
of Defaults
|
53
|
6.3
|
Certain
Rights of Trustee
|
53
|
6.4
|
Not
Responsible for Issuance of Notes
|
54
|
6.5
|
May
Hold Notes
|
54
|
6.6
|
Money
Held in Trust
|
54
|
6.7
|
Compensation
and Reimbursement
|
54
|
6.8
|
Disqualification;
Conflicting Interests
|
55
|
6.9
|
Corporate
Trustee Required; Eligibility
|
55
|
6.10
|
Resignation
and Removal; Appointment of Successor
|
55
|
6.11
|
Acceptance
of Appointment by Successor
|
56
|
ii
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
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6.12
|
Merger,
Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business
|
57
|
6.13
|
Preferential
Collection of Claims against Company
|
57
|
6.14
|
Trustee’s
Application for Instructions from the Company
|
57
|
6.15
|
Appointment
of Co-Trustee
|
58
|
Article
7.
|
HOLDERS’
LISTS
|
59
|
7.1
|
Company
to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders
|
59
|
7.2
|
Preservation
of Information; Communications to Holders
|
59
|
Article
8.
|
SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURES
|
59
|
8.1
|
Supplemental
Indentures Without Consent of Holders
|
59
|
8.2
|
Supplemental
Indentures With Consent of Holders
|
60
|
8.3
|
Execution
of Supplemental Indentures
|
61
|
8.4
|
Effect
of Supplemental Indentures
|
61
|
8.5
|
Conformity
with Trust Indenture Act and the Negotiable Obligations
Law
|
61
|
8.6
|
Reference
in Notes to Supplemental Indentures
|
61
|
8.7
|
Notice
of Supplemental Indentures
|
61
|
8.8
|
Meetings
of Holders
|
62
|
Article
9.
|
COVENANTS
|
63
|
9.1
|
Mandatory
Prepayment With Excess Cash
|
63
|
9.2
|
Mandatory
Market Purchases upon Public Equity Offering
|
65
|
9.3
|
Limitation
on Liens
|
65
|
9.4
|
Limitations
on Indebtedness
|
67
|
9.5
|
Limitations
on Asset Sales
|
68
|
9.6
|
Limitation
on Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates
|
68
|
9.7
|
Limitation
on Capital Expenditures
|
69
|
9.8
|
Limitation
on Restricted Payments
|
69
|
9.9
|
Delivery
of Financial Statements
|
70
|
9.10
|
Notices
of Default
|
70
|
9.11
|
Maintenance
of Notes Listing
|
70
|
9.12
|
Corporate
Existence
|
71
|
9.13
|
Conduct
of Business
|
71
|
9.14
|
Maintenance
of Properties
|
71
|
9.15
|
Maintenance
of Insurance
|
71
|
9.16
|
Payment
of Taxes and Other Claims
|
71
|
9.17
|
Designation
of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
|
71
|
9.18
|
Limitation
of Applicability of Certain Covenants
|
73
|
iii
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
iv
Exhibit
|
|
EXHIBIT
A
|
Exhibit
A-1
|
EXHIBIT
B
|
Exhibit
X-0
|
Xxxxx
|
|
XXXXX
X
|
Xxxxx
X-0
|
XXXXX
X
|
Annex
B-1
|
ANNEX
C
|
Annex
C-1
|
Note: This
table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this
Indenture
v
THIS
INDENTURE,
dated
as of April 24, 2006.
BETWEEN:
(1)
|
EMPRESA
DISTRIBUIDORA Y COMERCIALIZADORA NORTE S.A.,
a
sociedad
anónima
organized under the laws of the Republic of Argentina (the Company),
having its legal domicile at Xxxxxxxx 0000, Xxxx xx Xxxxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx;
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
BANCO
RÍO DE LA PLATA S.A.,
an Argentine financial institution, incorporated as a sociedad anónima
organized under the laws of the Republic of Argentina (Banco
Río),
as registrar (the Registrar),
transfer agent (the Transfer
Agent)
and paying agent in Argentina (the Paying
Agent in Argentina)
and representative of the Trustee in
Argentina.
|
RECITALS
OF THE COMPANY:
(A)
|
WHEREAS,
the creation of the Program (as defined below) was pursuant to resolutions
adopted on August 5, 1994 at an extraordinary meeting of the Company’s
shareholders, which were ratified by resolutions adopted on September
23,
1996 at an ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders; the CNV
approved the creation of the Program by Resolution No. 130 dated
November
5, 1996 for an aggregate principal amount of up to U.S. $300,000,000,
and
the Company created a Global Medium Term Note Program (the Program)
for the issuance of obligaciones
negociables
(negotiable
obligations)
in an aggregate principal amount of up to U.S. $300,000,000 (or its
equivalent in other currencies); WHEREAS, the maximum amount of the
Program was increased to U.S. $600,000,000 (or its equivalent in
other
currencies) by resolutions adopted on September 15, 1997 at an
extraordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders, which was approved by
the CNV by Certificate 193 on February 27, 1998; WHEREAS, as the
initial
term of the Program expired on November 5, 2001, the Company’s
shareholders approved a five-year extension of its term to November
5,
2006 by resolutions adopted on June 7, 2001 at an extraordinary meeting
of
the Company’s shareholders, which was approved by the CNV by Resolution
No. 286 dated September 4, 2001; WHEREAS, the current term of the
Program
will expire on November 5, 2006, and the Company approved an additional
five-year extension of the Program to 2011 by a resolution adopted
at an
extraordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders on February 23, 2006,
which was approved by the CNV by Resolution No. 15,359 dated March
23,
2006;
|
(B)
|
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the Program the Company has duly authorized the execution
and
delivery of the Fixed Rate Par Notes due 2016 in an aggregate principal
amount of U.S. $123,773,586 (the Fixed
Rate Par Notes),
the Floating Rate Par Notes due 2019 (the Floating
Rate Par Notes)
in an aggregate principal amount of U.S. $12,656,086 and the Discount
Notes due 2014 in an aggregate principal amount of U.S. $239,999,985
(the
Discount
Notes
and together with the Fixed Rate Par Notes and the Floating Rate
Par
Notes, the Notes)
and this Indenture, and the execution and delivery of notes in the
aggregate principal amount of U.S. $30 million for cash pursuant
to a
public offering in Argentina;
|
(C)
|
WHEREAS,
the Fixed Rate Par Notes, the Floating Rate Par Notes and Discount
Notes
shall rank pari
passu
with one another;
|
(D)
|
WHEREAS,
all things necessary to make the Notes, when duly issued and executed
by
the Company and authenticated by the Trustee and duly delivered hereunder,
the valid obligations of the Company, and to make this Indenture
a valid
agreement of the Company, in accordance with their and its terms,
have
been done;
|
(E)
|
WHEREAS,
pursuant to an Information Memorandum dated January 20, 2006, as
amended
and supplemented from time to time (the Information
Memorandum),
and a Spanish-language document for distribution in Argentina dated
January 20, 2006, as amended and supplemented from time to time
(the
Argentine Information Memorandum),
the Company has solicited from the holders of Outstanding Debt (as
defined
herein) consents to exchange such Outstanding Debt for the
Notes;
|
(F)
|
WHEREAS,
the holders of Outstanding Notes (as defined herein) will receive
Notes
which will initially be represented by global certificates in fully
registered form and holders of Outstanding Loans (as defined herein)
will
receive Notes that will initially be represented by separate global
certificates in fully registered form, and the Company has obtained
the
authorization of the CNV (as defined herein) for the public offer
of such
Notes in Argentina pursuant to Resolution No. 15,359 and has obtained
or
will obtain the authorization for their listing on the Buenos Aires
Stock
Exchange, admission for trading on the Xxxxxxx
Abierto Electrónico S.A.,
listing on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and admission for trading
on the
Euro MTF, the alternative market of the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange;
|
(G)
|
WHEREAS,
the Company will issue a series of Fixed Rate Par Notes, a series
of
Floating Rate Par Notes and a series of Discount Notes, and each
is
referred to herein as a Series
of
Notes, and each Series may be divided into two tranches, one tranche
for
Notes issued in respect of Outstanding Notes, and one tranche for
Notes
issued in respect of Outstanding Loans, and each is referred to herein
as
a Tranche;
|
(H)
|
WHEREAS,
(i) the purpose of EDENOR S.A. is to provide electric power distribution
and commercial services within the Northern area of the City Buenos
Aires
and certain departments in the province of Buenos Aires, under the
terms
of the Concession Agreement governing this public utility, as well
as
advisory services and other activities and businesses related to
the
distribution and sale of electric power; (ii) the Company was incorporated
as a sociedad
anónima
under the laws of Argentina on July 21, 1992 and registered with
the
Public Registry of Commerce on August 3, 1992, under No. 7041, Book
111,
Volume A of “Sociedades
Anónimas,”
is domiciled in Argentina, has a term of duration of 95 years and
its
registered offices are located at Xxxxxxxx 0000, Xxxx xx Xxxxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx C1107ADQ, and (iii) as
of December 31, 2005 the Company had a capital stock of Pesos 831,610
thousand and a total shareholders’ equity of Pesos 1,377,284
thousand,
and
|
(I)
|
WHEREAS,
the Trustee has agreed to act as Trustee under this Indenture on
the
following terms and conditions;
|
NOW,
THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For
and
in consideration of the premises and the exchange of the Notes by the Holders
thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of
all
Holders of the Notes, as follows:
ARTICLE
1. DEFINITIONS
AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
1.1 Definitions
Act,
when
used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.5 (Acts
of Holders; Record Dates).
Additional
Amounts
has the
meaning specified in Section 9.20 (Payment of Additional Amounts).
Additional
Capital Expenditure
means
any capital expenditure used or useful to the business of the Company that
is
not contemplated by (and is in excess of) the Permitted Capital Expenditure
and
Regulatory Capital Expenditures.
Adverse
Cash Flow Event means
the
occurrence of any event or series of events that (i) are outside the control
of
the Company and (ii) result in the Company’s inability to meet its debt service
obligations, while maintaining the Minimum Cash Balance.
2
Adverse
Devaluation Event means
any
act or series of acts taken by the Argentine government, general market
conditions or any other event which results in real devaluation of the Peso
of
20% or more in any period of 12 consecutive months after the Issuance Date
as
compared to January 1, 2006. The calculation of the real devaluation of the
Peso
will be based on the average Exchange Rate and the average of the United States
Consumer Price Index and the Argentine Consumer Price Index for the relevant
12-month period (based on the last Business Day of each month during such
period).
Adverse
Event means
an
Adverse Cash Flow Event or an Adverse Devaluation Event.
Adverse
Event Period
means
the period commencing on the first Interest Payment Date that the Company elects
to reschedule payments of principal and/or interest pursuant to an Adverse
Event
up to, but not including, the date on which the Company resumes scheduled
payments of principal or interest, as the case may be.
Affiliate
means,
with respect to any Person, a person that directly, or indirectly through one
or
more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control
with such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term control shall mean
the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by ownership
of
share capital, by contract, by the power to appoint or remove a majority of
the
members of the governing body of that Person or otherwise; provided
that,
for the purposes of Section 9.6 (Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders
and Affiliates) only, the direct or indirect ownership of ten percent (10%)
or
more of the voting share capital of a Person is deemed to constitute control
of
that Person, and “controlling” and “controlled” have corresponding
meanings.
AFIP
means
the Argentine federal tax authority (Administración
Federal de Ingresos Públicos).
Applicable
Procedures
means,
with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Note or
beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of any Depositary for
such
Note, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect
from time to time.
Argentine
GAAP
means
generally accepted accounting principles in Argentina consistently applied
as
adopted by the Professional Council in Economic Sciences of the Autonomous
City
of Buenos Aires (Consejo
Profesional de Ciencias Económicas de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos
Aires)
and in
accordance with the accounting regulations adopted by the CNV.
Argentine
Government
means
the government of the Republic of Argentina or any agency or instrumentality
thereof or any company controlled by the Argentine Government.
Argentine
Government Obligations
means
obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the Republic
of Argentina or by any agent or instrumentality thereof; provided
that the
full faith and credit of the Republic of Argentina is pledged in support
thereof.
Asset
Sale
means
any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of any assets by the Company
or
any Restricted Subsidiary, including by means of a Sale and Leaseback
Transaction or of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction or distribution
of assets (other than Cash or Cash Equivalents or shares in the Company or
any
Restricted Subsidiary), to any Person (each of the above referred to as a
disposition);
provided
that the
following are not included in the definition of “Asset Sale”:
(a)
|
the
disposition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary
course of business of (i) Cash and Cash Equivalents or Permitted
Investments, (ii) inventory and other assets acquired and held for
resale
in the ordinary course of business, (iii) damaged, worn out or obsolete
assets, (iv) assets that are exchanged for or otherwise replaced
in
accordance with industry practice by comparable or superior assets
within
a reasonable time or (v) rights granted to others pursuant to leases
or
licenses;
|
(b)
|
the
sale or discount of accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course
of
business in connection with the compromise or collection thereof
of
overdue and unpaid accounts
receivable;
|
3
(c)
|
the
lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property in
the
ordinary course of business;
|
(d)
|
a
transaction permitted by Section 9.19 (Limitations on Mergers,
Consolidations, Sales and Conveyances)including the disposition by
the
Company of all or substantially all of its
assets;
|
(e)
|
any
Restricted Payment permitted under Section 9.8 (Limitation on Restricted
Payments)or any Permitted Investments;
or
|
(f)
|
dispositions
of assets in any fiscal year with a fair market value in the aggregate
not
to exceed U.S. $5 million (or its equivalent in other
currencies).
|
Board
of Directors
means
the board of directors of the Company or any committee of the Board of Directors
authorized to act on its behalf.
Board
Resolution
means a
copy of a resolution ratified by an officer of the Company, or by a notary
public duly adopted by the Board of Directors and in full force and effect
on
the date of such ratification, and delivered to the Trustee.
Buenos
Aires Stock Exchange
or
BASE
means
the Bolsa
de Comercio de Buenos Aires.
Business
Day
means
any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are
authorized or required by law or regulation to close in New York City or in
the
city of Buenos Aires.
CAMMESA
means
CAMME S.A. (Compañia
Administradora del Xxxxxxx Mayorista Eléctrico S.A.).
Capital
Expenditure
means
(i) any Permitted Capital Expenditures, Regulatory Capital Expenditures or
Additional Capital Expenditures made by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or (ii) any binding commitment (subject only to customary
conditions) by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to make
Permitted Capital Expenditures, Regulatory Capital Expenditures or Additional
Capital Expenditures, but only to the extent such capital expenditures are
actually made within 12 months from the date of the signing of such binding
commitment.
Capital
Lease
means,
with respect to any Person, any lease of any property that, in conformity with
Argentine GAAP, is required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of such
Person.
Capital
Stock
means
capital stock or other equity participation, including partnership interests,
or
warrants, options or other rights to acquire capital stock or other equity
participations, but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or
exchangeable for, capital stock or other such equity
participations.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
means:
(a)
|
any
official currencies received or acquired in the ordinary course of
business including, without limitation, Pesos, Euro, Dollars or any
other
currency of countries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries has
material operations;
|
(b)
|
U.S.
Government Obligations or certificates representing an ownership
interest
in U.S. Government Obligations, or securities issued directly and
fully
guaranteed or insured by any member of the European Union, or any
agency
or instrumentality thereof (provided
that the full faith and credit of such member is pledged in support
of
those securities) or other sovereign debt obligations (other than
those of
Argentina) rated “A” or higher or such similar equivalent or higher rating
by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization
as
contemplated in Rule 436 under the Securities Act, in each case with
maturities not exceeding one year from the date of
acquisition;
|
4
(c)
|
Argentine
Government Obligations (including those of the Central Bank), or
quasi-currencies, bonds and other obligations issued, guaranteed
or
insured by any province or municipality of Argentina, or certificates
representing an ownership interest in any of the foregoing with maturities
not exceeding one year from the date of acquisition and which obligations
can be applied in payment of taxes or other obligations under Argentine
Laws;
|
(d)
|
(i)
demand deposits, (ii) time deposits and certificates of deposit with
maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, (iii)
bankers’ acceptance with maturities not exceeding one year from the date
of acquisition, and (iv) overnight bank deposits, in each case with
any
bank or trust company organized or licensed under the laws of Argentina
or
any state thereof and that are eligible to receive and hold deposits
of
Argentine pension and/or retirement funds (administradoras
de fondos de jubilaciones y pensiones);
|
(e)
|
(i)
demand deposits, (ii) time deposits and certificates of deposit with
maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, (iii)
bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year from the date
of acquisition, and (iv) overnight bank deposits, in each case with
any
bank or trust company organized or licensed under the laws of the
United
States or any state thereof or under the laws of any member state
of the
European Union, or under the laws of any country in which the Company
has
operations in each case whose head office’s senior short term debt is
rated Investment Grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical
rating organization as contemplated in Rule 436 under the Securities
Act;
|
(f)
|
repurchase
obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities
of the type described in clauses (b) and (c) above entered into with
any
financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause
(e)
above;
|
(g)
|
commercial
paper rated Investment Grade by at least one nationally recognized
statistical rating organization as contemplated in Rule 436 under
the
Securities Act and maturing within six months after the date of
acquisition;
|
(h)
|
money
market funds at least 95% of the assets of which consist of investments
of
the type described in clauses (a) through (g) above;
|
(i)
|
corporate
obligations that are eligible to be purchased and/or held for investment
by Argentine pension and/or retirement funds (administradoras
de fondos de jubilaciones y pensiones);
and
|
(j)
|
substantially
similar investments, of comparable credit quality, denominated in
the
currency of any jurisdiction in which the Company or its Subsidiaries
conducts business.
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents Balance
means,
as of any date, the closing amount of Cash and Cash Equivalents (but excluding
clause (c) of the definition of “Cash and Cash Equivalents”) of the Company and
its Subsidiaries as currently reported on the Company’s consolidated balance
sheet under the accounts “Cash and Banks” and “Current Investments” based on the
Company’s financial statements prepared in accordance with Argentine GAAP less
the Minimum Cash Balance.
Cash
Offer means
the separate
public offering in Argentina of Notes for cash, which launched on April 13,
2006
and expired on April 20, 2006.
Central
Bank
means
the Banco
Central de la República Argentina,
the
Argentine Central Bank.
Certificated
Notes Legend means
the
following legend to be placed upon a Certificated Note:
IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR SUCH
OPINIONS OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATES AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THE COMPANY MAY
REASONABLY REQUIRE IN FORM REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO IT AS PROVIDED FOR IN
THE
INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIED WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS
AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE INDENTURE.
5
Change
of Control means
the
occurrence of an event which causes any “person” or “group” (as such terms are
used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than
Electricidad
Argentina S.A. (EASA),
to become a direct holder or owner of (x) more than fifty percent (50%) of
the
ordinary shares of the Company or (y) a number of ordinary shares of the Company
that affords such person or group the right or ability by voting power, contract
or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the members of
the
Board of Directors; provided,
however,
that,
notwithstanding the above, should the Argentine Government acquire more than
50%
of the outstanding shares of the Company (directly or indirectly), such
acquisition shall constitute a Change of Control.
Change
of Control Offer has
the
meaning specified in Section 10.3 (Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon
a
Change of Control).
Change
of Control Payment has
the
meaning specified in Section 10.3 (Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon
a
Change of Control).
Change
of Control Payment Date has
the
meaning specified in Section 10.3 (Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon
a
Change of Control).
Change
in Working Capital
means,
for any Excess Cash Period, the amount equal to the Working Capital as of the
end of such period minus the Working Capital at the beginning of such
period.
Clearstream
means
Clearstream Banking, société
anonyme,
Luxembourg and its successors.
CNV
means
Comisión
Nacional de Valores
(the
Argentine National Securities Commission).
Commodity
Agreement
means
any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement
or
arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of commodities
or raw materials used by the Company (other than energy).
Company
means
the Person named as the Company in the first paragraph of this instrument at
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A., Azopardo 1025, Ciudad
de
Buenos Aires, X0000XXX, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, until a successor Person shall
have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and
thereafter Company shall mean such successor Person.
Company
Request
or
Company
Order
means a
written request or order signed on behalf of the Company by an Officer of the
Company and delivered to the Trustee.
Concession
Agreement means
the
concession agreement dated August 5, 1992 between the Republic of Argentina,
represented by the Argentine Secretary of Energy (Secretaría
de Energía)
and the
Company, which grants the Company the exclusive right to distribute electricity
to all users within the Company’s designated service area for a period of 95
years.
Consolidated
Total Indebtedness
means,
at any date, the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount outstanding of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Peso-denominated Indebtedness (at the
Prevailing Exchange Rate as of the most recent quarterly financial statement),
on a consolidated basis, as of the most recent fiscal quarter for which
financial statements are available, plus
(ii) the
Peso Average of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries’ non Peso-denominated Indebtedness, on a
consolidated basis, as of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial
statements are available, plus,
if
applicable, (iii) the amount of any Peso-denominated Indebtedness and the Peso
equivalent (at the Prevailing Exchange Rate as of the date of determination)
of
any outstanding non-Peso denominated Indebtedness that was Incurred after the
date of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements are
available, minus
(iv) the
amount of any Peso-denominated Indebtedness and the Peso-equivalent (at the
Prevailing Exchange Rate) of any non-Peso Indebtedness that was paid in full
after the date of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements
are available.
6
Corporate
Trust Office
means
the office of the Trustee at The Bank of New York, Corporate Trust
Department—Global Finance Xxxx, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 21 West, New York, New
York 10286, United States of America at which at any particular time its
corporate trust business shall be principally administered.
CSSF
means
the Commission
de surveillance du secteur financier
of
Luxembourg, as from time to time constituted.
Debt
Prepayment
means
any payment of the outstanding principal amount of Notes, together with accrued
interest and any Additional Amounts, if any, which payment shall be applied
to
the remaining scheduled amortization payments of the Notes in direct order
of
maturity, with such payment being made in accordance with the limitations in
Section 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment With Excess Cash), and pro
rata
among
the Holders of Notes of the relevant Series of Notes based on the next remaining
scheduled amortization payments.
Default
means
any event that, with giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would
be an Event of Default.
Defaulted
Interest
has the
meaning specified in Section 3.6 (Payment of Interest; Interest Rights
Preserved).
Depositaries
shall
mean The Depository Trust Company (DTC),
Euroclear and Clearstream their respective nominees and the successors of any
of
the foregoing; Depositary
will
refer to DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be.
Discount
Notes
means
the Notes due 2014 to be issued by the Company at a discount, in an aggregate
principal amount of U.S. $239,999,985.
Discount
Notes Applicable Annual Interest Rate
means
the rate set forth below:
7
Interest Payment Date
|
Discount Notes Applicable
Annual Interest
Rate
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
3.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
3.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
3.5
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
3.5
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
11.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
11.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
12.0
|
%
|
Discount
Notes Scheduled Amortization
has the
meaning specified in Section 3.1 (Title and Terms).
Disqualified
Stock
means,
with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the
terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, carries the right to any
mandatory dividend or distribution payment (other than a right that is expressly
subject to compliance by the Company with its obligations under this Indenture),
matures or is mandatorily redeemable, in whole or in part, pursuant to a sinking
fund obligation or otherwise, is exchangeable for Indebtedness, or is redeemable
at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the
maturity date of the relevant note.
Dollars,
U.S.
Dollars
and the
signs $
or
U.S.
$
mean the
lawful currency of the United States.
EBITDA
means,
for any period, the consolidated operating income (loss) for the Company and
its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period plus, without duplication and to the
extent deducted in determining such consolidated operating income (loss), the
sum of (a) consolidated amortization of intangible assets for such period,
(b)
consolidated depreciation of fixed assets for such period, (c) consolidated
amortization of other non-current assets for such period and (d) any other
non-cash charges that were deducted in computing consolidated operating income
(loss) (excluding any non-cash charge which requires an accrual or reserve
for
cash charges for any future period). EBITDA is calculated based on the
consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
as of the end of such period, prepared in accordance with Argentine
GAAP.
ENRE
means
the Ente
Nacional Regulador de la Electricidad
(the
Argentine Electricity Regulator).
Equity
Interests
means
all Capital Stock and all warrants or options with respect to, or other rights
to purchase, Capital Stock, but excluding Indebtedness convertible into
equity.
8
Euro,
euro
and the
sign €
mean the
single lawful currency of member states of the European Union as constituted
by
the treaty establishing the European Community, being the Treaty of Rome, as
amended from time to time.
Euroclear
means
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system and its
successors.
Event
of Default
has the
meaning specified in Section 5.1 (Events of Default).
Excess
Cash
means
(a) in respect of any given Excess Cash Period other than the initial Excess
Cash Period, the amount equal to the sum, without duplication, of any Excess
Cash that has not been utilized in the preceding Excess Cash Period (excluding
any Excess Cash that is being applied to Debt Prepayments and/or Discount
Buybacks or that is committed to Capital Expenditures or reserved for declared
dividends or distributions), plus/minus
the
following consolidated items for the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries:
(i)
|
EBITDA;
plus/minus
|
(ii)
|
any
negative/positive Change in Working Capital; plus
|
(iii)
|
sum
of dividends and interest income received; minus
|
(iv)
|
all
income taxes and other similar taxes accrued (and unpaid) or paid
during
such Excess Cash Period (including advance payments); provided
that
if any such taxes paid in cash during such period were previously
deducted
as accrued and unpaid taxes, such paid taxes will not be deducted
pursuant
to this clause; plus
|
(v)
|
any
cash proceeds from Indebtedness Incurred as permitted under this
Indenture; minus
|
(vi)
|
the
aggregate amount of net financial expenses paid in cash (excluding
deferred charges and financial interest) plus/minus financial and
holding
gains/losses on cash and cash equivalents; minus
|
(vii)
|
all
principal and interest payments, including premiums and additional
amounts, if any (including any direct taxes on interest payments),
redemptions or repayments of principal and/or market repurchases
of debt
under the Notes (including Debt Prepayments, Optional Redemptions,
Change
of Control Offers and Market Purchases (but not including securities,
instruments or other obligations (and related Hedging Contracts)
received
in compromise or settlement of debts created in the ordinary course
of
business or by reason of a composition or readjustment of debts or
reorganization of another Person) and other Indebtedness of the Company
or
its Restricted Subsidiaries paid in cash during such Excess Cash
Period
using cash generated or borrowed in such Excess Cash Period; minus
|
(viii)
|
all
amounts paid in cash during such Excess Cash Period to settle, purchase
or
otherwise retire or pay Outstanding Debt held by Non-Consenting Creditors;
minus
|
(ix)
|
all
Permitted Capital Expenditures and all Regulatory Capital Expenditures
made during such Excess Cash Period or scheduled to be made in the
following Excess Cash Period; provided
that
if any such capital expenditures made during such period were previously
deducted as scheduled capital expenditures, such capital expenditures
will
not be deducted pursuant to this clause; minus
|
(x)
|
all
amounts paid in cash pursuant to a Discount Buyback during such Excess
Cash Period or required to be paid in the following Excess Cash Period;
provided
that if any such payments made during such period were previously
deducted, such payments will not be deducted pursuant to this clause;
minus
|
9
(xi)
|
all
Permitted Investments made during such Excess Cash Period pursuant
to
clauses (a), (c), (e), (f), (g), (h) (to the extent the acquired
obligations were not applied in payments of taxes or other obligations
under Argentine law during such period), (i) or (j) of the definition
of
Permitted Investments; plus/minus
|
(xii)
|
any
cash collateral required to be released/posted during such period
in
connection with Hedging Contracts and/or Commodity Agreements;
minus
|
(xiii)
|
any
Restructuring Expenses accrued (and unpaid) or paid in cash during
such
Excess Cash Period; provided
that
if any such expenses paid in cash during such period were previously
deducted as accrued and unpaid expenses, such paid expenses shall
not be
deducted pursuant to this clause; minus
|
(xiv)
|
without
duplication, any other expenses paid in cash during the period and
not
included in the calculation of operating income; plus/minus
|
(xv)
|
any
decrease/increase in the In-APE Reserve during such Excess Cash Period;
minus
|
(xvi)
|
the
amount of Restricted Payments that have accrued or dividends that
have
been proposed by our Board of Directors or declared by our shareholders,
as the case may be, as of such date of determination with respect
to the
immediate preceding fiscal year or relevant period, which Restricted
Payments or dividends were otherwise permitted by Section 9.8 (Limitation
on Restricted Payments), such amounts determined on a consolidated
basis
including us and our Subsidiaries; minus
|
(xvii)
|
the
amount, if any, necessary to replenish the Cash and Cash Equivalents
Balance to the Minimum Cash Balance, excluding any tax provisions
as
determined in (iv) above.
|
(b)
|
in
respect of the initial Excess Cash Period, without duplication, the
amount
of Excess Cash calculated for such period pursuant to the preceding
clause
(a), minus (x) all amounts paid in cash to settle, purchase or otherwise
retire or pay our Outstanding Debt on or prior to the Restructuring
Exchange Date or the In-APE Exchange Date, minus (y) the initial
In-APE
Reserve.
|
All
such
items shall be determined in Pesos in accordance with Argentine GAAP. In the
event Argentine GAAP should require in the future the application of inflation
adjustments, calculations made hereunder shall be made using non-inflation
adjusted figures.
For
the
purposes of determining Excess Cash, to the extent any cash amounts included
in
items (iii) through (xvii) above are included in the calculation of Change
in
Working Capital, such amount shall not be duplicated in calculating items (iii)
through (xvii) above.
Excess
Cash Period means,
in
respect of any Calculation Date, the six-month period prior to such Calculation
Date.
Fixed
Rate Par Annual Scheduled Amortization
has the
meaning specified in Section 3.1 (Title and Terms).
10
Fixed
Rate Par Applicable Annual Interest Rate
means
the rate set forth below:
Interest Payment Date
|
Fixed Rate Par Applicable
Annual Interest Rate
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
3.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
3.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
4.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
4.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
5.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
5.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
6.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
6.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
8.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
8.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
9.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
9.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
9.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
9.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
10.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
10.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2015
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2015
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2016
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2016
|
10.0
|
%
|
Fixed
Rate Par Notes
means
the Notes due 2016 to be issued by the Company at par, in an aggregate principal
amount of U.S. $123,773,586.
Floating
Rate Par Annual Scheduled Amortization
has the
meaning specified in Section 3.1 (Title and Terms).
11
Floating
Rate Annual Spread
means
the rate set forth below:
Interest
Payment Date
|
Floating
Rate
Annual
Spread
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
0.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
0.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
0.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
0.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
1.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
1.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2015
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2015
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2016
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2016
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2017
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2017
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2018
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2018
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2019
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2019
|
2.0
|
%
|
Floating
Rate Par Notes
means
the Notes due 2019 to be issued by the Company at par, in an aggregate principal
amount of U.S. $12,656,086.
Global
Note
means a
Note that is registered in the Note Register in the name of one or more
Depositaries.
Global
Notes Legend means
the
following legend to be placed upon a Global Note:
THIS
NOTE
IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO
HEREINAFTER.
12
UNLESS
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE
COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND
ANY
CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER
NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT
IS
MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE
OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGESTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS
OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN
PART,
TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND
TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS
MADE
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO
ON
THE REVERSE HEREOF.
Guarantee
means
any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly
guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other financial obligation of any other Person
and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct
or
indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or
other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership
arrangements, or by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods,
securities or services, to take or pay, or to maintain financial statement
conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for purposes of assuring in any
other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment
thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof, in whole
or
in part; provided that the term “Guarantee” does not include endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or guarantees of
performance that do not include any contingent payment obligation. The term
“Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
Hedging
Contract
means
(i) any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement or other
agreement designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates or (ii)
any
foreign exchange forward contract, currency swap agreement or other agreement
designed to protect against fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, in each
case
entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative
purposes.
Holder
means a
Person in whose name a Note is registered in the Note Register.
In-APE
Reserve means,
in
the event the Company seeks to, or is required to, consummate the Restructuring
pursuant to an In-APE Exchange, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of
cash
that would have been paid to Non-Consenting Creditors pursuant to the terms
of
the Restructuring had all such Holders elected to voluntarily participate in
the
Restructuring on the In-APE Exchange Date and during the period thereafter
until
homologación
of the
APE.
Incur
means,
with respect to any Indebtedness or other obligation of any Person, to create,
issue, incur (by conversion, exchange or otherwise) assume, guarantee or
otherwise become liable in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation
or
the recording, as required pursuant to Argentine GAAP or the regulations of
the
CNV, of any such Indebtedness or other obligation on the balance sheet of such
Person (and “Incurrence” and “Incurred” shall have meanings correlative to the
foregoing); provided,
however,
that (i)
a change in Argentine GAAP or in the regulations of the CNV that results in
an
obligation of such Person that exists at such time being reclassified as
Indebtedness shall not be deemed an Incurrence of such Indebtedness, (ii) with
respect to Peso-denominated Indebtedness, an increase, whether periodically
or
otherwise, in the nominal principal amount of such Indebtedness as a result
of
and in proportion to the devaluation of the Peso against the U.S. Dollar or
the
rate of inflation in Argentina shall not be deemed an Incurrence of such
Indebtedness and (iii) with respect to Indebtedness previously Incurred, a
change in the U.S. Dollar equivalent of such Indebtedness shall not be deemed
an
Incurrence of such Indebtedness.
Indebtedness
means,
with respect to any Person, without duplication:
13
(a)
|
all
obligations of such Person for borrowed
money;
|
(b)
|
all
obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, Notes
or other
similar instruments;
|
(c)
|
all
obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property
or
services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course
of
business;
|
(d)
|
all
obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’
acceptances or other similar instruments, excluding obligations in
respect
of trade letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued in respect of
trade payables;
|
(e)
|
all
sales of Receivables and Related Assets of such Person together with
any
obligation of such Person to pay any discount, interest, fees,
indemnities, penalties, recourse, expenses or other amounts in connection
therewith (except to the extent such sales of Receivables and Related
Assets are non-recourse);
|
(f)
|
all
obligations of such Person under Hedging
Contracts;
|
(g)
|
Disqualified
Stock of such Person;
|
(h)
|
all
Indebtedness of others secured by any Lien on any asset of such Person,
whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person;
and
|
(i)
|
all
Indebtedness of other Persons Guaranteed by such Person to the extent
so
Guaranteed.
|
The
amount of Indebtedness of any Person will be deemed to be:
(a)
|
with
respect to Indebtedness secured by a Lien on an asset of such Person
but
not otherwise the obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person,
the
lesser of (x) the fair market value of such asset on the date the
Lien
attached or (y) the amount of such
Indebtedness;
|
(b)
|
with
respect to any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount,
the face
amount of such Indebtedness less the remaining unamortized portion
of the
original issue discount of such
Indebtedness;
|
(c)
|
with
respect to any Hedging Contract, the net amount payable if such Hedging
Contract terminated at that time due to default by such
Person;
|
(d)
|
with
respect to any sale of Receivables and Related Assets, the amount
of the
unrecovered capital or principal investment of the purchase excluding
amounts representative of yield or interest earned on such investment;
and
|
(e)
|
otherwise,
the outstanding principal amount
thereof.
|
The
outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness shall be counted
only once and any obligations arising under any Guarantee, Lien, letter of
credit or similar instrument supporting such Indebtedness shall not be double
counted.
Indenture
means
this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be
supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered
into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes
of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture.
Insolvency
Law
means
any law (together with the rules and regulations made pursuant thereto) of
any
jurisdiction (including any political subdivision thereof) relating to
bankruptcy, insolvency, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, or any other
similar procedure relating to the relief of debtors.
14
Interest
Payment Date
means
June 14 and December 14 of each year, commencing on the first such date to
occur
after the Issuance Date; provided
that if
any Interest Payment Date would fall on a day other than a Business Day, such
Interest Payment Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day with the same
force and effect as if made on such June 14 or December 14, as applicable,
with
no accrual of interest for the period between such date and such immediately
succeeding Business Day.
Interest
Period means,
(a) initially, the period commencing on (and including) the Issuance Date and
ending on (but excluding) the first Interest Payment Date and (b) thereafter,
each subsequent period commencing on (and including) the last day of the
immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on (but excluding) the next
Interest Payment Date.
Investment
means:
(a)
|
any
direct or indirect advance, loan or other extension of credit to
another
Person;
|
(b)
|
any
capital contribution to another Person, by means of any transfer
of cash
or other property or in any other
form;
|
(c)
|
any
purchase or acquisition of Equity Interests or Indebtedness of another
Person or other instruments or securities issued by another Person,
including the receipt of any of the above as consideration for the
disposition of assets or rendering of services;
or
|
(d)
|
any
Guarantee of any obligation of another Person, but only when payment
has
been made thereunder or such arrangement would be classified and
accounted
for as a liability on the balance sheet of the
guarantor.
|
For
the
avoidance of doubt, Investments do not include capital expenditures (which
are
separately restricted under Section 9.7 (Limitation on Capital
Expenditures)).
If
the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity
Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary so that, after giving
effect to that sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of
the
Company, or designates any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary
in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, all remaining Investments
of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Person shall be deemed
to
have been made at that time.
Investment
Grade
means a
rating of BBB-/Baa3 or higher or such similar equivalent or higher rating by
an
internationally recognized statistical rating organization including a
statistical rating organization recognized by the SEC as a “nationally
recognized statistical rating organization.”
Issuance
Date
means
the date of original issuance of the Notes under this Indenture in connection
with the Restructuring.
Judgment
Currency
has the
meaning specified in Section 1.16 (Conversion of Currency).
Leverage
Ratio
means,
as of any Calculation Date, for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
on a
consolidated basis based on financial statements issued in accordance with
Argentine GAAP, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness (excluding
any
Indebtedness Incurred in connection with bonds or other collateral posted
pursuant to paragraph (g) of Section 5.1 (Events of Default)) on such date
(calculated without giving effect to the discount to net present value applied
to restructured debt under Argentine GAAP) to (ii) EBITDA for the most recently
completed period of four consecutive fiscal quarters.
15
LIBOR
means,
for any Interest Period, the average (expressed as a percentage per annum)
of
the rates for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to or nearest the number
of
days in such Interest Period that appears on Reuters Screen LIBO Page at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the date that is two London Banking
Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period. If the Reuters Screen
LIBO
Page does not include such a rate or is unavailable on the date that is two
London Banking Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, LIBOR for
such Interest Period will be the average (expressed as a percentage per annum)
of the rates for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to or nearest the number
of days in such Interest Period that appears on the Telerate Page 3750 at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the date of determination. If the
Reuters Screen LIBO Page and the Telerate Page 3750 do not include such a rate
or are unavailable, the Company will request the principal London office of
each
of three major banks in the London interbank market, as selected by the Company,
to provide such bank’s offered quotation (expressed as a percentage per annum),
as of approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the date that is two London
Banking Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, to prime banks
in
the London interbank market for deposits in a Representative Amount in Dollars
for a period equal to or nearest the number of days in such Interest Period.
If
at least two such offered quotations are so provided, LIBOR for such Interest
Period will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such
quotations are so provided, the Company will request each of three major banks
in New York City, as selected by the Company, to provide such bank’s rate
(expressed as a percentage per annum), as of approximately 11:00 a.m., New
York
City time, on the date that is two New York Banking Days prior to the first
day
of such Interest Period, for loans in a Representative Amount in Dollars to
leading European banks for a period equal to or nearest the number of days
in
such Interest Period. If at least two such rates are so provided, LIBOR for
such
Interest Period will be the arithmetic mean of such rates. If fewer than two
such rates are so provided, then the LIBOR for such Interest Period will be
LIBOR in effect with respect to the immediately preceding Interest
Period.
London
Banking Day
means
any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are carried out in he London
interbank market.
Lien
means,
with respect to any asset, any mortgage, assignment, security interest, pledge,
lien, encumbrance, trust, or any preferential arrangement having the practical
effect of constituting a security interest with respect to such
asset.
Luxembourg
means
the
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
MAE
means
the Xxxxxxx
Abierto Electrónico S.A,
the
Argentine over-the-counter market.
Major
Asset Sale
means
any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company.
Mandatory
Investment
means
any Investment that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is required to
make
as a result of any law, regulation, rule or decree of any governmental body
or
any body responsible for the regulation of the electricity market in Argentina,
including, but not limited to the Argentine Energy Secretariat, the ENRE and/or
CAMMESA.
Market
Purchase
means
the purchase of any Notes available for sale in the secondary market through
broker dealers or similar intermediaries.
Maturity,
when
used with respect to an amount of principal of any Note, means the date on
which
such principal amount of such Note becomes due and payable as therein or herein
provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration,
call
for redemption or otherwise.
Minimum
Cash Balance means
U.S. $15 million.
Moody’s
means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. and its successors and assigns.
Negotiable
Obligations Law
means
Argentine Law No. 23,576, as amended by Argentine Law No. 23,962 and as further
amended.
16
Net
Cash Proceeds
means,
with respect to any Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback Transaction, the proceeds
of such Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback Transaction in the form of Cash and
Cash Equivalents (including (i) payments in respect of deferred payment
obligations to the extent corresponding to principal, but not interest, when
received in the form of Cash and Cash Equivalents and (ii) proceeds from
the conversion of other consideration received when converted to Cash and Cash
Equivalents), net of, without duplication,
(a)
|
brokerage
commissions and other fees and expenses related to such Asset Sale
or Sale
and Leaseback Transaction, including, without limitation, reasonable
fees
and expenses of counsel, accountants, currency exchange agents and
investment bankers,
|
(b)
|
any
required payment to the Republic of Argentina pursuant to the Concession
Agreement or any provisions for taxes and all other governmental
charges
and claims of any nature whatsoever, payable as a result of such
Asset
Sale or Sale and Leaseback
Transaction;
|
(c)
|
payments
required to be made as a result of such Asset Sale or to repay
Indebtedness at the time of such Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback
Transaction that is secured by a Lien on the property or assets sold
or is
required to be repaid out of the proceeds of such Asset Sale or Sale
and
Leaseback Transaction; and
|
(d)
|
appropriate
amounts to be provided as a reserve against liabilities associated
with
such Asset Sale, including pension and other post employment benefit
liabilities, liabilities related to environmental, tax or regulatory
matters and indemnification obligations associated with such Asset
Sale or
Sale and Leaseback Transaction, with any subsequent reduction of
the
reserve other than by payments made and charged against the reserved
amount to be deemed a receipt of Cash and Cash
Equivalent.
|
New
York Banking Day
means
any London Banking Day on which commercial banks are not authorized or required
to close in New York City.
Non-Global
Note
means a
Note that is not a Global Note.
Note or
note means
any
Fixed Rate Par Note, Floating Rate Par Note or Discount Note.
Notice
of Default
means a
written notice of the kind specified in Section 6.2 (Notice of
Defaults).
Note
Register
and
Registrar
have the
respective meanings specified in Section 3.4 (Registration, Registration of
Transfer and Exchange Generally).
Officer
means,
when used with respect to the Company, the president, general manager, chief
financial officer, general accountant, treasurer, any member of the Board of
Directors, or any of their respective attorneys-in-fact designated by the
Company.
Officers’
Certificate
means a
certificate signed by any two Officers of the Company. One of the Officers
giving an Officers’ Certificate shall be the principal executive, financial or
accounting officer of the Company.
Opinion
of Counsel
means an
opinion in writing signed by legal counsel who may be an employee of or counsel
to the Company or other counsel.
Optional
Redemption
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.2 (Redemption at the Company’s
Option).
Outstanding,
when
used with respect to Notes, means, as of the date of determination, all Notes
theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture,
except:
(a)
|
Notes
theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee
for
cancellation;
|
17
(b)
|
Notes
for the payment or redemption of which money in the necessary amount
has
been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other
than the Company) in trust or set aside, segregated and held in trust
by
the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for
the
Holders of such Notes; provided
that, if such Notes are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof,
written notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to
this
Indenture, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been
made
for giving such notice; and
|
(c)
|
Notes
in substitution for which other Notes shall have been authenticated
and
delivered, or which shall have been paid, pursuant to the terms of
3.6
(Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved) (except with respect
to
any such Note as to which proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented
that such Note is held by a Person in whose hands such Note is a
legal,
valid and binding obligation of the
Company),
|
provided,
however,
that in
determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount
of
the Notes of any or all Series then Outstanding have concurred in any request
consent or waiver under this Indenture, Notes that are owned by the Company
or
any other obligor on the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company with respect
to
which such determination is being made or by any Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under control or indirect common control with
the Company or any other obligor on the Notes with respect to which such
determination is being made shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the
purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on
any
such request, consent or waiver, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned that have
been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee
establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act
with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other
obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or any Person directly
or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with the Company or any other obligor on the Notes or any Affiliate
of
the Company. In case of a dispute as to such right, the advice of counsel shall
be full protection in respect of any decision made by the Trustee in accordance
with such advice. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to
the
Trustee promptly an Officer’s Certificate listing and identifying all
securities, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the
account of any of the above-described Persons; and the Trustee shall be entitled
to accept such Issuer Order as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set
forth and of the fact that all Notes not listed therein are Outstanding for
the
purpose of any such determination.
Outstanding
Debt means
the
Outstanding Notes and the Outstanding Loans.
Outstanding
Loans means
any
and all loans incurred by Edenor that were, or were eligible to be, exchanged
for Notes pursuant to the Restructuring.
Outstanding
Notes means
Edenor’s Series 2A Floating Rate Notes due 2003 and Floating Rate Notes due
2006.
Paying
Agent
means
the Principal Paying Agent (and its successors and assigns) and any other
qualified Persons authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on any Notes on behalf of the Company.
Permitted
Business
means
any business permitted as of December 31, 2005 by the Company’s bylaws or by its
Restricted Subsidiaries’ bylaws, and any business providing electricity
transmission and/or distribution services or other services provided through
or
using the Company’s transmission and distribution system or network or any
business reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary
thereto.
Permitted
Capital Expenditures
means,
in any given year, the following capital expenditures by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary for investment in the business of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary:
18
(a)
|
U.S.
$50 million (or its equivalent in other currencies) for 2005, U.S.
$70
million (or its equivalent in other currencies) for 2006, U.S. $82
million
(or its equivalent in other currencies) for 2007, U.S. $88 million
(or its
equivalent in other currencies) for 2008, U.S. $99 million (or its
equivalent in other currencies) for 2009, U.S. $90 million (or its
equivalent in other currencies) for 2010, U.S. $90 million (or its
equivalent in other currencies) for 2011, U.S. $86 million (or its
equivalent in other currencies) for 2012, U.S. $90 million (or its
equivalent in other currencies) for 2013, U.S. $86 million (or its
equivalent in other currencies) for 2014, U.S. $87 million (or its
equivalent in other currencies) for 2015, and U.S. $90 million (or
its
equivalent in other currencies) for 2016 (collectively, the Scheduled
Permitted Capital Expenditures),
plus
|
(b)
|
for
any fiscal year, the amount (if any) by which (i) the aggregate amount
of
Permitted Capital Expenditures for the immediately preceding fiscal
year
exceeds (ii) the aggregate amount of capital expenditures actually
made
during such preceding fiscal year (excluding those made by application
of
Net Cash Proceeds and excluding any Regulatory Capital Expenditures
made
in such period) calculated based on the exchange rate in effect at
the end
of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter, (Carry
over Amount);
provided
that
for any fiscal year, the maximum Carry over Amount shall be the amount
of
Scheduled Permitted Capital Expenditures for the immediately preceding
fiscal year.
|
Permitted
Investments
means:
(a)
|
any
Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
that is engaged in a Permitted
Business;
|
(b)
|
any
Investment in Cash and Cash
Equivalents;
|
(c)
|
any
Investment by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in a Person,
if
as a result of such Investment,
|
(i)
|
such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company engaged in
a
Permitted Business, or
|
(ii)
|
such
Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys
substantially all its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company
or one
of its Restricted Subsidiaries engaged in a Permitted
Business,
|
(d)
|
Investments
received as non-cash consideration in an Asset Sale made pursuant
to and
in compliance with Section 9.5 (Limitations on Asset Sales) or received
as
non-cash consideration in a refinancing of an existing
Investment;
|
(e)
|
any
Mandatory Investment;
|
(f)
|
(i)
receivables owing to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
if
created or acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) Hedging
Contracts, Commodity Agreements and any Cash and Cash Equivalents
or other
cash management investments or liquid or portfolio securities pledged
on
collateral pursuant to Hedging Contracts or Commodity Agreements,
(iii)
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business,
(iv) securities, instruments or other obligations (and related Hedging
Contracts) received in compromise or settlement of debts created
in the
ordinary course of business, or by reason of a composition or readjustment
of debts or reorganization of another Person, or in satisfaction
of claims
or judgments, and (v) securities, instruments or other obligations
received in the ordinary course of business and related Hedging Contracts
received in connection with mandatory or voluntary exchange offers
set up
by the federal, provincial or municipal government of
Argentina;
|
19
(g)
|
payroll,
travel and other loans or advances to, or Guarantees issued to support
the
obligations of, officers and employees, in each case in the ordinary
course of business;
|
(h)
|
national,
provincial or other Argentine Government Obligations (including those
of
the Central Bank), or quasi-currencies, bonds and other obligations
issued, guaranteed or insured by any province or municipality of
Argentina, or certificates representing an ownership interest in
any of
the foregoing;
|
(i)
|
Investments
in securities of corporate issuers accounted for as marketable securities
owned by the Company on the Issuance Date or purchased with the Net
Cash
Proceeds of any sale of such marketable securities or of any subsequent
sales of marketable securities permitted to be purchased with the
Net Cash
Proceeds of marketable securities covered by this clause
(i);
|
(j)
|
in
addition to Investments listed above, Investments in an aggregate
amount,
taken together with all other Investments made in reliance on this
clause
(j), not to exceed U.S. $10 million (or its equivalent in other
currencies) (net of, with respect to the Investment in any particular
Person made pursuant to this clause, the cash return thereon received
after the Issuance Date as a result of any sale for cash, repayment,
redemption, liquidating distribution or other cash realization not
to
exceed the amount of such Investments in such Person made after the
Issuance Date in reliance on this clause);
or
|
(k)
|
any
Notes repurchased pursuant to or in accordance with the terms of
this
Indenture.
|
Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness means
an
extension or renewal of, replacement of, or substitution for, or issue of
Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to repay,
redeem, repurchase, refinance, extend or refund, including by way of defeasance
(all of the above, for purposes of this clause, “refinance”) then outstanding
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred
or
existing under Section 9.4 (Limitations on Indebtedness); provided
that (i)
the Indebtedness so Incurred (A) does not exceed the amount so refinanced or
(B)
is used exclusively to refinance scheduled principal or interest payments up
to
the amount of the scheduled principal or interest payments being refinanced;
(ii) such Indebtedness is Incurred by the same entity which Incurred the
Indebtedness which is being refinanced, and no additional security, collateral
guarantees or other support is provided; and (iii) such Indebtedness shall
have
a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is equal to or greater than the
Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being
refinanced.
Person
means
any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, company,
trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof.
Peso
Average
means,
with respect to the amount of any non-Peso-denominated Indebtedness, the amount
of Pesos obtained by converting the aggregate principal amount of any such
non-Peso-denominated Indebtedness into Pesos at an average exchange rate
determined by reference to the exchange rate for the buying of Pesos, as
reported by Banco
de la Nación Argentina,
on each
day for which rates are available during the period corresponding to the
relevant period used to calculate EBITDA in connection with any calculation
or
determination of the Leverage Ratio.
Peso,
pesos
or
Ps.
means
the
freely transferable lawful currency of Argentina.
Predecessor
Note
of any
particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the
same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes
of
this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 (Payment
of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved) in exchange for or in lieu of a
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same
debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note;
Prevailing
Exchange Rate
means
the exchange rate for converting pesos into Dollars published as the selling
rate (tipo
vendedor)
by
Banco
de la Nación Argentina,
or, if
such exchange rate is not published by Banco
de la Nación Argentina
or
reflects a rate of exchange that differs from the average rates available in
the
free exchange market on such day by 10% or more, the average rates for such
day.
20
Principal
Paying Agent
means
any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium,
if
any) or interest on any Notes on behalf of the Company and, initially, the
Trustee.
Process
Agent
has the
meaning specified in Section 1.17 (Agent for Service; Submission to
Jurisdiction).
Property
means
any asset, revenue or any other property, whether tangible or intangible, real
or personal, including, without limitation, any right to receive
income.
Public
Equity Offering
means a
primary underwritten public offering of Qualified Equity Interests (i) pursuant
to a registration statement (other than a registration statement filed on Form
F-4 or S-8) filed with the SEC or (ii) in accordance with Argentine laws, rules
and regulations.
Qualified
Equity Interests
means
all Capital Stock of a Person other than Disqualified Stock.
Rating
Agencies
means
S&P and Xxxxx’x;
Receivables
and Related Assets
means
any account receivable (whether now existing or arising thereafter) of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and any assets, related thereto, including
all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and contract
rights and all Guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts
receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets which are
customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are
customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions
involving accounts receivable.
Record
Date
means
the end of business on the fifteenth day preceding the applicable Interest
Payment Date, whether or not such day is a Business Day; provided
that in
the event the first Interest Payment Date occurs less than fifteen days after
the Issuance Date, the Record Date shall mean the date on or prior to the
Issuance Date which shall be specified by the Company.
Redemption
Date,
when
used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such
redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
Redemption
Price,
when
used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the price at which such
Note
is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
Regulation
S
means
Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Regulation
S Certificate
means a
certificate substantially in the form set forth in Annex A hereto.
Regulation
S Global Note
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.1 (Forms of the Notes).
Regulation
S Notes
means
any Notes that are not Restricted Notes.
Regulatory
Capital Expenditures
means
any capital expenditures made by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in order to comply with applicable laws and
regulations.
Related
Proceeding
has the
meaning specified in Section 1.17 (Agent for Service; Submission to
Jurisdiction).
Representative
Amount
means a
principal amount of not less than U.S. $1,000,000 for a single transaction
in
the relevant market at the relevant time.
21
Required
Currency
means
the currency in which the Notes are denominated and in which payment is to
be
made in respect thereof at Maturity.
Responsible
Officer,
when
used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee with direct
responsibility for the administration of this Indenture 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
Global Note
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.1 (Forms of the Notes).
Restricted
Note
means
any Note required pursuant to Section 3.4(c) (Registration, Registration of
Transfer and Exchange Generally) to bear a Restricted Notes Legend, including,
but not limited to the Restricted Global Note.
Restricted
Notes Certificate
means a
certificate substantially in the form set forth in Annex B hereto.
Restricted
Notes Legend means
the
following legend to be placed upon a Restricted Note:
THE
NOTES
EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES
ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED
OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) (1) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY
BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT
OF A
QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
RULE
144A, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (3) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF
AVAILABLE), OR (4) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF
THE
STATES OF THE UNITED STATES. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN
IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE TRANSFEROR OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE
EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY
RULE 144A THEREUNDER.
Restructuring
means
the Company’s restructuring of the Outstanding Debt, as described in the
Information Memorandum.
Restructuring
Expenses
means
all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation,
implementation, execution, delivery and performance of the Restructuring,
including but not limited to the fees of any advisors, accountants, printers
and
legal counsel, travel expenses and costs related to the conservation and
preservation of the Company’s assets subject to priority payment under Section
240 of the ABL and excluding any costs or expenses incurred with respect of
Affiliates.
Restricted
Subsidiary
means
any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company, other than an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
Rule
144
means
Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
Rule
144A means
Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
S&P
means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and its successors and
assigns.
22
Sale
and Leaseback Transaction
means,
with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, any transaction or
series of related transactions (excluding, however, any such transaction between
the Company and one or more Restricted Subsidiaries or between or among any
two
or more Restricted Subsidiaries) pursuant to which the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary sells or transfers any property in connection with the leasing,
or
the resale against installment payments, or as part of an arrangement involving
the leasing or resale against installment payments of such Property to the
seller or transferor and which transaction or series of transactions is
accounted for as a Capital Lease.
SEC
means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Security
Currency
has the
meaning specified in Section 1.16 (Conversion of Currency).
Securities
has the
meaning specified in Section 1.19 (Foreign Exchange Restrictions).
Securities
Act
means
the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Securities
Act Legend
means a
Restricted Notes Legend or a Regulation S Legend.
Significant
Subsidiary
means
any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule
1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in
effect on the Issuance Date.
Special
Record Date
for the
payment of any Defaulted interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant
to
Section 3.6 (Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved).
Stated
Maturity,
when
used with respect to any amount of principal of any Note or any interest payment
thereon, means the date specified in such Note as the date on which such
principal amount or such interest payment is due and payable.
Subordinated
Indebtedness
means
any Indebtedness of the Company that is expressly subordinated in right of
payment to the Notes pursuant to a Subordination Agreement.
Subordination
Agreement
means
any written agreement pursuant to which the Indebtedness being subordinated
thereunder is made subordinated in right of payment and priority to the
Notes.
Subsidiary
means:
(a)
|
a
corporation a majority of whose Capital Stock with voting power,
under
ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is at the time directly
or
indirectly owned by the Company, or
|
(b)
|
any
other Person (other than a corporation) in which the Company, directly
or
indirectly at the date of determination thereof, has at least a majority
ownership interest.
|
Successor
Note
of any
particular Note means every Note issued after, and evidencing all or a portion
of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note. For the purposes
of
this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 (Payment
of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved) in exchange for or in lieu of a
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same
debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note.
Supervisory
Committee
means
the Comisión
Fiscalizadora
of the
Company.
Taxes
means
any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, assessments
or
fees of any nature that are imposed by any government or other taxing
authority.
Trust
Indenture Act
means
the U.S Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this
instrument was executed; provided,
however,
that,
in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date,
Trust
Indenture Act means,
to
the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as
so amended.
23
Trustee
means
the Person named as the Trustee in the first paragraph of this instrument until
a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions
of this Indenture, and thereafter Trustee shall mean such successor
Trustee.
Unrestricted
Notes Certificate
means a
certificate substantially in the form set forth in Annex C hereto.
Unrestricted
Subsidiary
means
any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination has been
designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation has not been revoked
in accordance with Section 9.17 (Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted
Subsidiaries).
U.S.
Government Obligations
means
obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United
States of America or by any agent or instrumentality thereof; provided
that
the
full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support
thereof.
Voting
Stock
means,
with respect to any Person, Capital Stock of any class or kind ordinarily having
the power to vote for the election of directors, managers or other voting
members of the governing body of such Person.
Weighted
Average Life to Maturity
means,
when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years (calculated
to
the nearest one-twelfth) obtained by dividing:
(a)
|
the
then outstanding aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference,
as
the case may be, of such Indebtedness
into
|
(b)
|
the
sum of the products obtained by
multiplying:
|
(i)
|
the
amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity
or other required payment of principal or liquidation preference,
as the
case may be, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof,
by
|
(ii)
|
the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) which will
elapse
between such date and the making of such
payment.
|
Working
Capital
means,
as of any date, the amount equal to the consolidated current assets (excluding
consolidated cash and cash equivalents, and credits related to income tax and
similar taxes) minus the consolidated current liabilities (excluding current
financial debt, provisions and liabilities related to income tax and similar
taxes) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries based on the Company’s
financial statements prepared in accordance with Argentine GAAP.
1.2 Rules
of Construction
For
all
purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless
the
context otherwise requires:
(a)
|
the
terms defined in this Article 1 or elsewhere in this Indenture have
the
meanings assigned to them;
|
(b)
|
all
other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture
Act,
either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned
to
them therein;
|
(c)
|
all
accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned
to them in accordance with Argentine
GAAP;
|
(d)
|
words
in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include
the
singular;
|
24
(e)
|
the
words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import
refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article,
Section, Annex, Exhibit or other
subdivision;
|
(f)
|
mentioning
anything after “include”, “includes” or “including” does not limit what
else might be included, and the use of “or” is not
exclusive;
|
(g)
|
provisions
apply to successive events and
transactions;
|
(h)
|
references
herein to Sections, Annexes or Exhibits are references to Sections
of or
Annexes or Exhibits to this
Indenture;
|
(i)
|
unless
the context otherwise requires, any reference to a statute, rule
or
regulation refers to the same (including any successor statute, rule
or
regulation thereto) as it may be amended from time to time;
and
|
(j)
|
whenever
in this Indenture there is referenced, in any context, the payment
of
principal, premium or interest, or any other amount under or with
respect
to any Note, that reference shall be deemed to include the payment
of
Additional Amounts to the extent that Additional Amounts are, were
or
would be payable in respect
thereof.
|
1.3 Compliance
Certificates and Opinions
Upon
any
application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under
any provision of this Indenture, the Trustee may require an Officers’
Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel.
Every
certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture shall include substantially:
(a)
|
a
statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion
has
read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating
thereto;
|
(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 each such individual, he has made
such
examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express
an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been
complied with; and
|
(d)
|
a
statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual,
such
condition or covenant has been complied
with.
|
1.4 Form
of Documents delivered to Trustee
In
any
case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an
opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters
be
certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they
be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify
or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such
Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion
as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any
certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Company may be based, insofar as
it
relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations
by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care
should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect
to
the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any
such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates
to
factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an
Officer or Officers of the Company stating that the information with respect
to
such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel
knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate
or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are
erroneous.
25
Where
any
Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests,
consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this
Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one
instrument.
1.5 Acts
of Holders; Record Dates
To
the
extent permitted by law, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken
by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly
appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such
action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered
to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company.
Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act”
of
the
Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such
instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for
any
purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.1 (Certain Duties and
Responsibilities)) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made
in the manner provided in this Section.
The
fact
and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may
be
proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate
of a
notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of
deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing
acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer
acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or
affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact
and
date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of
the
Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the
Trustee deems sufficient
The
Company may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, fix
any
day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled
to
give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action, or to vote on any action, authorized or permitted to
be
given or taken by Holders. If not set by the Company prior to the first
solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action,
or,
in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the record date for any such
action or vote shall be the 30th day (or, if later, the date of the most recent
list of Holders required to be provided pursuant to Section 7.1 (Company to
Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders)) prior to such first
solicitation or vote, as the case may be. With regard to any record date, only
the Holders on such date (or their duly designated proxies) shall be entitled
to
give or take, or vote on, the relevant action.
The
ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.
Any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
Act
of the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and
the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or
in
exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or
suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether
or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.
1.6 Notices,
etc., to
Trustee and Company
Any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of
Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made
upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:
(a)
|
the
Trustee, by any Holder or by the Company, shall be sufficient for
every
purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to
or with
the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention Corporate Trust
Department,
|
26
(b)
|
the
Company, by the Trustee or by any Holder, shall be sufficient for
every
purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if
in
writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed
to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first
paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished
in writing to the Trustee by the Company, Attention: Chief Financial
Officer; or
|
(c)
|
either
the Trustee or the Company, by the other party, shall be sufficient
for
every purpose hereunder if given by facsimile transmission, receipt,
confirmed by telephone followed by an original copy delivered by
guaranteed overnight courier to the addresses set forth in (a) or
(b)
above, as the case may be; if to the Trustee at facsimile number
000-000-0000/3 or at any other facsimile number previously furnished
in
writing to the Company by the Trustee; and if to the Company at facsimile
number (00-00) 0000-0000/5303 or at any other facsimile number previously
furnished in writing to the Trustee by the
Company.
|
1.7 Notice
to Holders
The
Company is required to give notice to the Trustee of any event that requires
notice to be given to the Holders of the Notes in sufficient time for the
Trustee to provide such notice to such Holders in the manner provided in this
Indenture. All notices regarding the Notes will be given to the Holders of
the
Notes by the Trustee.
Except
in
the case of meetings which shall be governed by the Section 8.8 (Meetings of
Holders) all notices regarding the Notes will be deemed to have been duly given
to the holders of the Notes if:
(a)
|
in
writing and mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Holder of
a Note
at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Note Register,
not
earlier than the earliest date and not later than the latest date
prescribed for the giving of such notice and any such notice shall
be
deemed to have been given on the date of such publication (as defined
below); and
|
(b)
|
for
so long as applicable Argentine laws or regulations so require, in
the
case of Argentine Holders upon
publication:
|
(i)
|
in
the Daily Bulletin of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange or in the Bulletin
of the MAE in Buenos Aires (so long as the Notes are listed on the
Buenos
Aires Stock Exchange or admitted to trading on the MAE, as the case
may
be); and/or
|
(ii)
|
in
a leading newspaper having general circulation in Buenos Aires (which
is
expected to be La
Nación);
and/or
|
(iii)
|
in
the Official Gazette (Boletin
Oficial)
of the Republic of Argentina;
|
(c)
|
for
so long as any Series of Notes to which such notice relates are admitted
to trading on the Euro MTF, the alternative market of the Luxembourg
Stock
Exchange and the rules of such exchange so require, upon publication
in
the English language in a leading newspaper having general circulation
in
Luxembourg (which is expected to be the d’Wort
or
the Tageblatt)
or, if in any such case publication in Luxembourg is not practicable,
in
one other leading English language daily newspaper with general
circulation in Europe, each such newspaper being published on each
Business Day in morning editions, whether or not it shall be published
in
Saturday, Sunday or holiday
editions.
|
27
All
notices will also be given to the relevant clearing systems for delivery to
owners of beneficial interests in the Notes through DTC, and/or Euroclear and
Clearstream, Luxembourg.
Notices
will be deemed to have been given on the date of publication as aforesaid or,
if
published on different dates, on the date of the last such
publication.
The
Company will cause all such other publications of such notices as may be
required from time to time by applicable Argentine law, including, without
limitation, those required under the regulations issued by the CNV, the
Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange.
1.8 Trust
Indenture Act Deemed to Apply and Control
Whether
or not expressly stated with respect to any particular provision, this
Indenture, the Company, and the Trustee shall be deemed for all purposes hereof
to be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act to the same extent
as
would be the case if this Indenture were required to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act
If
any
provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties
that
would be imposed by section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act the duties imposed
by such section shall be deemed to control as if the Trust Indenture Act shall
be applicable hereto.
If
any
provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust
Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded in indentures required to
be
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, the provision contained in this
Indenture shall apply.
Whenever
this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, such provision
is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following
Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following
meanings:
“Commission”
means
the SEC as defined herein;
“indenture
securities”
means
the Notes;
“indenture
security holder”
means a
Holder;
“indenture
to be qualified”
means
this Indenture;
“indenture
trustee”
or
“institutional
trustee”
means
the Trustee; and
“obligor”
on the
indenture securities means the Company or any other successor obligor in respect
of the Notes.
1.9 Waiver
of Certain Covenants
The
Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or
condition contained in this Indenture if before the time for such compliance
the
Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of any Series
of
Notes shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such
instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but
no
such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to
the
extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective,
the
Company’s obligations and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such
covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect. Any waiver under
this Section 1.9 may be granted (i) by written consent of Holders of not less
than a majority of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of such
Series of Notes, or (ii) by consent of a majority of the Holders of such Series
of Notes present or represented at a meeting of Holders of Notes as provided
in
Section 8.8 (Meetings of Holders), in each case in compliance with Section
8.2
(Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders).
28
1.10 Effect
of Headings and Table of Contents
The
Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
1.11 Successors
and Assigns
All
covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its
successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
1.12 Separability
Clause
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 he affected or impaired thereby.
1.13 Benefits
of Indenture
Nothing
in this Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person,
other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders
of
Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Indenture.
1.14 Governing
Law
(a)
|
The
Negotiable Obligations Law governs the requirements for the Notes
to
qualify as obligaciones
negociables thereunder
while such law, together with Argentine Law No. 19,550, as amended,
and
other applicable Argentine laws and regulations, govern the capacity
and
corporate authorization of the Company to execute and deliver the
Notes
and this Indenture and the authorization and other requirements of
the CNV
for the public offering of the Notes in
Argentina.
|
(b)
|
As
to all other matters, this Indenture and the Notes shall be governed
by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York,
United
States of America.
|
1.15 Legal
Holidays
In
any
case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of
any
Note shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision
of
this Indenture or of the Notes) payment of interest or principal (and premium,
if any) need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment
Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity; provided
that
no
interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date,
Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, on account of such
delay.
1.16 Conversion
of Currency
The
Company covenants and agrees that the following provisions shall apply to
conversion of currency in the case of the Notes and this Indenture:
(a)
|
If,
for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary
to
convert a sum due under this Indenture or under the Notes from one
currency into another currency, the Company has agreed and each Holder
agrees, to the fullest extent that the Company and each Holder may
effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be the rate
at
which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, such Holder
could
purchase the first currency with such other currency in the city
that is
the principal financial center of the country of issue of the first
currency on the day, two Business Days preceding the day on which
final
judgment is given, which is also a day on which banks are open in
Argentina.
|
29
(b)
|
In
the event of the winding-up of the Company at any time while any
amount
owing under the Notes and this Indenture, or any judgment or order
rendered in respect thereof, shall remain outstanding, the Company
shall
indemnify and hold the Holders and the Trustee harmless against any
deficiency arising or resulting from any variation in rates of exchange
between (i) the date as of which the equivalent of the amount in
the
Required Currency due or contingently due under the Notes and this
Indenture (other than under this clause (b)) is calculated for the
purposes of such winding-up and (ii) the final date for the filing
of
proofs of claim in such winding-up. For the purpose of this clause
(b),
the final date for the filing of proofs of claim in the winding-up
of the
Company shall be the date fixed by the liquidator or otherwise in
accordance with the relevant provisions of applicable law as being
the
latest practicable date at which liabilities of the Company may be
ascertained for such winding-up before payment by the liquidator
or
otherwise in respect thereto.
|
(c)
|
To
the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company’s obligation in
respect of any sum payable by the Company to a Holder shall,
notwithstanding any judgment in a currency, (the Judgment
Currency),
other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with
the
applicable provisions of this Indenture, (the Security
Currency),
be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following
receipt by such Holder of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment
Currency, such Holder may in accordance with normal banking procedures
purchase the Security Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the
amount
of the Security Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally
due
to such Holder in the Security Currency, determined in the manner
set
forth above, the Company has agreed, as a separate obligation and
notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Holder against
such
loss, and if the amount of the Security Currency so purchased exceeds
the
sum originally due to such Holder, such Holder agrees to remit to
the
Company such excess; provided that such Holder shall have no obligation
to
remit any such excess as long as the Company shall have failed to
pay such
Holder any obligation due and payable under this Indenture in which
case
any such excess may be applied to such obligations of the Company
under
this Indenture or the Notes.
|
1.17 Agent
for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction
(a)
|
Any
suit, action or proceeding against the Company or its properties,
assets
or revenues with respect to the Notes or this Indenture (a Related
Proceeding)
may be brought in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County
of
New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern
District
of New York, or in the courts of Argentina that sit in the City of
Buenos
Aires as the person bringing such Related Proceeding may elect in
its sole
discretion. The Company has consented to the non-exclusive jurisdiction
of
each such court for the purpose of any Related Proceeding and has
irrevocably waived any objection to the laying of venue of any Related
Proceeding brought in any such court and to the fullest extent it
may
effectively do so and the defense of an inconvenient forum to the
maintenance of any Related Proceeding or any such suit, action or
proceeding in any such court.
|
(b)
|
The
Company has agreed that service of all writs, claims, process and
summonses in any Related Proceeding brought against it in the State
of New
York may be made upon CT Corporation System (the Process
Agent),
and the Company irrevocably appointed the Process Agent as its agent
and
true and lawful attorney in fact in its name, place and stead to
accept
such service of any and all such writs, claims, process and summonses,
and
has agreed that the failure of the Process Agent to give any notice
to it
of any such service of process shall not impair or affect the validity
of
such service or of any judgment based thereon. The Company has agreed
to
maintain at all times an agent with offices in New York City to act
as its
Process Agent. Nothing in this Indenture shall in any way be deemed
to
limit the ability to serve any such writs, process or summonses in
any
other manner permitted by applicable
law.
|
(c)
|
The
Company irrevocably waives trial by jury in any legal action or proceeding
relating to this Indenture or the
Notes.
|
30
1.18 Waiver
of Immunity
(a)
|
To
the extent that the Company or any of its revenues, assets or properties
shall be entitled, with respect to any Related Proceeding any time
brought
against the Company or any of its revenues, assets or properties
in the
courts identified above, to any immunity from suit, from the jurisdiction
of any such court, from attachment prior to judgment, from attachment
in
aid of execution of judgment, from execution of a judgment or from
any
other legal or judicial process or remedy, and to the extent that
in any
such jurisdiction there shall be attributed such an immunity, the
Company
has irrevocably agreed not to claim and has irrevocably waived such
immunity to the fullest extent permitted by law (including, without
limitation, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 of the United
States).
|
(b)
|
The
Company has agreed that final judgment in any such suit, action or
proceeding brought in such a court will be conclusive and binding
on it
and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which the
Company
is subject by a suit upon such judgment; provided
that service of process is effected upon the Company in the manner
specified above or as otherwise permitted by
law.
|
1.19 Foreign
Exchange Restrictions
(a)
|
In
the event of any foreign exchange restriction or prohibition in Argentina,
the Company shall make any and all payments of any Note in Dollars
to be
made outside Argentina by:
|
(i)
|
purchasing,
with pesos, “Bonos
Externos Globales de la República Argentina”
issued by Argentina and payable in Dollars or any other public or
private
securities issued in Argentina and denominated in Dollars, or any
other
securities (collectively, the Securities)
and selling such instruments outside Argentina for Dollars;
or
|
(ii)
|
any
other legal mechanism for the acquisition of Dollars in any exchange
market.
|
(b)
|
In
addition, in the event of any foreign exchange restriction or prohibition
in Argentina, any Holder of Notes may elect to receive the payment
in an
amount equivalent to the peso amount necessary for purchasing Securities
and the reasonable and customary cost of transferring and selling
such
Securities outside Argentina for Dollars in an amount equivalent
to the
sums due and payable under the Notes. Such payment will discharge
and
satisfy the Company’s payment obligations to such Holders on such payment
date. In each case, all reasonable and customary costs, including
any
taxes, relative to such operations to obtain foreign currency will
be
borne by the Company.
|
(c)
|
In
addition, in the event of any restriction or prohibition in Argentina
to
pay in foreign currency any obligations under the Notes to any Holder
of
Notes that is not a resident in Argentina, the Company shall make
its best
efforts to obtain the corresponding authorization of the Central
Bank to
make such payments in Dollars. However, if such authorization cannot
be
obtained after reasonable attempts, the Company shall pay such Holder
the
peso equivalent amount of the foreign currency amount due on the
relevant
payment date.
|
(d)
|
Such
payments in pesos will be calculated using the U.S. $/ Peso exchange
rate
quoted by Reuters Screen “ARSVH=” ASK SIDE (Valor Xxx Xxxxxxx) at 12:00
p.m. New York City time on the payment date; provided
that
(i) if the U.S. $/ Peso exchange rate does not appear on such Reuters
Screen, the U.S. $/ Peso exchange rate shall mean, with respect to
the
payment date, the U.S. $/ Peso exchange rate which appears on Bloomberg
L.P. (Bloomberg Screen (ARS currency)-ASK SIDE-PCS Composite (NY))
at
12:00 p.m. New York City time on such payment date. Such payment
in pesos
will fully discharge and satisfy the Company’s payment obligation to such
holder on the payment date and shall not constitute an Event of
Default.
|
1.20 Resignation
and Appointment of Agents
The
Company may terminate at any time the appointment of any or all of the
Registrar, Co-Registrar and any Paying Agent, with or without cause, by giving
to the Registrar, Co-Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, at least
90
days’ prior written notice to that effect unless the relevant agent agrees to
accept less notice; provided
that
(i) in the case of termination of the appointment of the Registrar or the
Co-Registrar, no such termination shall take effect until a new Registrar or
Co-Registrar, as the case may be, has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment, and (ii) the effective date of such termination may not occur
within 21 days before or after an Interest Payment Date nor during such time
as
an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
31
The
Registrar, Co-Registrar and any Paying Agent may at any time resign from such
capacities by giving written notice to the Company, specifying the date on
which
its desired resignation shall become effective; provided,
however,
that
(i) such date shall never be less than 90 days from the date on which such
notice is received by the Company, unless the Company agrees to accept less
notice, (ii) the effective date of such resignation may not occur within 21
days
before or after an Interest Payment Date and (iii) in any event, the resignation
may not take effect prior to the appointment of a successor Registrar,
Co-Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and the acceptance thereof
of
such appointment.
If
the
Registrar, Co-Registrar or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, resigns or
is
removed and the Company has not appointed a successor agent within 15 days
of
the expiration of the relevant notice, then the relevant Registrar, Co-Registrar
or Paying Agent, as the case may be, may appoint, or may petition a court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of, a reputable institution as the
successor agent. Upon its removal or resignation, the Registrar, Co-Registrar
or
any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall be entitled to the payment by the
Company of its compensation and indemnification for the services rendered
hereunder.
As
long
as any Series of Notes is Outstanding, the Company will maintain a co-registrar
and a paying agent in Xxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx. Initially, The
Bank of New York shall act as such Co-Registrar and Paying Agent in Xxx Xxxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx. As long as it is required by Argentine law or
by
the CNV, the Company will maintain a registrar, a transfer agent, a paying
agent
and a representative of the Trustee in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Initially,
Banco
Río shall act as such Registrar, Transfer Agent, Paying Agent in Argentina, and
representative of the Trustee in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As long as any Series
of Notes is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, the Company will maintain
a
Paying Agent in Luxembourg. Initially, The Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A.
shall act as such Paying Agent in Luxembourg.
ARTICLE
2. FORM
OF NOTES
2.1 Forms
of the Notes
The
Notes
shall be in substantially the forms set forth in Exhibits A and B hereto, in
each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other
variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such
letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or
endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of
any
securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the
officers executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution of the Notes.
The
Notes will be issued as (a) Notes issued in exchange for Outstanding Notes
and
Notes issued in exchange for Outstanding Loans; (b) Restricted Notes or
Regulation S Notes and (c) Fixed Rate Par Notes, Floating Rate Par Notes or
Discount Notes, in each case, as applicable and in accordance with Exhibits
A
and B hereto.
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 provision of this Indenture, the provisions
of
this Indenture, shall govern and be controlling among the parties
hereof.
The
Notes
will be initially represented by global certificates in fully registered form
admitted to public offering in Argentina and listed on the Buenos Aires Stock
Exchange, the MAE and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
2.2 Notes
Issuable in Series
The
Notes
may be issued in multiple Series. All Notes to be issued pursuant to this
Indenture, having the same maturity, interest payment dates and other terms
(including terms as to form and listing of the Notes), shall constitute a single
Series of Notes pursuant to this Indenture (each a Series).
There
shall be up to three series of Notes issued under this Indenture: (i) a Series
of Notes designated Fixed
Rate Par Notes,
(ii) a
Series of Notes designated Floating
Rate Par Notes
and
(iii) a Series of Notes designated Discount
Notes.
32
ARTICLE
3. THE
NOTES
3.1 Title
and Terms
The
aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture is limited by the maximum authorized aggregate principal
amount of Notes to be issued under the Program. On the Issuance Date, the
Company shall issue U.S. $123,773,586 million aggregate principal amount of
Fixed Rate Par Notes, U.S. $12,656,086 aggregate principal amount of Floating
Rate Par Notes and U.S. $239,999,985 aggregate
principal amount of Discount Notes.
The
Notes
shall be known and designated as the Fixed Rate Par Notes, the Floating Rate
Par
Notes and the Discount Notes of the Company and their Stated Maturity shall
be
December 14, 2016, December 14, 2019 and December 14, 2014, respectively. The
Notes will provide that principal will be due and payable in semiannual
installments on June 14 and December 14 of each year commencing on the first
Interest Payment Date to occur following (i) the fifth anniversary of the
Issuance Date, in the case of the Fixed Rate Par Notes and the Floating Rate
Par
Notes and (ii) the second anniversary of the Issuance Date, in the case of
the
Discount Notes, based on the Fixed Rate Par Notes Annual Scheduled Amortization
(as set forth below), the Floating Rate Par Notes Annual Scheduled Amortization
(as set forth below) and the Discount Notes Annual Scheduled Amortization (as
set forth below), as applicable. The Fixed Rate Par Notes shall bear interest
at
the Fixed Rate Par Applicable Annual Interest Rate, the Floating Rate Par Notes
shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus the Floating Rate
Annual Spread and the Discount Notes shall bear interest at the Discount Notes
Applicable Annual Interest Rate, payable from the Issuance Date payable
semi-annually in arrears on June 14 and December 14, commencing on the first
such date to occur after the Issuance Date, until the principal thereof is
paid
in full or made available for payment. Default interest, to the extent that
the
payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, shall accrue at the
rate
of 2% per annum plus the Fixed Rate Par Applicable Annual Interest Rate, LIBOR
plus the Floating Rate Annual Spread or the Discount Notes Applicable Annual
Interest Rate, as applicable, on any overdue principal and premium or interest
payment until such date on which such overdue principal and premium or interest
payment is paid in full.
Payments
with respect to the Notes will be made by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to the accounts specified by the Holder of such Notes or if no account
is
specified, by mailing a check to each Holder’s address in the Registrar. All
such payments are subject to the provisions in Section 1.15 (Legal Holidays)
relating to legal holidays.
The
Notes
shall be redeemable as provided in Article 10.
The
Notes
shall be subject to defeasance and covenant defeasance as provided in Article
11.
33
The
Fixed
Rate Par Annual Scheduled Amortization for each Interest Payment Date are set
forth as follows:
Interest Payment Date
|
Fixed Rate Par Annual
Scheduled
Amortization*
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2015
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2015
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2016
|
25.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2016
|
25.00
|
%
|
(*) Annual
Scheduled Amortization based at all times on the original principal amount
of
the Fixed Rate Notes and is subject to adjustments to reflect Debt Prepayments
made in accordance with this Indenture.
34
The
Floating Rate Par Annual Scheduled Amortization for each Interest Payment Date
are set forth as follows:
Interest
Payment Date
|
Floating
Rate Par Annual Scheduled
Amortization*
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2015
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2015
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2016
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2016
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2017
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2017
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2018
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2018
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2019
|
25.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2019
|
25.00
|
%
|
(*) Annual
Scheduled Amortization based at all times on the original principal amount
of
the Floating Rate Notes and is subject to adjustments to reflect Debt
Prepayments made in accordance with this Indenture.
35
The
Discount Rate Annual Scheduled Amortization for each Interest Payment Date
are
set forth as follows:
Interest Payment Date
|
Discount Rate Annual
Scheduled
Amortization*
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
30.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
30.00
|
%
|
(*)
Annual Scheduled Amortization based at all times on the original principal
amount of the Discount Notes and is subject to adjustments to reflect Debt
Prepayments made in accordance with this Indenture.
3.2 Denominations
The
Notes
shall be issuable only in global or in definitive registered form without
coupons and only in denominations of U.S. $1.00 and integral multiples
thereof.
3.3 Execution,
Authentication, Delivery and Dating
The
Notes
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by a member of the Board of Directors
and a member of the Supervisory Committee (a Syndic)
of the
Company. The signature of such Director and Syndic on the Notes may be manual,
or by facsimile.
Notes
bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time
the proper Directors or Syndics of the Company shall bind the Company,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
positions prior to the authentication and delivery of such Notes or did not
hold
such positions at the date of authentication and delivery of such
Notes.
At
any
time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture,
the Company may deliver Notes executed by the Company (as set forth above)
to
the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Trustee, in accordance with
such Company Order, shall authenticate and deliver such Notes as provided in
this Indenture and not otherwise. The Trustee shall have the right to decline
to
authenticate and deliver any Notes under this Section if the Trustee (a) being
advised by counsel determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or
(b)
acting in good faith through its board of directors or board of trustees,
executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trust officers shall
determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to
Holders.
36
Each
Note
shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No
Note
shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory
for any purpose unless there appears on such Note a certificate of
authentication substantially in the form provided for in Exhibit A hereto
executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any
Note
shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Note has been
duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.
3.4 Registration,
Registration of Transfer and Exchange Generally
(a)
|
The
Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee and any Paying Agent a register (the Note
Register)
in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe,
the
Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of Notes.
Banco
Río, as the trustee representative in Argentina is hereby appointed
Registrar
for
the purpose of registering and transferring Notes as herein provided.
The
Co-Registrar shall also maintain a record of all registration and
transfer
of the Note. The Co-Registrar shall give prompt notice to the Registrar
and the Registrar shall likewise give prompt notice to the Co-Registrar
of
any registration of ownership, exchange or transfer of the
Notes.
|
Upon
surrender of any Note for registration of transfer at an office of the
Registrar, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 3.4, the Company
shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name
of
the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any
authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, each such
Note bearing such legends as are required by this Indenture.
At
the
option of the Holder, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 3.4,
Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of the same Series and Tranche of any
authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon
surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any
Notes are so surrendered for exchange, and subject to the other provisions
of
this Section 3.4, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver the Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to
receive.
All
Notes
issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes shall be the
valid
obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt and, subject to the other
provisions of this Section 3.4, entitled to the same benefits under this
Indenture and the Negotiable Obligations Law, as the Notes surrendered upon
such
registration of transfer or exchange.
Every
Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange
shall
(if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Registrar, duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney
duly authorized in writing.
No
service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of
Notes, but the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent may require (i) payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may
be
imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes,
other than exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.3, 3.4, 8.5 or 10.10 not involving
any transfer and (ii) appropriate endorsements and transfer
documents.
The
Company shall not be required to (i) register the transfer of or exchange any
Note during a period beginning at the opening of 15 Business Days before (A)
the
due date for any payment of principal of or interest on the Notes and ending
at
the close of business on such due date or (B) the day of the mailing of a notice
of redemption of Notes selected for redemption under Section 10.6 (Notice of
Redemption) and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing,
or
(ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption
in
whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed
in
part.
(b)
|
Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Indenture or the Notes, transfers and
exchanges of Notes and beneficial interests therein of the kinds
specified
in this Section 3.4(b) shall be made only in accordance with this
Section
3.4(b). Transfers and exchanges subject to this Section 3.4(b) shall
also
be subject to the other provisions of this Indenture that are not
inconsistent with this Section 3
4(b).
|
37
(i)
|
Restricted
Global Note to Regulation S Global Note. If
the Holder of a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Note
wishes
at any time to transfer such interest in whole or in part to a Person
who
wishes to take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest
in
the Regulation S Global Note, such transfer may be effected only
in
accordance with the provisions of this clause (b)(i) and Section
3.4(c)
and subject to the Applicable Procedures. Upon receipt by the Trustee,
as
Registrar, of (A) an order, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee,
given
by the agent member of the Depositary holding a beneficial interest
in the
Restricted Global Note directing that the principal amount represented
by
such Regulation S Global Note be increased by a specified amount
and that
the principal amount represented by such Restricted Global Note be
reduced
by an equal amount and (B) a Regulation S Certificate, satisfactory
to the
Trustee and duly executed by such agent member of such beneficial
interest
or his attorney in fact duly authorized in writing, then the Trustee,
as
Registrar but subject to Section 3.4(c), shall reduce the principal
amount
of such Restricted Global Note and increase the principal amount
of such
Regulation S Global Note by such specified principal
amount.
|
(ii)
|
Regulation
S Global Note to Restricted Global Note. If
the agent member of the Depositary holding a beneficial interest
in the
Regulation S Global Note wishes at any time to transfer such interest
in
such Note in whole or in part to a Person who wishes to take delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global
Note, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with this
clause
(b)(ii) and Section 3.4(c) and subject to the Applicable Procedures.
Upon
receipt by the Trustee, as Registrar, of (A) an order, in a form
satisfactory to the Trustee, given by the agent member of the Depositary
holding of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note
directing
that the principal amount represented by such Regulation S Global
Note be
reduced by a specified amount and that the principal amount represented
by
such Restricted Global Note be increased by an equal amount and (B)
a
Restricted Notes Certificate, satisfactory to the Trustee, and duly
executed by such agent member of such beneficial interest or his
attorney
in fact duly authorized in writing, then the Trustee, as Registrar,
but
subject to Section 3.4(c), shall reduce the principal amount of such
Regulation S Global Note and increase the principal amount of such
Restricted Global Note by such specified principal
amount.
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(iii)
|
Non-Global
Note for Non-Global Note. If
issued, a Non-Global Note may be transferred, in whole or in part,
to a
Person who takes delivery in the form of another Non-Global Note,
provided
that
a Non-Global Note that bears a Securities Act Legend may be transferred,
in whole or in part, only (A) if the Trustee shall have received
a
Restricted Notes Certificate duly executed by the transferor Holder
or his
attorney duly authorized in writing, in which case the transferee
Holder
shall take delivery in the form of a Restricted Note or (B) if the
Trustee
shall have received a Regulation S Certificate duly executed by the
transferor Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing, in
which
case the transferee Holder shall take delivery in the form of a Regulation
S Note.
|
(iv)
|
Global
Note for Non-Global Note. A
Global Note may be exchanged, in whole but not in part, for one or
more
Non-Global Notes only as provided in Section
3.4(d).
|
(v)
|
Non-Global
Note for Global Note. Non-Global
Notes may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for beneficial interests
in a
Global Note, provided that a Non-Global Note that bears a Securities
Act
Legend may be transferred, in whole or in part, only (A) if the Trustee
shall have received a Restricted Notes Certificate duly executed
by the
transferor Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing, in
which
case the transferee Holder shall take delivery in the form of a Restricted
Note or (B) if Trustee shall have received a Regulation S Certificate
duly
executed by the transferor Holder or his attorney duly authorized
in
writing, in which case the transferee Holder shall take delivery
in the
form of a Regulation S Note.
|
(c)
|
Restricted
Notes and their Successor Notes shall bear a Restricted Notes Legend
and
Regulation S Notes and their Successor Notes shall bear a Regulation
S
Legend, subject to the following:
|
38
(i)
|
Subject
to the following clauses of this Section 3.4(c), a Note that is issued
in
exchange for a Global Note or any interest therein shall bear the
Securities Act Legend borne by such Global
Note.
|
(ii)
|
Subject
to the following clauses of this Section 3.4(c), a new Non-Global
Note
that is issued in exchange for either a Non-Global Note or a Global
Note
or any portion thereof, upon transfer or otherwise, shall bear the
Securities Act Legend borne by such other
Note.
|
(iii)
|
Securities
that are sold or otherwise disposed of pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act shall not bear a
Securities Act Legend.
|
(iv)
|
After
the applicable restricted period under Rule 144(k), a new Note that
does
not bear a Securities Act Legend may be issued in exchange for or
in lieu
of a Note (other than a Global Note) or any portion thereof that
bears
such a legend if the Trustee has received an Unrestricted Notes
Certificate duly executed by the Holder of such legended Note or
his
attorney duly authorized in writing, and after such date and receipt
of
such certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such
a new
Note in exchange for or in lieu of such other Note as provided in
this
Article 3.
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(v)
|
A
new Note that does not bear a Securities Act Legend may be issued
in
exchange for or in lieu of a Note (other than a Global Note) or any
portion thereof that bears such a legend if, in the Company’s judgment,
placing such a legend upon such new Note is not necessary to ensure
compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act,
and
the Trustee, at the written direction of the Company, shall authenticate
and deliver such a new Note as provided in this Article
3.
|
(vi)
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.4(c), a Successor Note
of a
Note that does not bear a particular form of Securities Act Legend
shall
not bear such form of legend unless the Company has reasonable cause
to
believe that such Successor Note is a “restricted security” within the
meaning of Rule 144, in which case the Trustee, at the written direction
of the Company, shall authenticate and deliver a new Note bearing
a
Restricted Notes Legend in exchange for such Successor Note as provided
for in this Article 3.
|
(d)
|
The
following provisions shall apply only to Global
Notes:
|
(i)
|
Each
Global Note authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered
in the
name of the Depositary or a nominee thereof and delivered to such
Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such
Global Note shall constitute a single Note for all purposes of this
Indenture.
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(ii)
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision in this Indenture or the Notes, no Global Note
may be
exchanged in whole or in part for Notes registered, and no transfer
of a
Global Note in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of
any
Person other than the Depositary or a nominee thereof
unless:
|
(A)
|
the
Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable
to
continue as depositary for such Global Note or has ceased to be a
clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the
Company
thereupon fails to appoint a successor depositary within 120 days
after
the date of such notice;
|
(B)
|
the
Depositary so requests following an Event of
Default;
|
(C)
|
the
owner of an interest in a Global Note requests such exchange in writing
delivered through the Depositary following an Event of Default;
or
|
39
(D)
|
the
Company executes and delivers a Company Order stating that all Global
Notes shall be exchanged in whole for Non-Global
Notes.
|
(iii)
|
A
Global Note may not be exchanged for a Non-Global Note other than
as
provided in Section 3.4(d)(ii)
above.
|
(iv)
|
Non-Global
Notes issued in exchange for a Global Note or any portion thereof
pursuant
to clause (ii) above shall be issued in definitive, fully registered
form,
without interest coupons, shall have an aggregate principal amount
equal
to that of such Global Note or portion thereof to be so exchanged,
shall
be registered in such names and be in such authorized denominations
as the
Depositary shall designate and shall bear any Securities Act Legends
required hereunder. Any Global Note to be exchanged in whole shall
be
surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee, as Registrar, for
cancellation. Upon any such surrender or adjustment, the Trustee
shall
authenticate and deliver the Non-Global Note issuable on such exchange
to
or upon the order of the Depositary or an authorized representative
thereof.
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(v)
|
All
Non-Global Notes issued in exchange for a Global Note or any portion
thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary shall
instruct
(which instruction shall reflect the instruction of the Holder of
the
Notes) the Trustee or the Paying Agent (without any liability on
the
Trustee’s or the Paying Agent’s part). Every Note authenticated and
delivered in exchange for or in lieu of a Global Note or any portion
thereof, pursuant to Sections 3.3, 3.4, 8.5 or 10.10 hereof or otherwise,
shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be,
a
Global Note.
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(vi)
|
In
the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in clause
(ii)
above, the Company will promptly make available to the Trustee a
reasonable supply of Non-Global Notes in definitive, fully registered
form, without interest coupons. The Company will pay the cost of
preparing, printing, packaging and delivering the Non-Global
Notes.
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3.5 Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes
If
any
mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and
the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Note of like
tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously
Outstanding.
If
there
shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (a) evidence to their
satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note and (b) such Note
or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of
either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the
Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any
such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note of like tenor and principal
amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding.
In
case
any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is about to
become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing
a
new Note, pay such Note. If exchanges of Notes pursuant to this Section 3.5
are
done in Luxembourg, such exchanges will be exchanged by the Trustee via the
Luxembourg Agent.
Upon
the
issuance of any new Note under this Section 3.5, the Company may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that
may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees
and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every
new
Note issued pursuant to this Section 3.5 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or
stolen Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation
of
the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be at
any
time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this
Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued
hereunder.
40
The
provisions of this Section 3.5 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent
lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment
of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.
3.6 Payment
of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved
Interest
on any Note which is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on
any
Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Note (or
one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered in the Notes Register at the close
of business on the Record Date for such interest.
Any
interest on any Note which is payable but is not punctually paid or duly
provided for on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted
Interest”)
shall
forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Record Date by
virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid
by
the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b)
below:
(a)
|
the
Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the
Persons
in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes)
are
registered in the Notes Register at the close of business on a Special
Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall
be
fixed in the following manner. The 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, and at the same time the
Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to
the
aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted
Interest
or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit
prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited
to be
held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted
Interest as provided for in this clause 3.6(a). Thereupon the Trustee
shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted
Interest, which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than
10 days
prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days
after
the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.
The
Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record
Date and,
in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice
of the
proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record
Date
therefor to he mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder
at his
address as it appears in the Note Register, not less than 10 days
prior to
such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such
Defaulted
Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed,
such
Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the
Notes
(or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close
of
business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable
pursuant to the following clause (b);
or
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(b)
|
the
Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful
manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange
on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be
required
by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee
of
the proposed payment pursuant to this clause 3.6(b), such manner
of
payment shall be deemed practicable by the
Trustee.
|
Subject
to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.6, each Note delivered under
this
Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of
any
other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue,
which were carried by such other Note.
3.7 Persons
Deemed Owners
Prior
to
due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee
and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name
such Note is registered in the Notes Register as the owner of such Note for
the
purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and, subject
to Section 3.4 (Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange Generally),
interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not
such
Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the
Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
41
3.8 Cancellation
All
Notes
surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall,
if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee
or any Paying Agent and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may,
at
any time, deliver to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for cancellation any Notes
previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have
acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Notes so delivered shall be promptly
cancelled by the Trustee. No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in
exchange for any Notes cancelled as provided in this Section 3.8, except as
expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Notes held by the Trustee
shall be disposed of in accordance with the Trustee’s customary procedures
unless directed by a Company Order.
3.9 Computation
of Interest
Interest
on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months.
3.10 Common
Code/ISIN Numbers
In
issuing the Notes, the Company may use “common code” and/or “ISIN” numbers (if
then generally in use), and, if so, “common code” and/or “ISIN” numbers shall be
included in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided
that
any
such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness
of
such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of
a
redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification
numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected
by
any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify
the
Trustee in writing of any change in the “common code” or “ISIN”
numbers.
3.11 Prescription
(a)
|
Claims
filed in Argentina courts against the Company for payment of principal
in
respect of the Notes (including Additional Amounts) shall be prescribed
unless made within ten years of the due date for payment of such
principal. Claims for the payment of interest shall be prescribed
unless
made within four years of the due date for payment of such
interest.
|
(b)
|
Claims
filed in the courts of the State of New York will be subject to the
applicable statute of limitations for such
claims.
|
3.12 Information
From Holders of Notes
(a)
|
Each
holder of Notes shall provide to the Company, in writing, the following
information (i) as promptly as practicable upon acquiring such Notes,
but
no later than fifteen Business Days prior to the first scheduled
payment
date after each acquisition; (ii) promptly upon any change in the
information previously provided but in no case later than the fifteenth
Business Day prior to the first scheduled payment date relating to
such
change and (iii) no later than fifteen Business Days after December
31 of
each year with respect to such information as of December 31 of such
year.
|
(i)
|
name,
address, and residence for tax purposes, including any relevant
certificates, forms or other evidence legally required with respect
to
information reporting or withholding with respect to such holder’s
jurisdiction for tax purposes and whether it is an individual or
legal
person;
|
(ii)
|
in
case of a holder other than a non-Argentine holder, whether it is
an
individual, an entity governed under Section 49 of the Argentine
Income
Tax law or an entity governed under Law 21,
526;
|
42
(iii)
|
in
case of a foreign legal person holding Notes, it shall state whether
it is
a banking or financial institution, and, if so, it shall also state
(x)
whether it is located in a country the relevant governmental authority
of
which has adopted the international standards approved by the Basle
Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices (the
International
Standards),
(y) whether it is located in a jurisdiction not deemed to be a low
tax
jurisdiction according to the Argentine income tax law and its regulatory
decree, or whether it is located in a jurisdiction that has entered
into
an agreement of exchange of information with Argentina and if, pursuant
to
the applicable secrecy laws or regulations of such jurisdiction,
banks can
disclose information upon request of tax authorities, and (z) whether
such
banking or financial institution is under the supervision of the
relevant
central bank or equivalent agency;
|
(iv)
|
in
case of Notes held by a resident of a country that has in force a
tax
treaty with Argentina, and according to such treaty, an exemption from all
or part of the applicable tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge
is
available, such holder shall provide the information and documentation
that allows the application of such tax treaty (notwithstanding the
foregoing, upon acquiring the Notes, and every 15 months or more
frequently as may be requested by the AFIP, such holder shall provide
the
statement required by General Resolution No. 3497 issued by the AFIP
(or
any similar rule or provision that may be imposed in the future),
duly
certified and legalized by the corresponding tax authority, on the
terms
and conditions set forth in such resolution;
and
|
(v)
|
any
other information, documents or evidence that may be requested by
the
Company pursuant to applicable law, statute, treaty or regulation
of
Argentina, or any written administrative instruction of the AFIP,
(whether
or not such holder or Person is lawfully able to do so) to provide
information, documents or other evidence, in the form and conditions
as
required under applicable law, statute, treaty or regulation of Argentina
or written administrative instruction of the AFIP concerning the
nationality, residence, identity, or connection with Argentina of
such
holder or Person or other significant information which is required
or
imposed by law, statute, treaty or regulation of Argentina or written
administrative instruction of the AFIP as a precondition to exemption
from
all or part of such tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge
or that
may allow the Company to determine the tax treatment of the payments
to
such holder in respect of the
Notes.
|
(b)
|
Each
holder of Notes who is a foreign legal person shall provide to the
Company
in writing, (i) as promptly as practicable upon acquiring the Notes
but
not later than fifteen Business Days prior to the first scheduled
payment
date after such acquisition (ii) no later than fifteen Business Days
after
December 31 of each year with respect to such information as of December
31 of such year and (iii) promptly upon any change in the information
previously provided:
|
(i)
|
whether
its country of residence requires securities to be held in registered
form
(regimen
de nominatividad de titulos valores)
and, if not, such holder shall also
state;
|
(ii)
|
whether
it is an insurance company, open-end investment fund, pension fund
or bank
or financial entity the head office of which is located in a country
whose
relevant governmental authority has adopted the International
Standards.
|
If
neither (i) nor (ii) is applicable to such holder, it shall state and declare
whether pursuant to its by-laws or juridical nature (naturaleza
juridica),
such
holder (A) does not, as its principal activity, invest outside the jurisdiction
of its incorporation or (B) is not prohibited from performing certain
transactions under its by-laws or applicable laws and regulations of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation.
(c)
|
As
a proof of the exemptions mentioned in subclause (b) above, each
holder of
the Notes shall submit:
|
(i)
|
if
its country of residence does require securities to be held in registered
form, a certificate issued by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction
of incorporation which states that the shares or other securities
representing the capital of such holder, or in the case of a permanent
establishment, the securities representing the capital of its parent
company, are considered to be in registered form by the applicable
law in
the country of its incorporation;
|
43
(ii)
|
if
such holder is an insurance company, open-end investment fund or
pension
fund, it shall submit the by-laws or articles of incorporation of
such
holder and its parent company;
|
(iii)
|
if
such holder is a banking or financial institution, it shall submit
a
certificate from the relevant central bank or the relevant authority
of
the country of incorporation or the parent company, certified by
an
authorized professional, stating whether the jurisdiction of its
incorporation has adopted the International Standards;
or
|
(iv)
|
if
such holder declares that pursuant to its by-laws or its juridical
nature,
such holder (A) does not, as its principal activity, invest outside
the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or (B) is not prohibited from performing
certain transactions under its by-laws or applicable laws and regulations
of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, such holder shall submit
its
by-laws and articles of incorporation. In the case of permanent
establishment, it may submit a certificate certifying as to such
declarations issued by its parent company duly certified by an authorized
professional.
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(d)
|
The
documents to be provided pursuant to this Section 3.12 shall be notarized
and, if executed outside of Argentina, either apostilled in accordance
with the Hague convention or consularized by the Argentine Consulate
of
the country of incorporation of such
entities.
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(e)
|
If
the holder of Notes do not timely provide all or part of the information,
documents or evidence that may be required by the Company from time
to
time as described in this Section 3.12, the Company will not pay
any
Additional Amounts and will withhold or deduct the maximum amount
that may
be required by Argentine law in the absence of such information,
documents
or evidence. The Company will inform the Trustee in writing if the
Company
will not be obligated to pay any Additional Amounts in respect of
any
holder pursuant to the information received from such
holder.
|
3.13 Special
Provision Regarding Title VI of the Argentine Income Tax
Law
(a)
|
Holders
of Notes who elect to receive payment of principal and/or interest
or the
redemption price, if any, in Argentina, must file an application
at the
specified domicile of the Paying Agent in Argentina between the fifth
and
the third Business Day prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date
or
redemption date therefor or at maturity in order to receive such
payment
on the relevant Interest Payment Date or redemption date or at maturity.
Such filing shall be made by completing an application for payment,
which
is available at the specified domicile of the Paying Agent in Argentina.
The Paying Agent must notify the Trustee in writing no later than
two
Business Days prior to such relevant payment date that such election
has
been made together with all relevant information regarding the Notes.
In
the event that any such Holder shall fail to make such filing between
the
fifth and third Business Day prior to the relevant Interest Payment
Date
or redemption date or at maturity, as applicable, such Holder shall
be
entitled to receive the relevant payment on the third Business Day
after
such filing with the Paying Agent has taken
place.
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(b)
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision in Section 3.6 (Payment of Interest; Interest
Rights
Preserved), all payments to be made by the Paying Agent in Argentina
with
respect to Notes shall be in cash or by wire transfer to an account
of the
Holder in a bank located in Argentina (provided that the Holder has
provided the Paying Agent in Argentina with sufficient information
concerning such account and bank not less than five Business Days
prior to
the relevant Interest Payment Date or redemption date therefore or
maturity).
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(c)
|
Any
Holder of the Notes subject to Title VI of the Argentine Income Tax
Law
(text of 1997 as restated) must (i) present its Notes exclusively
to the
Paying Agent in Argentina; (ii) comply with the preceding paragraphs;
and
(iii) comply with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3.12
(Information From Holders of Notes) in order to receive payments
of
principal and/or interest thereof or the redemption price
thereof.
|
44
ARTICLE
4. SATISFACTION
AND DISCHARGE
4.1 Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture
This
Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights
of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes herein expressly provided
for),
and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute
proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture,
when:
(a)
|
either:
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(i)
|
all
Notes previously issued, authenticated and delivered (other than
(A) Notes
which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced
or
paid as provided in Section 3.6 (Payment of Interest; Interest Rights
Preserved), (B) Notes for whose payment money has previously been
deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company
and
thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as
provided in Section 10.2 (Redemption at the Company’s Option) or (C) Notes
that have been subject to defeasance under Article 11 (Defeasance
and
Covenant Defeasance) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
or
|
(ii)
|
all
such Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation:
|
(A)
|
have
become due and payable; or
|
(B)
|
will
become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year;
or
|
(C)
|
are
to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption
by the
Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the
Company;
|
and
the
Company, in the case of (A), (B) or (C) in subclause (ii) above, has irrevocably
deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds in trust for
the
purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on
such Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for
cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, and Additional
Amounts, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Notes which have
become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the
case may be together with irrevocable instructions from the Company directing
the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or
redemption, as the case may be;
(b)
|
the
Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder
by
the Company; and
|
(c)
|
the
Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein
provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture
have been complied with.
|
Notwithstanding
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company
to the Trustee under Section 6.7 (Compensation and Reimbursement) and, if money
shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (ii) of clause
(a) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2
(Application of Trust Money) and the last paragraph of Section 10.2 (Redemption
at the Company’s Option) shall survive such satisfaction and
discharge.
4.2 Application
of Trust Money
Subject
to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.2 (Redemption at the
Company’s Option), all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1
(Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture) shall be held in trust and applied
by
it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the
payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent as the Trustee may
determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium,
if
any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the
Trustee.
45
ARTICLE
5. REMEDIES
5.1 Events
of Default
Each
of
the following events with respect to any Series of Notes shall be an Event
of
Default in connection with such Series of Notes:
(a)
|
default
in the payment of any principal, interest or Additional Amounts,
if
applicable, of any of the Notes of such Series when the same shall
become
due and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration,
by
prepayment or otherwise and such default continues for five calendar
days;
provided,
however,
that any failure to make any principal payment under circumstances
provided for, and in compliance with, Section 5.16 (Adverse Event)
shall
not constitute an Event of Default;
or
|
(b)
|
any
failure to comply with the provisions of Sections 9.19 (Limitations
on
Mergers, Consolidations, Sales and Conveyances);
or
|
(c)
|
any
failure on the part of the Company to duly observe or perform any
of the
covenants or agreements of the Company under this Indenture (other
than
those referred to in (a) and (b) above) for a period of more than
30
calendar days after the date on which written notice thereof requiring
the
Company to remedy the same shall have been given to the Company by
the
Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount
Outstanding of the relevant Series of Notes;
or
|
(d)
|
there
occurs with respect to any Indebtedness (including any other Series
of
Notes but excluding any Outstanding Debt) of the Company or its Restricted
Subsidiaries having a principal amount of U.S. $30 million (or its
equivalent in other currencies) or more in the aggregate for all
such
Indebtedness of all such Persons (i) an event of default that results
in
the acceleration of the maturity of such Indebtedness or (ii) failure
to
make a principal payment when due and such defaulted payment is not
made,
waived or extended within the applicable grace period;
or
|
(e)
|
there
shall have been a revocation, cancellation, termination or suspension
for
more than twenty (20) consecutive days of the Concession Agreement;
or
|
(f)
|
there
shall have been entered against the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries a final judgment, decree or order by a court of competent
jurisdiction from which no appeal may be taken or, within the applicable
period to appeal, is taken for the payment of money, or the forfeiture
of
property with an aggregate value in excess of U.S. $30 million (or
its
equivalent in other currencies) and 60 calendar days shall have passed
since the entry of the order without it being satisfied, discharged
or
stayed (a Judgment),
provided
that
this clause (f) shall not apply to any Judgment relating to Outstanding
Debt; or
|
(g)
|
a
distress, attachment, execution, seizure before judgment or other
legal or
extrajudicial process is levied, enforced or sued out on or against
any
part of the property, assets or revenues of the Company or any of
its
Restricted Subsidiaries, which, if executed or consummated, would
have a
material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to make scheduled
principal and interest payments on the Notes, unless (i) such distress,
attachment, execution, seizure before judgment or other legal or
extrajudicial process is discharged or stayed within 90 days of notice
to
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, or
(ii) if
such distress, attachment, execution, seizure before judgment or
legal or
extrajudicial process shall not have been discharged or stayed within
such
90-day period, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the
case may
be, shall have contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
such
distress, attachment, execution, seizure before judgment or legal
process;
provided
that
if such distress, attachment, execution, seizure before judgment
or legal
process shall not have been discharged or stayed within 365 days
of notice
to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be,
the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary shall have posted a bond or
other
appropriate collateral which shall have substituted such distress,
attachment, execution, seizure before judgment or other legal or
extrajudicial process within such time
period;
|
46
(h)
|
the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant
Subsidiary shall, after the Issuance
Date:
|
(i)
|
make
a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors,
|
(ii)
|
be
adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent,
or
|
(iii)
|
(A)
file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or a petition or an answer
seeking
reorganization or an arrangement with creditors pursuant to a
“concurso
preventivo de acreedores,”
(B) other than in connection with the Restructuring, seek approval
of its
creditors for an “acuerdo
preventivo extrajudicial”
through any means, including the distribution of an offering circular
or
similar disclosure materials to creditors in connection with such
“acuerdo
preventivo extrajudicial,”
(C) other than in connection with the Restructuring, file for court
endorsement of an “acuerdo
preventivo extrajudicial,”
(D) apply for or consent to the appointment (in a similar court
proceeding) of a receiver, trustee, liquidator or the like for itself
or
its property or (E) other than in connection with the Restructuring,
make
a similar court filing seeking to take advantage of any applicable
Insolvency Law;
|
(i)
|
after
the Issuance Date and without its application, approval or consent,
a
proceeding shall be instituted in any court of competent jurisdiction,
seeking in respect of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
that is a Significant Subsidiary adjudication in bankruptcy,
reorganization, dissolution, winding up, liquidation, a composition
or
arrangement with creditors (other than in connection with the
Restructuring), the appointment of a trustee, a receiver, liquidator
or
the like of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that
is a
Significant Subsidiary or of all of the assets thereof or other like
relief in respect of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
that is a Significant Subsidiary under any applicable bankruptcy
or
Insolvency Law, and either
|
(i)
|
such
proceeding shall not be actively contested by the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary in good faith,
or
|
(ii)
|
any
order, judgment or decree shall be entered by any court of competent
jurisdiction to effect any of the
foregoing;
|
(j)
|
any
condemnation, seizure, compulsory purchase or expropriation, or taking
into custody or control, by any governmental authority or agency
of assets
or share capital of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries which,
in
the aggregate, would be likely to have a material adverse effect
upon the
business and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or
|
(k)
|
a
general moratorium shall be agreed or declared in respect of the
payment
or performance of the obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries that is a Significant
Subsidiary.
|
5.2 Acceleration
of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment
If
an
Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to any Series of Notes,
the Trustee may and, at the written direction or request of the Holders of
not
less than 25% of the then Outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Series
of Notes, shall, by notice in writing to the Company, declare the principal
amount of, and interest accrued on such Series of Notes to be due and payable
immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall
be
immediately due and payable upon the date that such written notice is received
by or on behalf of the Company.
After
a
declaration of acceleration of any Series of Notes, but before a judgment or
decree of the money due in respect of such Series of Notes has been obtained,
the Holders of not less than a majority of the then Outstanding aggregate
principal amount of such Series of Notes may rescind by written notice to the
Trustee an acceleration and its consequences if (i) all existing Events of
Default (other than the nonpayment of principal and interest and any Additional
Amounts on such Series of Notes, which have become due solely by virtue of
such
acceleration) have been cured or waived and (ii) if the rescission would not
conflict with any judgment or decree. No such rescission shall affect any
subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.
47
For
purposes of Section 5.1 and this Section 5.2, the Fixed Rate Par Notes and
the
Floating Rate Par Notes will be deemed to constitute a single Series of Notes
voting as a single class, and the Fixed Rate Par Notes and Floating Rate Par
Notes will be aggregated for the quorums and majorities specified in this
Section 5.2.
5.3 Collection
of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee
The
Company covenants that if:
(a)
|
a
default occurs in the payment of interest on any Note when such interest
becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of
30
days; or
|
(b)
|
a
default occurs in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if
any, on)
any Note at the Maturity thereof,
|
the
Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit
of
the Holders of such Notes, the aggregate amount then due and payable on such
Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, to the extent that
payment of default interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any
overdue principal (and premium, if any) and interest, at the default interest
rate applicable to such Notes, and (iii) such further amounts 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.
If
the
Company fails to pay such amounts immediately upon demand, the Trustee, in
its
own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding
for the collection of the amounts so due and unpaid, may prosecute such
proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the
Company or any other successor obligor of such Notes and collect the moneys
adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the
property of the Company or any other obligor of the Notes, wherever
situated.
If
an
Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may, in its discretion,
proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders by
such
appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effective to
protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of
any
covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power
granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
The
Trustee shall not be bound to institute any proceedings or take any other
actions described in the two preceding paragraphs of this Section 5.3 unless
(a)
it shall have been so directed by the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of a Series of Notes then Outstanding pursuant (and subject)
to
Section 5.12 (Control by Holders) and (b) it shall have received an indemnity
satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred
in
compliance with such direction.
5.4 Trustee
May File Proofs of Claim
In
case
of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon
the Notes), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and
empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and
all
actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act, the Negotiable Obligations
Law
and Law 24,522, as amended, in order to have claims of the Holders and the
Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be
authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian,
receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official
in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make
such
payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to
the
making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any
amount due 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 6.7 (Compensation and Reimbursement).
48
No
provision of this Indenture 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 thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect
of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
5.5 Trustee
May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes
Notwithstanding
the actions set forth in Article 29 of the Negotiable Obligations Law, all
rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Notes may be prosecuted
and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes or the
production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding
instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as Trustee of an
express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the
payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances
of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders
of the Notes in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
5.6 Application
of Money Collected
Any
money
collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the
following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of
the
distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or
interest, upon presentation of the Notes and the notation thereon of the payment
if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
(a)
|
FIRST:
To the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.7
(Compensation and Reimbursement).
|
(b)
|
SECOND:
To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of
(and
premium, if any) and interest on the Notes and Additional Amounts,
if any,
in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been
collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according
to the amounts due and payable on such Notes for principal (and premium,
if any) and interest, respectively.
|
(c)
|
THIRD:
The balance, if any, to the Company (without prejudice to, or liability
in
respect of, any question as to how such payment to the Company shall
be
dealt with as between the Company and any other Person) or to such
party
as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct in
writing.
|
5.7 Enforcement
by Holders of Notes
No
Holder
of any Note will have any right by virtue of or by availing itself of any
provision of this Indenture or the Notes to institute any suit, action or
proceeding in equity or at law, or otherwise, upon or under or with respect
to
this Indenture, or the Notes, or for any remedy thereunder, unless:
(a)
|
such
Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written Notice
of
Default and of the continuance thereof,
|
(b)
|
the
Holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of
the
Notes then Outstanding of the affected Series of Notes shall have
made
written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings
in its own name as Trustee under this Indenture and shall have offered
to
the Trustee an indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses
and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby,
and
|
(c)
|
the
Trustee for 30 days after its receipt of such notice, request and
offer of
indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action or proceeding
and
no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been
given
to the Trustee pursuant to this
Indenture.
|
49
5.8 Unconditional
Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and
Interest
Notwithstanding
any other provision in this Indenture and any provision of any Note, the right
of any Holder of any Note of any Series to receive payment of the principal
of
and interest on such Note (including Additional Amounts) on or after the
respective due dates expressed in such Note, or to institute suit (including
any
“acción
ejecutiva individual”
pursuant to Article 29 of the Negotiable Obligations Law) for the enforcement
of
any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or
affected without the prior consent of such Holder. To that effect, any
beneficial owner of Global Notes will have the right to obtain evidence of
its
beneficial ownership interest in a Global Note in accordance with Argentine
Decree 677/01, as amended (including for initiating summary proceedings
(acción
ejecutiva)
in the
manner provided by the Negotiable Obligations Law), and for such purposes,
such
beneficial owner will be treated as the owner of that portion of the Global
Note
which represents its beneficial ownership interest therein.
5.9 Restoration
of Rights and Remedies
If
the
Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or
remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or
abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or
to
such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such
proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally
and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights
and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such
proceeding had been instituted.
5.10 Rights
and Remedies Cumulative
Except
as
otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in the last paragraph of Section 3.6 (Payment
of
Interest; Interest Rights Preserved), no right or remedy herein conferred upon
or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of
any
other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted
by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given
hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The
assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall
not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate
right or remedy.
5.11 Delay
or Omission Not Waiver
No
delay
or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right
or
remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy
or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein.
Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to
the
Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed
expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
5.12 Control
by Holders
The
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding shall,
upon offering to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, have
the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any
remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred
on
the Trustee, provided
that:
(a)
|
such
direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this
Indenture or shall not be adverse in any material respect to the
Trustee;
|
(b)
|
the
Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which
is
not inconsistent with such direction;
and
|
(c)
|
such
right shall not impair the right of any individual Holder to file
suits
against the Company in accordance with Article 29 of the Negotiable
Obligations Law.
|
50
5.13 Waiver
of Past Defaults
Subject
to Section 5.2 (Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment), the Holders
of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding
may on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes waive any past Default hereunder
and its consequences, except a Default:
(a)
|
in
the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
on any
Note; or
|
(b)
|
in
respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Section 8.2
(Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders) cannot be modified
or
amended without the consent of the Holder of each Note
affected.
|
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.
5.14 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, suffered or omitted by it as
Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an
undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any
such
party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture
Act; provided
that
neither this Section 5.14 nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to
authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment
in any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee.
5.15 Waiver
of Stay or Extension Laws
To
the
extent that the Company or any of its revenues, assets or properties shall
be
entitled, with respect to any Related Proceeding any time brought against the
Company or any of its revenues, assets or properties in the courts identified
herein, to any immunity from suit, from the jurisdiction of any such court,
from
attachment prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution of judgment,
from execution of a judgment or from any other legal or judicial process or
remedy, and to the extent that in any such jurisdiction there shall be
attributed such an immunity, the Company has irrevocably agreed not to claim
and
has irrevocably waived such immunity to the fullest extent permitted by law
(including, without limitation, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976
of
the United States). The Company has agreed that final judgment in any such
suit,
action or proceeding brought in such a court will be conclusive and binding
on
it and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which the Company
is
subject by a suit upon such judgment; provided
that
service of process if effected upon the Company in the manner specified above
or
as otherwise permitted by law.
5.16 Adverse
Event
Upon
the
occurrence of an Adverse Cash Flow Event or an Adverse Devaluation Event, the
Company may, at its option, elect to defer, reschedule and capitalize up to
one
year of principal amortization payments and one year of interest payments on
any
or all Series of Notes by written notice to the Trustee on or prior to the
date
such payment is due. In such event, the relevant principal and interest payments
deferred shall be rescheduled and capitalized over the remaining scheduled
principal payments on such Series of Notes in proportion to the remaining
amortization schedule of such Series of Notes. The Company may invoke this
clause no more than once in respect of an Adverse Cash Flow Event and no more
than once in respect of an Adverse Devaluation Event during the term of the
Notes and will be obligated to resume payments no later than the third Interest
Payment Date after the option is exercised. During an Adverse Event Period,
(i)
any obligation to make payments pursuant to Section 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment
With Excess Cash) will be suspended, (ii) the Company will not make any Market
Purchases of Notes and (iii) the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will
continue to comply with Article 9 (Covenants) (subject to clause (i) above),
except that the Company will not pay any cash dividends or make any cash
distributions to its shareholders that it would otherwise be permitted to pay
or
make under this Indenture and clauses (a)(iv), (c)(i) and, in respect of the
Company only, (c)(ii) of Section 9.8 (Limitation on Restricted Payments) will
not apply, except for payments to EASA in an aggregate amount (including, but
not limited to, withholding taxes, but net of value added taxes) not to exceed
U.S. $0.2 million, in any fiscal year, and (B) paragraphs (c) (but only if
the
Adverse Event occurs after the fifth anniversary of the Issuance Date and the
Company is not otherwise required under any applicable rules or regulations
or
by any relevant authorities to maintain a strategic operator) and (d) of Section
9.6 (Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates) will not
apply, except for payments to EASA in an aggregate amount (including, but not
limited to, withholding taxes, but net of value added taxes) not to exceed
U.S. $0.2 million in any fiscal year.
51
ARTICLE
6. THE
TRUSTEE
6.1 Certain
Duties and Responsibilities
The
Trustee shall be eligible to act as trustee for the Notes under Article 13
of
the Negotiable Obligations Law. The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee
shall be as provided by this Indenture and, where applicable, the Trust
Indenture Act and the Negotiable Obligations Law. No provision of this Indenture
shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
any
financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in
the
exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds
for
believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk
or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly
so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or
affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be
subject to the provisions of this Section 6.1. Under no circumstances will
the
Trustee be liable to the Company for any consequential loss (being loss of
business, goodwill, opportunity or profit), even if advised of the possibility
of such loss or damage.
Except
upon the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default, the Trustee
undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically
set
forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read
into this Indenture against the Trustee.
The
duties of the Trustee’s Representative shall be determined solely by law and/or
the express provisions of this Indenture or as it may agree in writing from
time
to time with the Trustee, and the Trustee’s Representative needs to perform only
those duties that are specifically set forth by law and/or in this Indenture
and
those agreed in writing with the Trustee. No implied covenants or obligations
shall be read into this Indenture against the Representative of the Trustee
in
Argentina. The Trustee’s Representative shall have only the faculties and powers
stated by law and herein below. It is further acknowledged that the Trustee’s
Representative is not and shall not be considered as if it were a Trustee’s
general attorney.
The
duties and faculties of the Trustee’s Representative up to the date hereof are
only those stated by law and: (i) receive from Holders, the Company, agents,
and
any governmental or regulatory authority or entity any and all letters, claims,
requests, memorandums or any other document directed to the Trustee, (ii)
transmit, deliver or notify the Trustee of the reception of any and all of
the
mentioned documents by facsimile, promptly but in no event later than 3 business
days from receipt, and (iii) respond or answer such letters, claims, requests,
memorandums or documents, following the express written instructions of the
Trustee and only if such instructions are given by the Trustee.
The
Trustee’s Representative shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to
take with diligence and in good faith, which it believes to be authorized or
within its discretion, rights or powers.
The
Company agrees to indemnify the Trustee’s Representative for, and to hold it
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense, including, without limitation,
the fees and expenses of legal counsel, incurred without negligence or bad
faith
on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance of its
commitments hereunder, the performance of its duties hereunder and/or the
exercise of it's rights hereunder, including, without limitation, the costs
and
expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with
the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder.
52
6.2 Notice
of Defaults
The
Trustee shall give the Holders written notice of any Default hereunder as and
to
the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act (each such notice, a Notice
of Default);
provided,
however,
that in
the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.1(c) (Events
of
Default), no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 calendar
days after the occurrence thereof.
6.3 Certain
Rights of Trustee
Subject
to the provisions of Section 6.1 (Certain Duties and
Responsibilities):
(a)
|
the
Trustee may rely and will be protected in acting or refraining from
acting
upon any resolution of the Board of Directors, Company Order, Officers’
Certificate or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon,
security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to
have been signed or presented by the proper party or
parties;
|
(b)
|
any
request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned in this
Indenture will be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Order (unless
other
evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed); and any
resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee
by a
copy thereof certified by an Officer or an assistant secretary of
the
Company;
|
(c)
|
the
Trustee may consult with counsel and experts and any advice or opinion
of
Counsel or expert will be full and complete authorization and protection
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by
it
under this Indenture in good faith and in accordance with such advice
or
Opinion of Counsel or expert, as the case may
be;
|
(d)
|
in
the administration of this Indenture, whenever the Trustee shall
deem it
desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other
evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may request and, in the
absence of bad faith, rely upon a certificate signed by an
Officer;
|
(e)
|
the
Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the trusts
or
powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction
of any of the Holders of Notes pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture, unless such Holder of Notes have offered to the Trustee
security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs,
expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein or
thereby;
|
(f)
|
the
Trustee will not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it
in good
faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion,
rights
or powers conferred upon it by this
Indenture;
|
(g)
|
prior
to the occurrence of an Event of Default under this Indenture and
after
the curing or waiving of all Events of Default, the Trustee will
not be
bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated
in any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice,
request, consent, order, approval, appraisal, bond, debenture, note,
coupon, security, or other paper or document unless requested in
writing
so to do by the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of the Notes affected then outstanding; provided
that, if
the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs,
expenses
or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such
investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured
to
the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture,
the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expenses
or
liabilities as a condition to proceeding, the reasonable expenses
of every
such investigation will be paid by the Company or, if paid by the
Trustee
or any predecessor trustee, will be repaid by the Company upon demand;
|
(h)
|
the
Trustee may perform the services required to be rendered by it hereunder
either directly or through attorneys-in-fact or agents not regularly
in
its employ and the Trustee shall not be liable for any misconduct
or
negligence on the part of any such attorney or agent appointed by
it with
due care hereunder;
|
53
(i)
|
the
Trustee shall have no liability for interest on, or have any
responsibility to invest, any monies received by it pursuant to any
of the
provisions of this Indenture or the Notes;
and
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(j)
|
except
as otherwise specifically provided herein, (i) all references in
this
Indenture to the Trustee shall be deemed to refer to the Trustee
in its
capacity as Trustee and in its capacities as Registrar and Paying
Agent
and (ii) every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct
or
affecting the liability or offering protection, immunity or indemnity
to
the Trustee shall be deemed to apply with the same force and effect
to the
Trustee acting in its capacities as Registrar and Paying
Agent.
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6.4 Not
Responsible for Issuance of Notes
The
recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee’s certificates of
authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee
assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. Subject to the
obligations imposed on the Trustee by paragraph (c) of Section 13 of the
Negotiable Obligations Law, the Trustee has reviewed an English translation
of
the resolution of the Company’s shareholders meetings dated February 23, 2006
and of the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated January 19, 2006, and
confirms that the terms and conditions of the Notes issued hereunder reflect
accurately the terms of the resolution or resolutions adopted by the
shareholders and the Board of Directors of the Company, respectively. The
Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this
Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use
or
application by the Company of any of the notes or of the proceeds
thereof.
6.5 May
Hold Notes
The
Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Registrar or any other agent of the Company,
in
its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes
and, subject to Sections 6.8 (Disqualifications; Conflicting Interests) and
6.13
(Preferential Collection of Claims against Company), may otherwise deal with
the
Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent,
Registrar or such other agent.
6.6 Money
Held in Trust
Money
held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds
except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability
for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed
with the Company in writing.
6.7 Compensation
and Reimbursement
The
Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to compensation equal to U.S. $15,000 per annum or
such other amount as shall be agreed to in writing between the Trustee and
the
Company (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the
compensation of a trustee of an express trust) and the Company covenants and
agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee upon its
request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or
made
by or on behalf of it in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture
(including the reasonable compensation, expenses and disbursements of its
counsel and of all agents and other persons not regularly in its employ) except
any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence
or
bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee, the
Representative, the Registrar, the Co-Registrar, any and all Paying Agent,
and
each of their respective predecessors for, and to hold it harmless against,
any
and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense, including taxes (other than
taxes based on their income) incurred without negligence or bad faith on their
part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration
of
this Indenture or the trusts hereunder and their duties hereunder or the
administration of the Restructuring Documents, including any liability any
of
them may incur as a result of failure to withhold, pay or report any tax,
assessment or other governmental charge and the costs and expenses of defending
themselves against or investigating any claim of liability in the premises.
The
obligations of the Company under this Section 6.7 to compensate the Trustee
and
to indemnify the Trustee, the Representative, the Registrar, the Co-Registrar,
any and all Paying Agents, the Authenticating Agent, and each of their
respective predecessors and to pay or reimburse the Trustee and each predecessor
Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional
indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of
this
Indenture. Such additional indebtedness shall be a senior claim to that of
the
Notes upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such,
except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Notes,
and the Notes are hereby subordinated to such senior claim.
54
The
rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee,
including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to,
and
shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and
to
each Agent, Representative, custodian and other Person employed by the Trustee
or any such Agent, Representative or custodian in accordance with this Indenture
to act hereunder.
The
Company shall pay to the Trustee’s Representative from time to time, and the
Trustee’s Representative shall be entitled to, such compensation for its
acceptance of this Indenture and its services hereunder as the Trustee’s
Representative and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The
Company shall reimburse the Trustee’s Representative promptly upon request for
all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by or
on
behalf of it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses
may
include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of Trustee’s
Representative’s agents, counsel and other persons not regularly in its employ.
6.8 Disqualification;
Conflicting Interests
If
the
Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the
Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either
(a)
|
eliminate
such interest within 90 days;
|
(b)
|
if
this Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act,
apply to
the SEC for permission to continue as trustee with respect of the
Notes;
or
|
(c)
|
resign,
to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions
of, the Trust Indenture Act and this
Indenture.
|
Notwithstanding
the above, in no case will the Trustee be deemed to have duly performed its
obligations under this Indenture if, upon acquiring a conflicting interest,
the
Trustee gives preference to its own interest.
6.9 Corporate
Trustee Required; Eligibility
There
shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is
eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and that has a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and its Corporate Trust
Office in New York. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or
examining authority, then, for the purposes of this Section 6.9, the combined
capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital
and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
If
at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 6.9, it shall resign immediately in the manner and
with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
This
Indenture shall always have a Trustee that satisfies the requirements of
Sections 310(a)(1), (2) and (5) of the Trust Indenture Act as if this Indenture
were required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. For the purposes
of
this Indenture, the Trustee will be deemed to be subject to Section 310(b)
of
the Trust Indenture Act; provided,
however
that any
indenture or indentures under which other securities of, or certificates of
interest or participation in other securities of, the Company are outstanding
shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture
Act if the requirements for such exclusion, as set forth in Section 310(b)(1)
of
Trust Indenture Act are met.
6.10 Resignation
and Removal; Appointment of Successor
(a)
|
No
resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor
Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until (i)
the CNV
has approved such appointment and (ii) the acceptance of appointment
by
the successor Trustee under Section 6.11 (Acceptance of Appointment
by
Successor).
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55
(b)
|
The
Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to
the
Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall
not
have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving
of such
notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court
of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
Trustee.
|
(c)
|
The
Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders of a majority
in
principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding, delivered to the
Trustee
and to the Company.
|
(d)
|
If
at any time:
|
(i)
|
the
Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.8 (Disqualification;
Conflicting Interests) after written request therefor by the Company
or by
any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least
six
months; or
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(ii)
|
the
Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 (Corporate Trustee
Required; Eligibility) and shall fail to resign after written request
therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide
Holder
of a Note for at least six months;
or
|
(iii)
|
the
Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt
or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall
be
appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the
Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
conservation or liquidation,
|
then,
in
any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee,
or
(B) subject to Section 5.14 (Undertaking for Costs), any Holder who has been
a
bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on his behalf and on
behalf of all other similarly situated Holders, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor
Trustee.
(e)
|
If
the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting,
or if
a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any reason, the
Company, by a Board Resolution, 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, within one year after such resignation, removal
or
incapacity, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee
shall
be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of
the Notes then Outstanding delivered to the Company and the retiring
Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon
its
acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee and
supersede
the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee
shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted
appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has
been a
bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on behalf
of
himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
Trustee.
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(f)
|
The
Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of
the
Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders
in the
manner provided in Section 1.7 (Notice to Holders) and to the CNV
including by publication in the leading daily newspaper in Luxembourg.
Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the
address of its Corporate Trust Office (including the address of its
representative in Argentina).
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6.11 Acceptance
of Appointment by Successor
Every
successor Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver
to
the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such
appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee
shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act,
deed
or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and
duties of the retiring Trustee, but, on request of the Company or the successor
Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute
and
deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights,
powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and
deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring
Trustee hereunder. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company
shall
execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and
trusts.
56
The
successor trustee shall be eligible to act as trustee under Section 13 of the
Negotiable Obligations Law.
No
successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such
acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this
Article.
Upon
acceptance of the appointment of any successor trustee, the Company, at its
expense, shall give notice thereof to the Holders as provided in Section 1.7
(Notice to Holders) (which notice shall include the successor trustee’s
corporate trust office and its representative in Argentina) and to the CNV
including by publication in the leading daily newspaper in
Luxembourg.
As
long
as it is required by Argentine law and CNV regulations, the successor trustee
must have a representative office in Argentina.
6.12 Merger,
Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business
Any
corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which
it
may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion
or
consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the
trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided
such
corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article and
under Article 13 of the Negotiable Obligations Law, without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
In case any Notes shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the
Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation
to
such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Notes
so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself
authenticated such Notes. In case any of the Notes shall not have been
authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any successor Trustee may
authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or
in
the name of the successor Trustee. In all such cases such certificates shall
have the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate
of authentication of the Trustee; provided,
however,
that
the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee
or to authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply
only
to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or
consolidation.
6.13 Preferential
Collection of Claims against Company
If
and
when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other
obligor upon the Notes), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of
the
Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company
(or
any such other obligor).
6.14 Trustee’s
Application for Instructions from the Company
Any
application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company may, at
the
option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken
or
omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which
such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee
shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of the Trustee in
accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date
specified in such application (which date shall not be less than three Business
Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to any
earlier date) unless before taking any such action (or the effective date in
the
case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions
in
response to such application specifying the action to be taken or
omitted.
57
6.15 Appointment
of Co-Trustee
It
is the
purpose of this Indenture that there shall be no violation of any law of any
jurisdiction denying or restricting the right of banking corporations or
associations to transact business as trustee in such jurisdiction. It is
recognized that in case of litigation under this Indenture or the Notes, and
in
particular in case of the enforcement thereof on default, or in the case the
Trustee deems that by reason of any present or future law of any jurisdiction
it
may not exercise any of the powers, rights or remedies herein granted to the
Trustee or hold title to the properties, in trust, as herein granted or take
any
action which may be desirable or necessary in connection therewith, it may
be
necessary that the Trustee appoint an individual or institution as a separate
or
co-trustee. The following provisions of this Section are adopted to these
ends.
In
the
event that the Trustee appoints an additional individual or institution as
a
separate or co-trustee, each and every remedy, power, right, claim, demand,
cause of action, immunity, estate, title, interest and Lien expressed or
intended by this Indenture to be exercised by or vested in or conveyed to the
Trustee with respect thereto shall be exercisable by and vest in such separate
or co-trustee but only to the extent necessary to enable such separate or
co-trustee to exercise such powers, rights and remedies, and only to the extent
that the Trustee by the laws of any jurisdiction is incapable of exercising
such
powers, rights and remedies and every covenant and obligation necessary to
the
exercise thereof by such separate or co-trustee shall run to and be enforceable
by either of them.
Should
any instrument in writing from the Company be required by the separate or
co-trustee so appointed by the Trustee for more fully and certainly vesting
in
and confirming to him or it such properties, rights, powers, trusts, duties
and
obligations, any and all such instruments in writing shall, on request, be
executed, acknowledged and delivered by the Company; provided,
that if
an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if the Company does
not execute any such instrument within 15 days after request therefor, the
Trustee shall be empowered as an attorney-in-fact for the Company to execute
any
such instrument in the Company’s name and stead. In case any separate or
co-trustee or a successor to either shall die, become incapable of acting,
resign or be removed, all the estates, properties, rights, powers, trusts,
duties and obligations of such separate or co-trustee, so far as permitted
by
law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Trustee until the appointment of
a
new trustee or successor to such separate or co-trustee.
Every
separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be
appointed and act subject to the following provisions and
conditions:
(a)
|
all
rights and powers, conferred or imposed upon the Trustee shall be
conferred or imposed upon and may be exercised or performed by such
separate trustee or co-trustee; and
|
(b)
|
no
trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act
or
omission of any other trustee
hereunder.
|
Any
notice, request or other writing given to the Trustee shall be deemed to have
been given to each of the then separate trustees and co-trustees, as effectively
as if given to each of them. Every instrument appointing any separate trustee
or
co-trustee shall refer to this Indenture and the conditions of this
Article.
Any
co-trustee must be entitled to act as trustee under Article 13 of the Negotiable
Obligations Law.
Any
separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time appoint the Trustee as its agent
or attorney-in-fact with full power and authority, to the extent not prohibited
by law, to do any lawful act under or in respect of this Indenture on its behalf
and in its name. If any separate trustee or co-trustee shall die, become
incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all of its estates, properties,
rights, remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised by the Trustee,
to
the extent permitted by law, without the appointment of a new or successor
trustee.
To
the
extent required by Argentine law or by the CNV, the Trustee shall appoint a
representative for the Trustee in Argentina. The Registrar in Argentina must
keep a duplicate of the Notes Register in the Spanish language.
58
ARTICLE
7. HOLDERS’
LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE
7.1 Company
to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders
The
Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a)
|
semi-annually,
not more than 15 days after each Record Date, a list, in such form
as the
Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the
Holders
as of such Record Date; and
|
(b)
|
at
such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in writing,
within
30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list
of
similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior
to the
time such list is furnished,
|
excluding
from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity
as Registrar.
7.2 Preservation
of Information; Communications to Holders
(a)
|
The
Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable,
the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list
furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 (Company to Furnish
Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders) and the names and addresses
of
Holders received by the Trustee and the representative of the Trustee
in
Argentine in its capacity as Co-Registrar and Registrar, respectively.
The
Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section
7.1
(Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders) upon
receipt
of a new list so furnished.
|
(b)
|
The
rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect
to their
rights under this Indenture or under the Notes, and the corresponding
rights and duties of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust
Indenture Act.
|
(c)
|
Every
Holder of Notes, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the
Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee
nor any
agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any
disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made
pursuant to the Trust Indenture
Act.
|
ARTICLE
8. SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURES
8.1 Supplemental
Indentures Without Consent of Holders
Without
the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution,
and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more
indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any
of
the following purposes.
(a)
|
to
evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the
assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company
herein
and in the Notes; or
|
(b)
|
to
add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders
or
otherwise provide additional rights to the Holders, or to surrender
any
right or power herein conferred upon the Company;
or
|
(c)
|
to
secure or guarantee the Notes; or
|
(d)
|
to
comply with any requirements of the SEC in order to effect and maintain
the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
or
|
(e)
|
to
provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of
certificated Notes, or
|
59
(f)
|
to
evidence the appointment of a co-trustee pursuant to Section 6.15
(Appointment of Co-Trustee) hereof;
or
|
(g)
|
to
modify the restrictions on and procedures for resales and other transfers
of this Note to reflect any change in applicable law or regulation
(or the
interpretation thereof) or in practices relating to the resale or
transfer
of restricted Notes generally; provided
that
such action pursuant to this clause (g) shall not adversely affect
the
interests of Holders in any material
respect;
|
(h)
|
to
cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; or
|
(i)
|
to
make any change that does not, in the opinion of the Trustee, adversely
affect the rights of any Holder in any material
respect.
|
8.2 Supplemental
Indentures With Consent of Holders
With
the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of all Series of Notes or the Notes of any affected Series, as the case may
be,
then Outstanding as expressed at a Meeting of the Holders, and communicated
to
the Company by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee,
the
Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into
an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions
of
this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders under
this Indenture; provided,
however,
that no
such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each
Note then Outstanding affected thereby:
(a)
|
extend
the final maturity of any Notes or the date on which any installment
of
principal is due,
|
(b)
|
reduce
the principal amount of any Notes,
|
(c)
|
reduce
the rate or extend the time of payment of interest on any
Notes,
|
(d)
|
change
the obligation to pay Additional
Amounts,
|
(e)
|
change
the currency of payment of principal of or interest on the Notes
(including Additional Amounts),
|
(f)
|
change
the governing law,
|
(g)
|
impair
or affect the right of any Holder of Notes to institute suit for
the
payment thereof,
|
(h)
|
change
any prepayment provision that would alter the pro rata sharing of
payments
required thereby,
|
(i)
|
modify
the number of Holders necessary to waive an Event of
Default,
|
(j)
|
reduce
the percentage in principal amount of Notes then Outstanding of any
Series
that is required for the adoption of a resolution at a meeting of
Holders
of such Series,
|
(k)
|
reduce
the percentage in principal amount of Notes then Outstanding of any
Series
that is required form a quorum at a meeting of Holders of such
Series,
|
(l)
|
reduce
the percentage in principal amount of Notes then Outstanding of any
Series
that is required to request the calling of a meeting of Holders of
such
Series, or
|
(m)
|
modify
the provisions of this Indenture with respect to modification and
waiver,
except to increase any percentage or to provide that other provisions
of
this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of
the
Holder of each Note affected
thereby.
|
60
Promptly
after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental
indenture, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Holders of Notes of
each
Series affected thereby as specified in this Indenture (as described under
Section 1.7 (Notice to Holders) setting forth in general terms the substance
of
such supplemental indenture. Any failure of the Company to give such notice,
or
any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity
of any such supplemental indenture.
It
shall
not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the
particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be
sufficient if such Act of Holders shall approve the substance
thereof.
8.3 Execution
of Supplemental Indentures
In
executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental
indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts
created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and
(subject to Section 6.1 (Certain Duties and Responsibilities)) shall be fully
protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section
1.3
(Compliance Certificates and Opinions), an Opinion of Counsel stating that
the
execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this
Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such
supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
8.4 Effect
of Supplemental Indentures
Upon
the
execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture
shall
be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall
form
a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Notes theretofore
or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound
thereby.
8.5 Conformity
with Trust Indenture Act and the Negotiable Obligations
Law
Every
supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the Negotiable Obligations
Law.
8.6 Reference
in Notes to Supplemental Indentures
Notes
authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture
pursuant to this Article may bear a notation as to any matter provided for
in
such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Notes so
modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any
such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Notes then
Outstanding.
8.7 Notice
of Supplemental Indentures
Promptly
after execution by the Company of any supplemental indenture pursuant to
Sections 8.1 (Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders) and 8.2
(Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders), the Company shall transmit
to
the Holders and to the CNV a notice setting forth the substance of the
supplemental indenture. Notices will also be published in a daily leading
newspaper having general circulation in Luxembourg, so long as the Notes are
listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules of such exchange so
require. To the extent permitted by law, any failure to give such notice, or
any
defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity
of
any such supplemental indenture.
61
8.8 Meetings
of Holders
(a)
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A
meeting of Holders of Notes of any Series may be called at any time
and
from time to time pursuant to Section 14 of the Negotiable Obligations
Law
and this Section 8.8 to make, give or take any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other actions
provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders
of the
Notes of such Series. In addition, the Company may at any time call
a
meeting of Holders of the Notes of any Series for the purpose of
entering
into an acuerdo
preventivo extrajudicial
under Argentine law with respect to the Notes, to enter into a
supplemental indenture as provided in Article 8, or to obtain a waiver
of
any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. The meetings will be
held in
the City of Buenos Aires; provided,
however,
that each of the Company and the Trustee may determine to hold any
such
meeting simultaneously in the City of Buenos Aires and in New York
City
and/or any other city by any means of telecommunications which permits
the
participants to hear and speak to each other, and any such simultaneous
meeting shall be deemed to constitute a single meeting for purposes
of the
quorum and voting percentages applicable to such meeting. In addition,
the
Company shall upon the written request of the Trustee or of Holders
of at
least 5% in aggregate principal amount of any Series of Notes at
the time
Outstanding call such a meeting and such meeting shall be convened
within
40 days from the date such request is received by the Company. If
a
meeting is held pursuant to the request of the Holders, the agenda
for
such meeting shall be that set forth in the request made by such
Holders,
provided,
however,
that matter not included in the agenda may be included if approved
by
Holders of each of the Notes. In
the event the Board of Directors of the Company fails to call such
meeting
at the request of Holders, the meeting may be called by the CNV or
by a
competent court. The Trustee by and through its designated representative
may attend any meeting called pursuant to this Section
8.8(a).
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(b)
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For
so long as applicable Argentine laws and regulations so require,
notice of
any meeting, setting forth the date, time and place of such meeting
and
the agenda therefore (which shall describe in general terms the action
proposed to be taken at such meeting), shall be called by publications
in
the Official Gazette of the Republic of Argentina (Boletín
Oficial de la República Argentina),
the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange Daily Bulletin and in a newspaper
of wide
circulation in Argentina (expected to be La
Nación)
during five (5) days within a period of no more than 30 days nor
less than
10 days before the day scheduled for the meeting, Notices will also
be
published in a daily leading newspaper having general circulation
in
Luxembourg, so long as the Notes are admitted to trading on the Euro
MTF,
the alternative market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, and the
rules of
such exchange so require. In addition, notice of any meeting under
this
Section 8.8 shall be provided to the Trustee in the manner provided
for in
Section 1.6 (Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company) of this
Indenture.
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(c)
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To
be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Notes a Person shall
be
(i) a Holder of one or more Notes as of the record date in accordance
with
the Negotiable Obligation Law, or (ii) a Person appointed by an instrument
in writing as proxy by such Holder of one or more Notes; provided
that a person appointed as chairman of a meeting may not be appointed
as
proxy.
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(d)
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The
Holders, whether present or represented by proxy, entitled to vote
60% in
aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding (or
such
greater percentage as may be required under applicable Argentine
law) will
initially be required for a quorum at any such meeting. In the absence
of
a quorum at any such meeting, the meeting may be adjourned for a
period of
not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days, as determined by the
chairman
of the meeting, except in the case of ordinary meetings where the
first
and second call meeting may be held on the same day. At any meeting
adjourned for lack of quorum, the persons entitled to vote 30% of
the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding (or
such
greater percentage as may be required under applicable Argentine
law)
shall constitute a quorum at any such reconvened adjourned meeting.
Notice
of reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided
above,
except that such notice need only be published for only 3 days and
not
less than 8 days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled
to be
reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall
state
expressly the aggregate principal amount of Notes of each Series
that
shall constitute a quorum at such
meeting,
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(e)
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Any
Holder of Notes who has executed an instrument in writing appointing
a
Person as proxy shall be deemed to be present for the purposes of
determining a quorum and be deemed to have voted; provided
that
such Holder shall be considered as present and voting only with respect
to
the matters covered by such instrument in writing. Any resolution
passed
or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Notes of an individual
Series of Notes duly held in accordance with this Section 8.8 shall,
if
otherwise in compliance with this Indenture, be binding on all the
Holders
of such Series, whether or not present or represented at the
meeting.
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62
(f)
|
The
appointment of any proxy shall be proved by having the signature
of the
Person executing the proxy certified by any notary public, bank,
trust
company satisfactory to the Company or judicially certified in the
manner
provided under Argentine law. The holding of Notes shall be proved
by the
Notes Register maintained in accordance with Section 3.7 (Persons
Deemed
Owners) or by a certificate or certificates of the Trustee; provided
that
the holding of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall be proved
by a
certificate or certificates of the
Depositary.
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(g)
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At
any such meeting at which the proper quorum is present, any resolution
to
modify or amend, or to waive compliance with, any of the provisions
of any
Series of Notes or this Indenture shall be effectively passed and
decided
if approved by the persons entitled to vote not less than a majority
of
the aggregate principal amount then Outstanding of such Series of
Notes
present at the meeting, except for those provisions requiring consent
of
all Holders of Notes of any Series so affected as described under
Section
8.2 (Supplemental Indentures With Consent of
Holders).
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(h)
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A
representative of the Trustee shall act as the temporary chairman
of the
meeting. If the Trustee fails to designate a representative to act
as
temporary chairman of the meeting, the Company shall designate a
member of
the Supervisory Committee to act as temporary chairman of the meeting.
If
the Company fails to designate such a Person, the CNV or competent
court
shall designate a Person to act as chairman. The permanent chairman
of the
meeting shall be elected by vote of the Holders of a majority in
the then
Outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes of the relevant
Series
represented at the meeting. At any meeting of Holders of Notes of
any
Series, each Holder of Notes of such Series or proxy shall be entitled
to
one vote for each U.S. $1.00 principal amount of the Notes of such
Series
held or represented by such Holder of Notes; provided
that
no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any
Note
challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting
to
be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right
to
vote except as a Holder of Notes or proxy. Any meeting of Holders
of Notes
duly called at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time
to
time, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned with the presence
of the
same Holders of Notes that were present in the initial meeting without
further notice.
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ARTICLE
9. COVENANTS
9.1 Mandatory
Prepayment With Excess Cash
If
on any
June 30 or December 31 (each, a Calculation
Date)
after
the Issuance Date and in each case no later than the next Interest Payment
Date
following such Calculation Date (a Mandatory
Prepayment Date):
(a)
|
the
Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.5, then any Excess Cash shall be
applied,
at the Company’s discretion, to purchase Notes through Market Purchases or
Optional Redemption transactions;
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(b)
|
the
Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.5, but greater than 3.0,
the
Company will apply any Excess Cash as follows, at its
discretion:
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(i)
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(A)
a minimum of 50% of such Excess Cash shall be applied, at the Company’s
discretion, to purchase Notes through Market Purchases or Optional
Redemption transactions; and (B) after the Leverage Ratio has been
certified in accordance with paragraph (c) of Section 9.9 (Delivery
of
Financial Statements) a maximum of 50% of such Excess Cash shall
be
applied to or committed for Capital Expenditures;
or
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(ii)
|
(A)
a minimum of 75% of such Excess Cash shall be applied, at the Company’s
discretion, to purchase Notes through Market Purchases or Optional
Redemption transactions; and (B) after the Leverage Ratio has been
certified in accordance with paragraph (c) of Section 9.9 (Delivery
of
Financial Statements) a maximum of 25% of such Excess Cash shall
be used
entirely at the Company’s discretion, including, without limitation, for
the payment of dividends; or
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63
(c)
|
the
Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.0, but greater than 2.5,
(A) a
minimum of 50% of such Excess Cash, shall be applied, at the Company’s
discretion, to purchase Notes through Market Purchases or Optional
Redemption transactions; and (B) after the Leverage Ratio has been
certified in accordance with paragraph (c) of Section 9.9 (Delivery
of
Financial Statements) a maximum of 50% of such Excess Cash shall
be used
entirely at the Company’s discretion, including, without limitation, for
the payment of dividends;
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provided
that
any
Excess Cash not applied pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b)(i)(A), (b)(ii)(A) or
(c)(A) above on or prior to any Mandatory Prepayment Date will be applied
pro
rata
to (i) a
Debt Prepayment (on a pro
rata
basis)
of Fixed Rate Par Notes and Floating Rate Par Notes no later than twenty (20)
days following the applicable Mandatory Prepayment Date, and (ii) subject to
compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations, a Discount Buyback
(as defined below). Upon expiration of the Discount Buyback, any remaining
Excess Cash will be used by the Company, (x) until such time as there are no
Fixed Rate Par Notes and Floating Rate Par Notes outstanding, to make a Debt
Prepayment of, at its discretion, Fixed Rate Par Notes or Floating Rate Par
Notes, and (y) thereafter, for any purpose (including for payment of dividends
or other cash distributions to its shareholders), at the Company’s discretion,
except that if on any Calculation Date:
(i)
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the
Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.5, then the Company will not be
entitled
to use Excess Cash for the payment of dividends or other cash
distributions to its shareholders;
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(ii)
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the
Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.5, but greater than 3.0.,
the
Company will be entitled to use up to 25% of Excess Cash for the
payment
of dividends or other cash distributions to its
shareholders;
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(iii)
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the
Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.0, but greater than 2.5,
the
Company will be entitled to use up to 50% of Excess Cash for the
payment
of dividends or other cash distributions to its shareholders;
and
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(iv)
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the
Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 2.5, the Company will not
be
restricted from using any and all Excess Cash for the payment of
dividends
or other cash distributions to its
shareholders;
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in
each
case, except for any dividend payments or other cash distributions to its
shareholders otherwise permitted pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 9.8
(Limitation on Restricted Payments).
All
Debt
Prepayments in respect of a given Series of Notes will be made in direct order
of maturity (i.e.,
such
principal payment will be considered a payment of the next principal installment
due, rather than being applied pro rata across all future
payments).
The
first
Calculation Date shall be the first June 30 or December 31 after the Issuance
Date.
Excess
Cash will be calculated in pesos based on the Company’s financial statements in
accordance with Argentine GAAP. For purposes of determining the amount of cash
to be applied by the Company pursuant to this provision, the Excess Cash will
be
converted into dollars using the Prevailing Exchange Rate as of the relevant
Calculation Date. To the extent that any authorization of the Central Bank
required to make any such payment is not obtained on or prior to the relevant
Mandatory Prepayment Date, the Company will deposit the Excess Cash to be
applied to Market Purchases, Optional Redemptions, Debt Prepayments or Discount
Buybacks, as applicable, as described above in a trust account, to be opened
and
maintained by the Trustee, on the Mandatory Prepayment Date, and such funds
will
be held by the trustee of such trust for the benefit of the Holders of the
Notes, until such payment can be made. Any investment income earned by the
trust
will be added to the Excess Cash amount payable to Holders of Notes. The Company
will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any required authorization
of
the Central Bank prior to each Mandatory Prepayment Date, and, if such approval
is not obtained prior to a Mandatory Prepayment Date, the Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such approval within 90 days after
such Mandatory Prepayment Date. In the event that the Company is unable to
receive the authorization of the Central Bank within such 90-day period, the
Company will, no later than 30 days after the end of such 90-day period, make
such payment by following the procedures as set forth under Section 1.19
(Foreign Exchange Restrictions).
64
Any
such
delay in payment shall not constitute an Event of Default, and no past due
interest will be payable to Holders of Notes in respect of any such amount.
At
the request of the Company, the trustee for the trust mentioned above will
apply
the funds held in the trust account to purchase U.S. Dollars and apply such
funds to scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes if permitted
by the Central Bank.
Discount
Buyback
means an
offer to repurchase Discount Notes, on a pro
rata
basis,
up to the amount of Excess Cash, at a price equal to 100% of the outstanding
principal amount thereof by sending, no later than twenty (20) days following
the applicable Mandatory Prepayment Date, by first-class mail, a notice to
each
Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, stating, among other things, the purchase
date (the Buyback
Purchase Date),
which
must be no earlier than 30 days from the date the notice is mailed.
On
the
Buyback Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:
(a)
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accept
for payment all Discount Notes or portions thereof properly tendered
free
and clear of any and all liens, restrictions, charges, pledges, security
interests, encumbrances or rights of any kind of third parties pursuant
to
the Discount Buyback; and
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(b)
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deposit
with the Trustee funds in an amount equal to the Discount Buyback
in
respect of all Discount Notes or portions thereof so
tendered.
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To
the
extent Holders of Discount Notes, that are the subject of a Discount Buyback
properly tender Discount Notes in an aggregate amount exceeding the amount
of
Excess Cash allocated to a Discount Buyback pursuant to the provisions of
Section 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment With Excess Cash), the Company will purchase
the Discount Notes on a pro
rata basis
(based on amounts tendered). If only a portion of a Discount Note is purchased
pursuant to a Discount Buyback, a new Discount Note in a principal amount equal
to the portion thereof not purchased will be issued in the name of the Holder
of
the Discount Note thereof upon cancellation of the original Discount Note (or
appropriate adjustments to the amount and beneficial interests in a Global
Note
will be made, as appropriate).
To
the
extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with
the provisions of Section 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment With Excess Cash) the
Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and
will
not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by doing
so.
9.2 Mandatory
Market Purchases upon Public Equity Offering
If
at any
time (i) the Company consummates a Public Equity Offering and (ii) the Leverage
Ratio immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro
forma
basis,
as certified by the Company’s auditors, is greater than 2.5, the Company shall
use 25% of the net cash proceeds from the sale of the base amount of offered
securities (not including any upsize or greenshoe) in such Public Equity
Offering (after payment of all expenses, commissions and the like incurred
in
connection therewith) to purchase Notes through Market Purchases within two
years after the consummation of such Public Equity Offering; provided
that
the
Company will have no obligation to purchase Notes at a price greater than the
face value of such Notes; provided
further
that,
during the two-year period following the consummation of the Public Equity
Offering, the Company shall maintain the proceeds to be used for the purchase
of
Notes through Market Purchases in a trust account to be opened and maintained
by
the Trustee and to be released only to purchase Notes in accordance with this
covenant.
9.3 Limitation
on Liens
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to
incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien upon its property, assets or
revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, securing any Indebtedness
of
any Person, unless the Notes are equally and ratably secured by such Liens,
other than the following (Permitted
Liens):
65
(a)
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Liens
for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims or fines
not yet
due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained
on the
books of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may
be, to
the extent required by Argentine
GAAP;
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(b)
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Liens
created by any Restricted Subsidiaries over their assets solely in
favor
of the Company or another Restricted
Subsidiary;
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(c)
|
deposits
to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory
obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other
obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of
business;
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(d)
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Liens
arising by reason of (1) any judgment, decree or order of any court,
so
long as such Lien is being contested in good faith and any appropriate
legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review
of
such judgment, decree or order shall not have been finally terminated
or
the period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not
have
expired; (2) any embargo
preventivo
or
any other interlocutory or temporary attachment order or measure
in
connection with an action or proceeding during the pendency of such
action
or proceeding; (3) security for payment of workers’ compensation or
other insurance or obligations arising from other social security
laws;
and (4) operation of law in favor of warehousemen, landlords, mechanics,
material men, laborers, employees or suppliers or other similar liens
imposed by law or by contract incurred in the ordinary course of
business
for sums which are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good
faith
by negotiations or by appropriate proceedings which suspend the collection
thereof, and, in each case, for which adequate reserves are maintained
on
the books of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may
be, to the extent required by Argentine
GAAP;
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(e)
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leases
or subleases granted to others, easements, rights of way, zoning
and
similar covenants and restrictions and other similar encumbrances
or title
defects, which do not materially detract from the value of the property
subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct
of the
business of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
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(f)
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Liens
on any property acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
as a
result of a Permitted Capital Expenditure and/or a Regulatory Capital
Expenditure which are created, incurred or assumed contemporaneously
with
such acquisition to secure or provide for the payment of all or any
part
of the purchase price of such property; provided
that
(i) such Lien is created and the Indebtedness secured thereby is
Incurred
within 90 days after that acquisition, and (ii) no such Lien shall
extend
to or cover any physical assets or equipment other than the physical
assets or equipment being acquired;
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(g)
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Liens
on property at the time the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
acquires such property, including any acquisition by means of a merger
or
consolidation of such Person with or into the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created in contemplation
of
such acquisition and do not extend to any other property of the Company
or
any Restricted Subsidiary existing immediately prior to such
acquisition;
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(h)
|
escrow
deposits, trusts or similar accounts created or established pursuant
to
this Indenture or for the payment of debt service obligations under
the
Notes;
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(i)
|
any
banker’s right of set-off arising from operation of law with respect to
deposits made in the ordinary course of business by the
Company;
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(j)
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Liens
securing obligations under Hedging
Contracts;
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(k)
|
any
interest or title of a lessor under any Capital
Lease;
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(l)
|
Liens
resulting from attachments or other proceedings initiated by any
Holder of
Outstanding Debt who elects not to participate in the Restructuring
in
respect of a claim for payment on such Outstanding
Debt;
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66
(m)
|
Liens
in existence on the Issuance Date and identified in Schedule A attached
hereto and any renewals or extensions thereof, so long as (A) such
renewal
or extension Lien does not extend to any property other than that
originally subject to the Liens being renewed or extended and (B)
the
principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien, if applicable,
is not increased;
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(n)
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Liens
to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness which is Incurred
to
refinance any Indebtedness which has been secured by a Lien permitted
under this Section 9.3; provided that such new Liens are not materially
more favorable to the lienholders with respect to such Liens than
the
Liens in respect of the Indebtedness being refinanced, and do not
extend
to any property or assets other than property or assets securing
the
Indebtedness refinanced by such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness;
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(o)
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Liens
required under this Indenture; and
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(p)
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Liens
created or established in order to comply with any applicable rule,
regulation, order, resolution, decree, directive or instruction of
any
federal, provincial or municipal government of Argentina, or any
agency or
instrumentality thereof, in connection with the conduct of a Permitted
Business;
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provided
that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, any Lien, of any nature or source, on the
concession granted pursuant to the Concession Agreement shall not be considered
a Permitted Lien.
9.4 Limitations
on Indebtedness
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
incur any Indebtedness, except for the following Indebtedness (Permitted
Indebtedness):
(a)
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Indebtedness
outstanding on the Issuance Date and identified in Schedule A attached
hereto;
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(b)
|
Indebtedness
Incurred pursuant to the Restructuring (including the Notes) other
than
any Notes issued pursuant to the Cash
Offer;
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(c)
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Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness;
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(d)
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Subordinated
Indebtedness;
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(e)
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Indebtedness
Incurred in any year for purposes of financing Permitted Capital
Expenditures or Regulatory Capital Expenditures in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed the amount of Permitted Capital Expenditures
that the
Company is permitted to make under this Indenture during such
year;
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(f)
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Indebtedness
in respect of Hedging Contracts;
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(g)
|
Indebtedness
with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and similar
obligations issued in the ordinary course of business and not supporting
Indebtedness, including performance bonds and letters of credit supporting
performance bonds;
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(h)
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Indebtedness
of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries owed to the
Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as such Indebtedness
continues to be owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and
which,
if the obligor is the Company and such Indebtedness is owed to such
Restricted Subsidiary, is subordinated in right of payment and priority
to
the Notes, pursuant to a Subordination Agreement;
and
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(i)
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Indebtedness
Incurred for general corporate purposes in an aggregate principal
amount
not to exceed U.S. $50 million (or its equivalent in other currencies)
at
any time outstanding.
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67
9.5 Limitations
on Asset Sales
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
make any Asset Sale (including a Major Asset Sale) unless:
(a) |
the
Asset Sale is for fair market value, as determined in good faith
by the
Board of Directors;
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(b) |
at
least 75% of the value of the consideration therefrom is in the form
of
Cash and Cash Equivalents; provided that (i) any non-cash consideration
received is for fair market value and (ii) the receipt of such non-cash
consideration is otherwise permitted under this Indenture;
and
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(c) |
immediately
before and immediately after giving effect to such Asset Sale, no
Default
or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.
|
Within
180 days after the receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds from an Asset Sale (other
than a Major Asset Sale or a Sale and Leaseback Transaction), the Company or
any
Restricted Subsidiary shall, at its election, apply the Net Cash Proceeds of
such Asset Sale to (i) purchase, prepay or redeem Notes through Market Purchases
or Optional Redemption transactions or through a Debt Prepayment of Fixed Rate
Par Notes or Floating Rate Par Notes or a Discount Buyback or (ii) (A) acquire
or commit to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of a Permitted
Business, or a majority of the Voting Stock of another Person that thereupon
becomes a Restricted Subsidiary engaged in a Permitted Business, or (B) make
or
commit to make Permitted Capital Expenditures or Regulatory Capital Expenditures
or otherwise acquire or commit to acquire assets that are to be used by the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a Permitted Business; provided
that, if
the Company receives Net Cash Proceeds from Asset Sales in an aggregate amount
in excess of U.S. $20 million in any fiscal year, the Company shall apply such
excess for the purposes set forth in clauses (i) provided that any Debt
Prepayment will be made on a pro
rata
basis
with a Discount Buyback) or (ii)(A) above; and provided,
further
that the
Company shall not make any Asset Sale of Receivables or Related Assets.
The
Company shall apply any Net Cash Proceeds of any Sale and Leaseback Transaction,
of the Company’s election, to purchase, prepay or redeem Notes through Market
Purchases or Optional Redemption transactions or through a Debt
Prepayment.
9.6 Limitation
on Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, enter into, renew or extend any transaction or
arrangement including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of property or
assets, or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate of the Company
(other than SACME) except upon terms not less favorable to the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary than those that could be obtained in a comparable
arm’s-length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company.
If any such transaction or series of related transactions has an aggregate
value
in excess of U.S. $10 million, prior to such transaction, the Company will
obtain a favorable written opinion from (i) the audit committee of the Company,
which committee shall include at least two independent members of the Board
of
Directors and (ii) at least one independent consultant that the terms of the
transaction are consistent with those that could be obtained in a comparable
arm’s-length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the
Company.
The
foregoing paragraphs do not apply to:
(a)
|
any
transaction between the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
or
between Restricted Subsidiaries of the
Company;
|
(b)
|
any
transaction or payment required pursuant to Argentine laws and regulations
to be made on terms different than in comparable arm’s-length
transactions;
|
68
(c)
|
any
payments made pursuant to the Technical Assistance Agreement, dated
September 15, 2005, between EDF and the Company, or pursuant to a
technical service or operating agreement with the then current strategic
operator on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the Issuance Date
(or
later, if the Company is required under any applicable rules or
regulations or by any relevant authorities to engage a strategic
operator
after such fifth anniversary); in an aggregate amount not to exceed
U.S. $2.0 million (or its equivalent in other currencies), net of
withholding taxes, in any fiscal year;
or
|
(d)
|
any
payments to EASA in an aggregate amount (including, but not limited
to,
withholding taxes, but net of value added taxes) not to exceed U.S.
$2.5
million (or its equivalent in other currencies) in any fiscal
year.
|
9.7 Limitation
on Capital Expenditures
The
Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to,
make any capital expenditure other than Permitted Capital Expenditures,
Regulatory Capital Expenditures and, to the extent permitted under (and funded
by) Section 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment With Excess Cash), and funded by Excess
Cash, Additional Capital Expenditures.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary may apply Net Cash
Proceeds from any Asset Sale (other than a Major Asset Sale) and any proceeds
from casualty events for capital expenditures in excess of Permitted Capital
Expenditures in accordance with the provisions set forth under Section 9.5
(Limitations on Asset Sales) without regard to this Section 9.7 and the
application of such amounts will not reduce the aggregate amount of Permitted
Capital Expenditures that may be made in any fiscal year under this
covenant.
9.8 Limitation
on Restricted Payments
The
Company will not and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, take any of the following actions (each, a
Restricted
Payment):
(a)
|
declare
or pay any dividend or return of capital or make any distribution
on or in
respect of Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
to
Holders of such Equity Interests other than (i) any dividends or
distributions in the form of Qualified Equity Interests of the Company,
(ii) dividends, distributions or returns of capital payable to the
Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) dividends, distributions or returns
of
capital made on a pro rata basis to the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries on the one hand, and minority Holders of Equity Interests
of
a Restricted Subsidiary on the other hand or (iv) any payments permitted
to be made pursuant to Section 9.6 (Limitation on Transactions with
Shareholders and Affiliates);
|
(b)
|
purchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests
of
the Company;
|
(c)
|
repay,
redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value,
or
make any payment on or with respect to, any Subordinated Indebtedness,
other than (i) scheduled payments of interest or principal (provided
no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing),
(ii)
any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and/or
any
Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) any payments permitted to be made
pursuant to Section 9.6 (Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders
and
Affiliates); or
|
(d)
|
make
any Investments (other than Permitted
Investments).
|
in
each
case other than as permitted pursuant to Section 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment
With
Excess Cash); provided
that the
Company will not pay any dividends or other cash distributions to its
shareholders (other than any payments to EASA permitted to be made under
paragraph (d) of Section 9.6 (Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders
and
Affiliates)) until the earlier of (i) the second anniversary of the Issuance
Date and (ii) December 31, 2008.
69
9.9 Delivery
of Financial Statements
The
Company will furnish to the Trustee:
(a) |
as
soon as available, but in any event within 120 days after the end
of each
fiscal year (December 31) of the Company, a copy of the consolidated
balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such year and the related
consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal
year,
audited by independent accountants selected by the Company and of
internationally recognized
standing;
|
(b) |
as
soon as available, but in any event within 75 days after the end
of each
of the first three fiscal quarters of the Company, a copy of the
unaudited
consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the end of each such
quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income
and
cash flows of the Company for such quarter and the portion of the
fiscal
year through such date;
|
(c) |
concurrently
with the delivery of the financial statements for each fiscal year
and the
second fiscal quarter of the Company referred to in clauses (a) and
(b),
respectively above, a
certificate of the Company’s independent accountants certifying the
calculation of the Leverage Ratio and Excess Cash; and
|
(d) |
concurrently
with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in clause
(a)
above, a certificate of the general manager or chief financial officer
of
the Company stating (i) whether, to the best of such officer’s knowledge,
anything came to his or her attention (except for the Restructuring)
to
cause him or her to believe that there existed on the date of such
statements a Default or an Event of Default, and if so, specifying
the
nature and period of existence
thereof.
|
All
of
the financial statements referred to in (a) and (b) above are to be complete
and
correct in all material respects, to be prepared in reasonable detail and in
accordance with Argentine GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods
reflected therein and to be delivered in both the English and Spanish
languages.
Delivery
of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational
purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports shall not constitute
constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from
information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of
its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively
on Officers’ Certificates).
9.10 Notices
of Default
The
Company will use reasonable efforts to notify the Trustee by facsimile or
electronic mail (receipt confirmed telephonically or by electronic mail or
electronic mail receipt) promptly after it becomes aware of the occurrence
of
any Event of Default, or any condition or event which with the giving of notice,
lapse of time or satisfaction of any other condition or any combination of
the
foregoing would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default. Each notice
given pursuant to this paragraph shall be accompanied by a certificate of an
Officer of the Company setting forth the details of the occurrence referred
to
therein and stating what action the Company proposes to take with respect
thereto.
9.11 Maintenance
of Notes Listing
The
Company will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain and maintain a listing
on
the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, the admission to trading on the Xxxxxxx
Abierto Electrónico S.A.,
a
listing on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the admission to trading on the
Euro MTF, the alternative market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. In the event
that the Notes are admitted to trading on Euro MTF, the Company will use
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such listing; provided
that
the
Company may terminate such listing and delist the Notes from Euro MTF if it
determines that the provisions of the European Transparency Obligations
Directive (2003/2004/COD) or other applicable legislation becomes unduly onerous
or burdensome, in which case the Company will use commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain an alternative admission to listing, trading and/or quotation
for the Notes by another listing authority, exchange and/or system within or
outside the European Union, as it may decide and to the extent
feasible.
70
9.12 Corporate
Existence
Except
as
otherwise permitted under this Indenture and referred to below under Section
9.19 (Limitations on Mergers, Consolidations, Sales and Conveyances), the
Company, at all times, will do all things necessary to preserve and keep in
full
force and effect its corporate existence and preserve and keep in full force
and
effect in all respects all material licenses and permits necessary to the proper
conduct of its business and its rights (charter and statutory) and franchises
and such rights and franchises of its Restricted Subsidiaries necessary to
the
proper conduct of the business of the Company and such Subsidiaries, as a
whole.
9.13 Conduct
of Business.
The
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not engage in any business other
than a Permitted Business.
9.14 Maintenance
of Properties
The
Company will cause all material tangible properties used in the conduct of
its
business or the business of any of its Significant Subsidiaries to be maintained
and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all
necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals,
replacements and improvements thereof, all as in the Company’s judgment may be
necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be
properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided,
however, that this covenant will not prevent the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such
properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business
and the business of its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and not adverse in any
material respect to the holders of the Notes.
9.15 Maintenance
of Insurance
The
Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain insurance
in
such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by electricity
transmission and distribution companies, subject to any applicable laws and
regulations of Argentina.
9.16 Payment
of Taxes and Other Claims
The
Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay or discharge
or
cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all
taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company
or its Subsidiaries; provided,
however,
that
neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will be required to pay or discharge
or
cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim which
is being contested in good faith and, if appropriate, by appropriate legal
proceedings and adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the
books of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, to the extent
required by Argentine GAAP.
9.17 Designation
of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
(a)
|
The
Company may designate any Subsidiary, including a newly acquired
or
created Subsidiary, to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary under this Indenture
if:
|
(i)
|
the
Restricted Subsidiary is not a Significant
Subsidiary;
|
(ii)
|
no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
at the
time of and after giving effect to such
designation;
|
(iii)
|
such
Subsidiary does not own any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary or hold any Indebtedness of, or any Lien on any property
of,
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and
|
71
(iv)
|
the
Subsidiary is not party to any transaction or arrangement with the
Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary that would not be permitted under Section
9.6
(Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders and
Affiliates).
|
If
the
Subsidiary being designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary is, at the time of
designation, a Restricted Subsidiary, the consequences set forth in paragraph
(c) apply. Once so designated, the Subsidiary will remain an Unrestricted
Subsidiary, subject to paragraph (b).
(b)
|
(i)
|
A
Subsidiary previously designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary which
fails to
meet the qualifications set forth in paragraph (a) above will be
deemed to
become at that time a Restricted Subsidiary, subject to the consequences
set forth in paragraph (d).
|
(ii)
|
The
Company may designate an Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted
Subsidiary if the designation would not cause a
Default
|
(c)
|
Upon
a Restricted Subsidiary becoming an Unrestricted
Subsidiary:
|
(i)
|
all
existing investments of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries
therein valued at the Company’s proportional share of the fair market
value of its assets less liabilities will be deemed made at that
time;
|
(ii)
|
all
existing Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary held
by it
will be deemed incurred at that time, and all Liens on property of
the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary held by it will be deemed incurred
at
that time,
|
(iii)
|
all
existing transactions between it and the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary will be deemed entered into at that time;
and
|
(iv)
|
it
will cease to be subject to the provisions of this Indenture and
the Notes
as a Restricted Subsidiary.
|
(d)
|
Upon
an Unrestricted Subsidiary becoming, or being deemed to become, a
Restricted Subsidiary:
|
(i)
|
all
of its Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock will be deemed incurred
at that
time for purposes of Section 9.4 (Limitations on
Indebtedness);
|
(ii)
|
Investments
therein previously charged under Section 9.8 (Limitation on Restricted
Payments), as adjusted to reflect any change in the Company’s proportional
share of the fair market value of its assets less liabilities, will
be
credited thereunder; and
|
(iii)
|
it
will thenceforward be subject to the provisions of this Indenture
and the
Notes as a Restricted Subsidiary.
|
Any
designation by the Company of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or
Unrestricted Subsidiary shall, unless so noted by the Company, be deemed to
include the designation of all of the Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary. Any
designation by the Company of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or
Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by delivering to the
Trustee a copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors giving effect to
the
designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the designation
complied with the foregoing provisions, not later than the next succeeding
delivery of financial statements as required under Section 9.9 (Delivery of
Financial Statements).
72
9.18 Limitation
of Applicability of Certain Covenants
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
to
comply with the covenants described above under the captions Sections 9.1
(Mandatory Prepayment With Excess Cash), 9.4 (Limitations on Indebtedness),
9.5
(Limitations on Asset Sales), 9.7 (Limitation on Capital Expenditures) and
9.8
(Limitation on Restricted Payments) (collectively, the Suspended
Covenants)
will be
suspended and cease to have any further effect during the period (the
Suspended
Period)
from
and after the first date that either (a) the Company attains from at least
one
of the Rating Agencies, a rating on its long-term debt denominated in currencies
other than pesos that is Investment Grade or (b) the Leverage Ratio (as
certified by the Company’s auditors) is equal to or lower than 2.5 and until, as
applicable, the date (the Reversion
Date)
on
which either (i) none of the Rating Agencies provide the Company’s non-peso
denominated long-term debt an Investment Grade rating or (ii) the Leverage
Ratio
is greater than 2.5. On the Reversion Date, the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries’ obligation to comply with the Suspended Covenants shall be
reinstated; provided,
however,
that the
Suspended Covenants will not be of any effect with regard to actions of the
Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries taken during the Suspension Period,
and
no Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred as a result of a failure
to
comply with the Suspended Covenants during the Suspension Period.
On
the
Reversion Date, all Indebtedness incurred while the Suspended Covenants were
suspended will be classified to have been incurred pursuant to one of the
paragraphs set forth in Section 9.4 (Limitations on Indebtedness) (to the extent
such Indebtedness would be permitted to be incurred thereunder as of the
Reversion Date and after giving effect to Indebtedness outstanding on the
Reversion Date). To the extent such Indebtedness would not be so permitted
to be
incurred pursuant to Section 9.4 (Limitations on Indebtedness) such Indebtedness
will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issuance Date, so that it is
classified as permitted under paragraph (a) of Section 9.4 (Limitation on
Indebtedness).
9.19 Limitations
on Mergers, Consolidations, Sales and Conveyances
The
Company will not enter into any merger, consolidation, spin-off or
reorganization with any Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving
or
continuing Person) or sell, assign, transfer or otherwise convey or dispose
of
all or substantially all of its and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ assets, taken
as a whole, whether by one transaction or a series of transactions, to any
Person unless:
(a)
|
the
surviving or transferee Person (if not the Company) is a sociedad
anónima organized
under the laws of Argentina;
|
(b)
|
the
surviving or transferee Person (if not the Company) shall have expressly
assumed, by a document executed and delivered to the Trustee in form
and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the obligations
of the Company under the Notes and this
Indenture;
|
(c)
|
immediately
after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions
on a
pro
forma basis,
(A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
and (B) the Leverage Ratio of the Company or such surviving entity
will be
equal to or lower than the Leverage Ratio of the Company immediately
prior
to such transaction, as certified by the Company’s
auditors;
|
(d)
|
the
rating of the Notes by any Rating Agency shall not have been downgraded
as
a result of such transaction or series of transactions within sixty
(60)
days of the public announcement of such transaction or series of
transactions; and
|
(e)
|
the
surviving or transferee Person shall have delivered to the Trustee
an
Officers’ Certificate stating that such merger, consolidation, sale,
assignment, transfer or other conveyance or disposition complies
with this
covenant and this Indenture.
|
Upon
the
occurrence of any of the transactions permitted by the preceding paragraph,
the
surviving or transferee Person (if not the Company) will succeed to and become
substituted for the Company, and may exercise every right and power of the
Company, with the same effect as if it had been named in the Notes and this
Indenture. Following such transaction, the Company will be released from its
liability as obligor on the Notes and under this Indenture.
In
the
event of any such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or disposition, the
Company, as the predecessor entity, may be dissolved, wound-up or liquidated
at
any time thereafter.
73
9.20 Payment
of Additional Amounts
Except
as
provided in the paragraph below, each payment by the Company in respect of
the
Notes shall, except as required by law, be made without withholding or deduction
for or on account of any Taxes imposed by Argentina or any political subdivision
or taxing authority thereof or therein (Argentine
Taxes).
If any
Argentine Taxes are required to be withheld or deducted from any such payment,
the Company shall pay such additional amounts (Additional
Amounts)
as may
be necessary to ensure that the net amount actually received by the Holder
after
such withholding or deduction is equal to the amount that the Holder would
have
received had no withholding or deduction been required, provided,
however
that no
such Additional Amounts shall be payable in respect of:
(a) |
any
Taxes that would not have been so imposed but for the presentation
by the
Holder of any such Note for payment on a date more than 30 days after
the
date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on
which
payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs
later;
|
(b) |
any
Taxes imposed by reason of the Holder’s failure to comply with the
provisions under Section 3.12 (Information From Holders of
Notes);
|
(c) |
any
Taxes imposed on a Holder by reason of any connection between the
Holder
and the taxing jurisdiction other than the mere acquisition, holding
or
disposition of such Notes, or the receipt of principal or interest
in
respect thereof;
|
(d) |
any
estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property tax
or any
similar tax, assessment or governmental
charge;
|
(e) |
any
Taxes that are payable otherwise than by withholding or deduction
from
payments on or in respect of the Notes;
or
|
(f) |
the
Personal Assets Tax under Argentine tax law, if the Company is compelled
by law to make any withholding or deduction for or on account of,
or is
obligated to act as “substitute obligor” for, such
tax.
|
In
no
event, shall the Company pay Additional Amounts with respect to any payment
under any Notes to any Holder thereof, to the extent any such Tax is required
to
be deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed, above the amount resulting from
the
grossed-up deduction or withholding that would be imposed on a Person set forth
in Section 93(c)(1) of the Argentine Income Tax Law or any amendment to such
section in effect at the time of such payment.
The
Company will also make such withholding or deduction compelled by applicable
law
and remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant authority in
accordance with applicable law.
The
Company will furnish to the Trustee, within 60 days after the date of receipt
of
written request from the Holders of the Notes through the Trustee, copies of
such receipts evidencing the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld in
such form as provided in the normal course by the taxing authority imposing
such
Taxes and as is reasonably available to the Company to the Trustee. The Trustee
will make such evidence available to the Holders of Notes upon
request.
The
Company covenants that if the Company or the Trustee or any Paying Agent is
required by law to make any deduction or withholding on payments of principal
of
or interest on the Notes for or on account of any Argentine tax, duty,
assessment or other governmental charge, the Company shall, at least 10 Business
Days prior to the first payment on which such deduction or withholding is
applicable, (and at least 10 Business Days prior to each succeeding payment
date
or any redemption date or maturity date if there has been any change with
respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officer’s Certificate)
deliver to the Trustee (with a copy to any other Paying Agent) an Officer’s
Certificate specifying the amount so required to be deducted or withheld and
certifying that the Company shall pay such deduction or
withholding.
74
The
Company hereby covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and each other Paying Agent)
for, and to hold the Trustee harmless against any loss, liability or expense
incurred without negligence or bad faith on the Trustee’s part arising out of
actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officer’s Certificate
furnished pursuant to this Section 9.20 or the failure of the Trustee to receive
on a timely basis such Officer’s Certificate or any information or documentation
requested by it or otherwise required by applicable laws or regulations to
be
obtained, furnished or filed in respect of any tax, duty, assessment or other
governmental charge pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section
9.20.
The
indemnification obligations of the Company under this Section 9.20 shall survive
the payment of the Notes, the termination of this Indenture and the resignation
or removal of the Trustee.
The
Company will pay any present or future stamp, or documentary taxes, that arise
in Argentina from the execution, delivery or registration of the Notes or any
other document or instrument referred to in the Notes.
If
any
Holder of Notes does not timely provide all or part of the information,
documents or evidence that may be required by the Company from time to time
under Section 3.12 (Information From Holders of Notes), the Company will not
pay
any Additional Amounts and will withhold or deduct the maximum amount that
may
be required by Argentine law in the absence of such information, documents
or
evidence. The Company will inform the Trustee in writing if the Company will
not
be obligated to pay any Additional Amounts in respect of any Holder pursuant
to
this paragraph.
9.21 Money
for Note Payments to be Held in Trust
If
the
Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before
each payment date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on
any
of the Notes, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons
entitled to such payment a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium,
if
any) or interest due until such sums shall he paid to such Persons or otherwise
disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its
action or failure so to act
Whenever
the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents, it will, prior to each payment
date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Notes, deposit
with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held
as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the
Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure
so to act. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due
if on
such date the Trustee or Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate
of
the Company) holds in accordance with this Indenture U.S. Dollars designated
for
and sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due and the Trustee or
the
Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money
to
the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
The
Company will cause each Paying Agent, other than the Trustee, to execute and
deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree
with
the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 9.21, that such Paying
Agent will:
(a) |
hold
all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium,
if
any) or interest, or any other amounts due on Notes, in trust for
the
benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be
paid to
such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein
provided;
|
(b) |
give
the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor
upon the Notes) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium,
if
any) or interest or any other amounts due on the Notes;
and
|
(c) |
at
any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written
request of the Trustee, immediately pay to the Trustee all sums so
held in
trust by such Paying Agent.
|
The
Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order
direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the
Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the
same
term as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying
Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying
Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such
money.
75
Any
money
deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or held by the Company, in
trust
for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any
Note which remains unclaimed for three years after such principal (and premium,
if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company
on
Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from
such
trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general
creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of
the
Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability
of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided,
however,
that
the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such
repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in
a
newspaper customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation
in the city of Buenos Aires, 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 publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining
will be repaid to the Company.
9.22 Ranking
of Notes
The
Company will ensure that its obligations under the Notes will at all times
constitute direct, unconditional and unsubordinated obligations of the Company
ranking at least pari
passu
in
priority of payment, in right of security upon liquidation and in all other
respects among themselves and with all other unsecured indebtedness of the
Company now or hereafter outstanding, except to the extent that such other
indebtedness may be preferred by mandatory provisions of applicable law or
subordinated by its terms.
ARTICLE
10. REDEMPTION
OF NOTES
10.1 Applicability
of Article
Redemption
of Notes, at the election of the Company or otherwise, as permitted or required
by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such
provision and this Article 10.
10.2 Redemption
at the Company’s Option
(a)
|
The
Company may redeem at any time and from time to time, any Fixed Rate
Par
Notes or Floating Rate Par Notes, in whole or in part, at its option,
without payment of any premium or penalty, at a redemption price
equal to
100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof (adjusted to take
into
account any prepayments or repurchases), together with accrued interest
and Additional Amounts, if any, to the date on which the redemption
is
made (a Par Optional
Redemption).
Notice of redemption will be given as described under Section 1.7
(Notice
to Holders) below not less than five Business Days prior to the date
fixed
for redemption with notice to the Trustee to be given 45 days prior
to the
date fixed for redemption.
|
(b)
|
The
Company may redeem, at any time and from time to time, any Discount
Notes,
in whole or in part, at its option, without payment of any penalty
at a
redemption price equal to the following redemption prices (expressed
as
percentages of the outstanding principal amount thereof (adjusted
to take
into account any prepayments or
repurchases)):
|
At
the end of year 1: 104.85%
|
At
the end of year 2: 110.73%
|
At
the end of year 3: 110.77%
|
At
the end of year 4: 110.10%
|
At
the end of year 5: 108.33%
|
At
the end of year 6: 106.34%
|
At
the end of year 7: 104.24%
|
At
the end of year 8: 101.94%
|
together
with accrued interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the date on which
the
redemption is made (a Discount Optional
Redemption,
and
together with a Par Optional Redemption, an Optional
Redemption).
76
(c)
|
Subject
to the foregoing, in the case of any Optional Redemption of less
than all
of any Series of Notes, Notes of such Series will be redeemed on
a pro
rata basis, or will be selected for redemption by the Trustee in
compliance with the requirements of the principal securities exchange,
if
any, on which such Notes are listed, by lot or by such other method
as the
Trustee in its sole discretion shall deem to be fair and appropriate.
If
any Series of Notes is to be redeemed only in part, the notice of
redemption relating to Notes of such Series shall state the portion
of the
principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes in principal amount
equal
to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the
Holder
thereof upon cancellation of the original Notes. Interest, if any,
will
cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption
on
the later of the redemption date or the date on which the relevant
redemption price is effectively paid to Holders of Notes or portions
thereof called.
|
10.3 Repurchase
at the Option of Holders Upon a Change of Control
If
a
Change of Control occurs, each Holder of the Notes will have the right to
require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to U.S. $1.00 or an
integral multiple of U.S. $1.00) of that Holder’s Notes pursuant to an offer
(the Change
of Control Offer)
made by
the Company on the terms set forth in this Indenture. In the Change of Control
Offer, the Company will offer to purchase such Holder’s Notes at a purchase
price in cash equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes
to
be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if
any,
on such Notes to be repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights
of Holders of such Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due
on
the relevant interest payment date (the Change
of Control Payment).
Within
30 days following a Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each
holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change
of
Control and offering to repurchase the applicable Notes on a date specified
in
the notice, which date will 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),
pursuant to the procedures required by this Indenture and described in such
Change of Control Offer Notice. To the extent that the provisions of any
securities laws or regulations to be issued in the future conflict with the
Change of Control provisions of this Indenture, the Company will make the Change
of Control Offer in accordance with the applicable provisions of the securities
laws and regulations (and the terms set forth herein that do not conflict with
such provisions) and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under
the Change of Control provisions of this Indenture by virtue of such
compliance.
On
the
Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent
lawful:
(a)
|
accept
for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant
to
the Change of Control Offer;
|
(b)
|
deposit
with the Trustee an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment
in
respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered;
and
|
(c)
|
deliver
or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted
together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal
amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the
Company.
|
The
Trustee will promptly deliver to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the
Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly
authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder
a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes
surrendered, if any. The Company will publicly announce the results of the
Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control
Payment Date.
The
Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change
of
Control if (1) 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 the
Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and
purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of
Control Offer, or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to this
Indenture as described under Section 10.2 (Redemption at the Company’s Option),
unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption
price.
77
10.4 Market
Purchases
The
Company may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes pursuant to Market
Purchases. Any Notes purchased by the Company pursuant to this Indenture shall
be surrendered within 10 days of purchase to the Trustee for
cancellation.
10.5 Selection
by Trustee of Notes to be Redeemed
If
less
than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select
the particular Notes or portions (equal to U.S. $1,000 or any integral multiple
thereof) as follows:
(a) |
if
the Notes are listed on one or more securities exchanges, in compliance
with the requirements, if any, of the principal securities exchange
on
which the Notes are listed (as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate
delivered by the Company to the Trustee);
or
|
(b) |
if
the Notes are not so listed or if such requirements are not so certified,
on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee deems
fair
and appropriate.
|
The
Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and each Registrar in writing of
the
Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Notes selected for partial
redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
For
all
purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all
provisions relating to the redemption of Notes shall relate, in the case of
any
Notes redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal
amount of such Notes which has been or is to be redeemed.
10.6 Notice
of Redemption
Notice
of
redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not
less
than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder
of
Notes to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Note Register. In
addition, the Company shall, at least 30 and not more than 60 days before the
Redemption Date, cause notice of such redemption to be published in the Daily
Bulletin of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange and a leading newspaper having
a
general circulation in Argentina (expected to be La
Nación)
and, so
long as the Notes are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules
of
such stock exchange so require, a newspaper having a general circulation in
Luxembourg (expected to be the d’Wort),
with a
copy to the Trustee. Notices of redemption may not be conditional.
All
notices of redemption shall identify the Note and state:
(a) |
the
Redemption Date;
|
(b) |
the
Redemption Price;
|
(c) |
a
brief statement setting forth the Company’s right to effect such
redemption and, if any conditions to such redemption apply, the Company’s
basis therefor;
|
(d) |
if
less than all the Notes then Outstanding are to be redeemed, the
identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any Notes,
the
principal amounts) of the particular Notes to be
redeemed;
|
(e) |
that
on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable
upon each such Note to be redeemed and that interest thereon will
cease to
accrue on and after said date; and
|
(f) |
unless
all of the Notes are Global Notes, the place or places where such
Notes
are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption
Price.
|
78
Notice
of
redemption of Notes to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be
given
by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at
the expense of the Company.
10.7 Deposit
of Redemption Price
On
or
before 12:00 noon, New York time, at least one Business Day prior to any
Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying
Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and
hold
in trust as provided in Section 9.20 (Payment of Additional Amounts)) an amount
of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the
Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on and
any
Additional Amounts, all the Notes which are to be redeemed on that
date.
10.8 Notes
Payable on Redemption Date
Notice
of
redemption having been given as aforesaid, the New Debt so to be redeemed shall,
on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price together
with accrued interests and Additional Amounts, if any therein specified, and
from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of
the
Redemption Price, accrued interest and any Additional Amounts) such Notes shall
cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Note for redemption in
accordance with said notice, such Note shall be paid by the Company at the
Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date and
any
Additional Amounts; provided,
however,
that
installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption
Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Notes or one or more Predecessor
Notes, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates
according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.6 (Payment of Interest;
Interest Rights Preserved) and to Lenders, if applicable.
If
any
Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for
redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest
from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Note.
10.9 Notes
Redeemed in Part
Any
Note
that is not a Global Note and that is to be redeemed only in part shall be
surrendered at an office or agency of the Company (with, if the Company or
the
Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer
in
form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder
thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such
Note without service charge, a new Note or Notes, of any authorized denomination
as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in
exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Note so surrendered.
If any Global Note is to be redeemed in part, the Paying Agent shall forward
such Global Note to the Trustee who shall make a notation on Schedule A thereof
to reduce the principal amount at maturity of such Global Note by an amount
equal to the redeemed portion of the Global Note, provided that the Global
Note
shall be in an authorized denomination.
10.10 Redemptions
and Purchases of the Notes
In
this
Indenture and the Notes, the Company’s obligations to prepay or repurchase the
Notes shall be construed to give effect to the Company’s concurrent obligation
to purchase or prepay the Notes and all other outstanding Notes of the Series
to
which the Notes relate, on a pro rata basis..
ARTICLE
11. DEFEASANCE
AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
11.1 Company’s
Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
The
Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, elect to have either
Section 11.2 (Defeasance and Discharge) or Section 11.3 (Covenant Defeasance)
applied to the Notes then Outstanding upon compliance with the conditions set
forth below in this Article 11.
79
11.2 Defeasance
and Discharge
Upon
the
Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 11.1 (Company’s Option to
Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance) applicable to this Section 11.2,
the
Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with
respect to any Series of Notes then Outstanding on the date the conditions
set
forth below are satisfied with respect to such Series of Notes (hereinafter,
“defeasance”).
For
this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have
paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Series of Notes
then Outstanding and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such
Series of Notes and this Indenture insofar as such Series of Notes are concerned
(and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper
instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following, which shall
survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(a) |
the
rights of Holders of such Series of Notes to receive, solely from
the
trust fund described in Section 11.4 (Conditions to Defeasance or
Covenant
Defeasance) and as more fully set forth in such Section 11.4 (Conditions
to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance), payments in respect of the
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts,
if
any, on such Series of Notes when such payments are
due;
|
(b) |
the
Company’s obligations with respect to such Series of Notes under Sections
3.4 (Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange Generally),
3.5
(Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes), 3.6 (Payment of Interest;
Interest Rights Preserved);
|
(c) |
the
rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder,
and
|
(d) |
this
Article 11.
|
Subject
to compliance with this Article 11, the Company may pursuant to Section 11.1
(Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance) elect to have
this Section 11.2 applied to the Notes then Outstanding notwithstanding its
prior election pursuant to Section 11.1 (Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance
or Covenant Defeasance) to have Section 11.3 (Covenant Defeasance) applied
to
the Notes then Outstanding.
11.3 Covenant
Defeasance
Upon
the
Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 11.1 (Company’s Option to
Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance) applicable to this
Section.
(a) |
the
Company shall be released from its obligations under Article 9
(Covenants); and
|
(b) |
the
occurrence of an event specified in Section 5.1(d) (Events of Default)
(with respect to Article 9) shall not be deemed to be an Event of
Default
on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied
(hereinafter, “covenant
defeasance”).
|
For
this
purpose, such covenant defeasance means that 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 section or clause, whether directly or indirectly by reason
of
any reference elsewhere herein to any such section or clause or by reason of
any
reference in any such section or clause to any other provision herein or in
any
other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be
unaffected thereby.
11.4 Conditions
to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
The
following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 11.2
(Defeasance and Discharge) or Section 11.3 (Covenant Defeasance) to the
Notes:
(a) |
The
Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited
with
the Trustee funds in trust, for the benefit of Holders of the respective
Series of Notes, cash in dollars or U.S. Government Obligations,
or a
combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a recognized firm
of
independent certified public accountants, to pay and discharge the
principal of and each installment of interest (and Additional Amounts)
on
such Notes on the stated maturity of such principal or installment
of
Interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such
Series
of Notes;
|
80
(b) |
in
the case of defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee
an
Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from,
or
there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service
a
ruling or (ii) since the date of this Indenture there has been a
change in
the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case
to the
effect that the Holders of the respective outstanding Notes will
not
recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax
purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and
will be
subject to United States federal income tax on the same amount, in
the
same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
such
deposit, defeasance and discharge had not
occurred;
|
(c) |
in
the case of covenant defeasance, the Company shall have delivered
to the
Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the
respective outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss
for
United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit
and
covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal
income
tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times
as would
have been the case if such deposit and or covenant defeasance had
not
occurred;
|
(d) |
no
Event of Default or event which with the giving of notice, lapse
of time
or satisfaction or any other condition or any combination of the
foregoing
would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
on
the date of such deposit or will occur as a result of such deposit
or,
insofar as Events of Defaults resulting from bankruptcy or insolvency
events are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the
121st
day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this
condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such
period);
|
(e) |
such
defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to
have a
conflicting interest as defined in this Indenture and for purposes
of the
Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the
Company;
|
(f) |
such
defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement
or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is
bound;
|
(g) |
the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate
stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either
defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, have been
complied
with and no violations under instruments or agreements governing
any other
outstanding Indebtedness of the Company would result as a consequence
of
such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may
be;
|
(h) |
the
Company has delivered to the Trustee, subject to certain exceptions
set
forth in this Indenture, an opinion of its Argentine counsel to the
effect
that after two years following the deposit, the trust funds deposited
in
accordance with Argentine law No. 24,441 will not be subject to the
effect
of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar
laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally under the laws of Argentina;
and
|
(i) |
the
Company shall have paid or duly provided for payment of all amounts
then
due to the Trustee pursuant to the terms of this
Indenture.
|
11.5 Deposited
Money and Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous
Provisions
Subject
to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.2 (Redemption at the
Company’s Option), all Dollars and Government Obligations (including the
proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee
(collectively, for purposes of this Section 11.5, the Trustee) pursuant to
Section 11.4 (Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance) in respect of
the
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 as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such
Notes, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and
premium, if any) and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other
funds except to the extent required by law.
81
The
Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge
imposed on or assessed against the Dollars or the Government Obligations
deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.4 (Conditions to Defeasance
or
Covenant Defeasance) 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 Notes.
Anything
in this Article 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver
or
pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any Dollars or
Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 11.4 (Conditions to
Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance) which, in the opinion of a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written
certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount
thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent
defeasance or covenant defeasance.
11.6 Reinstatement
If
the
Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with
Section 11.2 (Defeasance and Discharge) or Section 11.3 (Covenant Defeasance)
by
reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority
enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the
Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and
reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 11 until
such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money
in
accordance with Section 11.2 (Defeasance and Discharge) or Section 11.3
(Covenant Defeasance); provided,
however,
that if
the Company makes any payment of principal of (and 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 the Paying Agent.
ARTICLE
12. MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
12.1 No
Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators, Members, and
Stockholders
No
director, officer, employee, member of the Statutory Audit Committee,
incorporator, member or stockholder of the Company will have any liability
for
any obligations of the Company under the Notes or this Indenture, or for any
claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations. Each holder
of
the Notes by accepting such Notes waives and releases all such liability. The
waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
The
waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities
laws of the United States and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver
is
against public policy. In addition, the waiver may not be effective to waive
liabilities for any damage caused to Holders in violation of the Negotiable
Obligations Law.
12.2 Tax
Treatment.
The
Company agrees, and by acceptance of a beneficial ownership interest in the
Notes each Holder and each beneficial owner of the Notes will be deemed to
have
agreed, for United States federal income tax purposes (1) to treat the
Notes as indebtedness that is subject to Treasury Regulations section 1.1275-4
(the Contingent
Debt Regulations),
(2)
with respect to the Notes, to accrue interest with respect to the Notes as
original issue discount on a constant yield basis and (3) with respect to the
Notes, to be bound by the “comparable yield” and the “projected payment
schedule” within the meaning of the Contingent Debt Regulations, as determined
by the Company. A Holder or beneficial owner may obtain the issue price, amount
of original issue discount, issue date, yield to maturity, and, as applicable,
the comparable yield and projected payment schedule for the Notes by submitting
a written request for such information to the Company at the following address:
Azopardo 1025, City of Buenos Aires (C1107ADQ), Argentina, Attention: Chief
Financial Officer.
82
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly
executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
EMPRESA
DISTRIBUIDORA Y COMERCIALIZADORA NORTE S.A.
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
||
Title:
|
Director
de Finanzas y Control
|
|
THE
BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx-Coward
|
|
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx-Coward
|
||
Title:
|
Assistant
Vice President
|
|
BANCO
RÍO DE LA PLATA S.A., as representative of the Trustee in
Argentina
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
||
Title:
|
Gerente
Principal
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Nicolas Del Xxxxx
|
|
Xxxxxxx
Del Xxxxx
|
||
Title:
|
Gerente
Departamental
|
SCHEDULE
A
[See
Attached]
Schedule
A-1
EXHIBIT
A
[Form
of Face of Note]
[RESTRICTED
/ REGULATION S] [FIXED RATE PAR /
FLOATING
RATE PAR / DISCOUNT] NOTE
Empresa
Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A.
(incorporated
in the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with Limited Liability (sociedad
anónima)
under
the laws of the Republic of Argentina on July 21, 1992, for a term of duration
of 95 years, and registered with the Public Registry of Commerce on August
3,
1992 under No. 7,041, Book 111, Volume A of
Sociedades Anónimas
and with
principal offices at Xxxxxxxx 0000, Xxxx xx Xxxxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx)
Cusip
No.
[ ] ISIN
No.
[ ] No.
[ ]
U.S.
$[
]
Series:
[Fixed Rate Par] [Floating Rate Par] [Discount] Note for an aggregate principal
amount of U.S. $
(the
Notes)
[Legend
if the Note is a Restricted Note:
THE
NOTES
EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES
ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED
OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) (1) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER
REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF
RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR
THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING
WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(3) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), OR (4) PURSUANT TO AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED
STATES. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN IS HEREBY NOTIFIED
THAT THE TRANSFEROR OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A
THEREUNDER.
[Legend
if the Note is a Global Note:
THIS
NOTE
IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO
HEREINAFTER.
UNLESS
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE
COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND
ANY
CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER
NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT
IS
MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE
OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGESTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS
OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN
PART,
TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND
TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS
MADE
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO
ON
THE REVERSE HEREOF.]
Exhibit
A-1
[Legend
if the Note is a Certificated Note:
IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR SUCH
OPINIONS OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATES AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THE COMPANY MAY
REASONABLY REQUIRE IN FORM REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO IT AS PROVIDED FOR IN
THE
INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIED WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS
AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE INDENTURE.]
Empresa
Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A., a sociedad
anónima
duly
organized and existing under the laws of Argentina (herein called the
Company,
which
term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred
to),
for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or to its
registered assigns, the principal sum of U.S.
$[ ] or such lesser amount as
shall remain Outstanding after giving effect to any scheduled payment of
principal or any cancellation, redemption or prepayment of this Note in
accordance with the Indenture, and to pay interest thereon from
[ ] or
from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid
or
duly provided for, semi-annually on June 14 and December 14 in each
year, at the [Fixed Rate Par Notes] [Floating Rate Par Notes] [Discount Notes]
Interest Rate (as defined below), until the principal hereof is paid or made
available for payment and (to the extent that the payment of such interest
shall
be legally enforceable) at the rate of 2% per annum plus the applicable [Fixed
Rate Par Notes] [LIBOR plus the Floating Rate Par Notes] [Discount Notes]
Interest Rate on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue
installment of interest until paid. The interest so payable, and punctually
paid
or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such
Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more
Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date
for
such interest, which shall be the May 30 or November 30 (whether or not a
Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith
cease to be payable to the Holder on such Record Date and may either be paid
to
the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment
of
such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be
given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record
Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with
the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed,
and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully
provided in said Indenture.
Payments
of principal will be due and payable in semiannual installments on June 14
and
December 14 of each year in accordance with the amortization schedule set forth
below:
Exhibit
A-2
[If
Note
is a Fixed Rate Par Note, insert the following table:
Interest Payment Date
|
Fixed Rate Par Annual
Scheduled
Amortization*
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2015
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2015
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2016
|
25.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2016
|
25.00
|
%
|
(*) Annual
Scheduled Amortization based at all times on the original principal amount
of
the Fixed Rate Notes and is subject to adjustments to reflect Debt Prepayments
made in accordance with the Indenture.]
Exhibit
A-3
[If
Note
is a Floating Rate Par Note, insert the following table:
Interest
Payment Date
|
Floating
Rate Par
Annual
Scheduled
Amortization*
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2015
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2015
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2016
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2016
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2017
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2017
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2018
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2018
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2019
|
25.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2019
|
25.00
|
%
|
(*) Annual
Scheduled Amortization based at all times on the original principal amount
of
the Floating Rate Notes and is subject to adjustments to reflect Debt
Prepayments made in accordance with the Indenture.]
Exhibit
A-4
[If
Notes
are Discount Notes, insert the following table:
Interest
Payment Date
|
Discount
Rate Annual
Scheduled
Amortization*
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
0.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
2.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
5.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
30.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
30.00
|
%
|
(*)
Annual Scheduled Amortization based at all times on the original principal
amount of the Discount Notes and is subject to adjustments to reflect Debt
Prepayments made in accordance with the Indenture.]
Interest
on the Notes shall be computed based on a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The [Fixed Rate Par Notes] [Floating Rate Par Notes] [Discount Notes] Interest
Rate means, for any interest period ending on an Interest Payment Date, the
rate
set forth below opposite the year in which such Interest Payment Date
occurs:
Exhibit
A-5
[If
Note
is a Fixed Rate Par Note, insert the following table:
Interest Payment Date
|
Fixed Rate Par Applicable
Annual Interest Rate
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
3.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
3.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
4.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
4.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
5.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
5.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
6.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
6.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
8.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
8.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
9.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
9.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
9.50
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
9.50
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
10.00
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
10.00
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2015
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2015
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2016
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2016
|
10.0
|
%
|
Exhibit
A-6
[If
Note
is a Floating Rate Par Note, insert the following table:
Interest
Payment Date
|
Floating
Rate
Annual
Spread
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
0.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
0.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
0.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
0.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
1.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
1.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
1.5
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2015
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2015
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2016
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2016
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2017
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2017
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2018
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2018
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2019
|
2.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2019
|
2.0
|
%
|
Exhibit
A-7
[If
Notes
are Discount Notes, insert the following table:
Interest
Payment Date
|
Discount
Notes Interest Rate
|
|||
June
14, 2006
|
3.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2006
|
3.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2007
|
3.5
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2007
|
3.5
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2008
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2008
|
10.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2009
|
11.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2009
|
11.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2010
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2010
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2011
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2011
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2012
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2012
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2013
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2013
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
June
14, 2014
|
12.0
|
%
|
||
December
14, 2014
|
12.0
|
%
|
Payments
in respect of this Note will be made by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to the accounts specified by the Holder of this Note, or, if no account
is
specified, by mailing a check to each Holder’s address in the Registrar. All
such payments are subject to the provisions in Section 1.15 (Legal
Holidays) of the Indenture relating to legal holidays.
Reference
is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse
hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect
as
if set forth at this place.
Unless
the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee
referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not
be
entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any
purpose.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed.
Dated:
[
], 2006
By:
|
|||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
Member
of the Board of Directors
|
||
By:
|
|||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
Member
of the Statutory Audit Committee
|
Exhibit
A-8
CERTIFICATE
OF AUTHENTICATION
This
note
is one of the Notes of the Series designated herein and referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.
The
Bank
of New York,
AS
TRUSTEE
By:
|
||
(Authorized
Signatory Name)
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
Exhibit
A-9
[If
Note
is a Global Note, insert the following:
SCHEDULE
A
SCHEDULE
OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
The
initial principal amount at maturity of this Note shall be U.S.
$[ ]. The following decreases/increases in
the principal amount at maturity of this Note have been made:
Date of
Decrease/Increase
|
Decrease in Principal
Amount at Maturity
|
Increase in Principal
Amount at Maturity
|
Total Principal
Amount at Maturity
Following such
Decrease/Increase
|
Notation Made by or
on Behalf of Trustee
|
|||||
Exhibit
A-10
EXHIBIT
B
[Form
of Reverse of Note]
Reverse
of Note
1.
|
This
Note is a negotiable obligation under Argentine Law No. 23,576, as
amended (the Negotiable
Obligations Law).
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company
designated as its [Fixed Rate Par Notes] [Floating Rate Par Notes]
[Discount Notes] (herein called the Notes)
issued and to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of [ ], 2006
(herein
called the Indenture),
between the Company, The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein called
the
Trustee, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture)
and Banco Río de xx Xxxxx, X.X. (as representative of the Trustee in
Argentina, Registrar, Transfer and Paying Agent and herein called
the
Paying Agent, which term includes any successor paying agent under
the
Indenture) to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto
reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights,
limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company,
the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which
the
Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. References
to
Sections herein are references to Sections of the
Indenture.
|
2.
|
In
accordance with Section 10.2 (Redemption at the Company’s Option) of
the Indenture, at any time from time to time, the Company may, at
its
option, without payment of any premium or penalty, make an offer
to redeem
[For Fixed Rate Par Notes and Floating Rate Par Notes: any [Fixed
Rate Par
Notes] [Floating Rate Par Notes] then Outstanding at a redemption
price
equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof (adjusted
to
take into account any prepayments or repurchases) plus accrued but
unpaid
interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the date on which the
redemption is made] [For Discount Notes: any Discount Notes then
Outstanding at a redemption price equal to the following redemption
prices
(expressed as percentages of the outstanding principal amount thereof
(adjusted to take into account any prepayments or repurchases) plus
accrued but unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the
date on
which the redemption is made:
|
At
the end of year 1: 104.85%
|
At
the end of year 2: 110.73%
|
At
the end of year 3: 110.77%
|
At
the end of year 4: 110.10%
|
At
the end of year 5: 108.33%
|
At
the end of year 6: 106.34%
|
At
the end of year 7: 104.24%
|
At
the end of year 8: 101.94%
|
3.
|
In
the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or
Notes for
the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder
hereof upon the cancellation
hereof.
|
4.
|
In
accordance with Section 10.3 (Repurchase at the Option of Holders
Upon a Change of Control) of the Indenture, if a Change of Control
occurs,
each Holder of the Notes will have the right to require the Company
to
repurchase all or any part (equal to U.S. $1.00 or an integral multiple
of
U.S. $1.00) of that Holder’s Notes pursuant to an offer (the Change
of Control Offer)
made by the Company on the terms set forth in the Indenture. In the
Change
of Control Offer, the Company will offer to purchase such Holder’s Notes
at a purchase price in cash equal to 100% of the aggregate principal
amount of such Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest
and Additional Amounts, if any, on such Notes to be repurchased to
the
date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders of such Notes
on the
relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest
payment date (the Change
of Control Payment).
Within 30 days following a Change of Control, the Company will mail
a
notice to each holder describing the transaction or transactions
that
constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase the applicable
Notes on a date specified in the notice, which date will 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), pursuant to the procedures
required
by the Indenture and described in such Change of Control Offer Notice.
To
the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations
to be
issued in the future conflict with the Change of Control provisions
of the
Indenture, the Company will make the Change of Control Offer in accordance
with the applicable provisions of the securities laws and regulations
(and
the terms set forth herein that do not conflict with such provisions)
and
will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change
of
Control provisions of the Indenture by virtue of such
compliance.
|
Exhibit
B-1
On
the
Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent
lawful:
(a)
|
accept
for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant
to
the Change of Control Offer;
|
(b)
|
deposit
with the Trustee an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment
in
respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered;
and
|
(c)
|
deliver
or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted
together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal
amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the
Company.
|
5.
|
The
Trustee will promptly deliver to each Holder of Notes properly tendered
the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will
promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book
entry)
to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased
portion of the Notes surrendered, if any. The Company will publicly
announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon
as
practicable after the Change of Control Payment
Date.
|
6.
|
The
Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon
a
Change of Control if (1) 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 the Indenture applicable to a Change of
Control
Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered
and
not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, or (2) notice of
redemption has been given pursuant to the Indenture as described
under
Section 10.2 (Redemption at the Company’s Option) of the Indenture, unless
and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption
price.
|
7.
|
The
Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (i) the
entire indebtedness of this Note or (ii) certain covenants and Events
of Default with respect to this Note, in each case upon compliance
with
certain conditions set forth
therein.
|
8.
|
The
Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations
of
the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes under the
Indenture
at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the
Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Series of Notes
or the
Notes of any affected Series, as the case may be, then Outstanding.
The
Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified
percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time
Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes, to waive
compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture
and
certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.
Any such
consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive
and
binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note
and of
any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange
herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent
or
waiver is made upon this Note.
|
9.
|
No
reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the
Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which
is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium,
if any)
and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the
coin or
currency, herein prescribed.
|
Exhibit
B-2
10.
|
As
provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set
forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Note Register,
upon
surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office
of the
Registrar, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument
of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly
executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in
writing,
and thereupon one or more new Notes executed by the Company and
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, of authorized denominations
and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the
designated transferee or
transferees.
|
11.
|
The
Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in
denominations of U.S. $1.00 and any integral multiple thereof. As
provided
in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth,
Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes
of a
different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering
the same.
|
12.
|
No
service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange
of Notes, but the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent may require
(i)
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge
that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer
or
exchange of Notes, other than exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.3
(Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating), 3.4 (Registration,
Registration of Transfer and Exchange Generally), 8.5 (Conformity
with
Trust Indenture Act and the Negotiable Obligations Law) or 10.10
(Redemptions and Purchases of Notes) of the Indenture not involving
any
transfer and (ii) appropriate endorsements and transfer
documents.
|
13.
|
Prior
to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the
Company,
the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the
Person in whose name this Note is registered in the Notes Register
as the
owner of this Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal
of
(and premium, if any) and, subject to Section 3.4 (Registration,
Registration of Transfer and Exchange Generally) of the Indenture,
interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether
or
not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor
any
agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to
the
contrary.
|
14.
|
All
terms used in this Note that are defined in the Indenture shall have
the
meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture.
|
15.
|
THE
NEGOTIABLE OBLIGATIONS LAW GOVERNS THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS
NOTE TO
QUALIFY AS AN “OBLIGACIÓN NEGOCIABLE” THEREUNDER WHILE SUCH LAW, TOGETHER
WITH ARGENTINE LAW NO. 19,550, AS AMENDED AND OTHER ARGENTINE LAWS
AND REGULATIONS, GOVERN THE CAPACITY AND CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION
OF THE
COMPANY TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER THIS NOTE AND THE INDENTURE AND THE
AUTHORIZATION OF THE CNV FOR THE PUBLIC OFFERING OF THIS NOTE IN
ARGENTINA. AS TO ALL OTHER MATTERS, THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL
BE
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW
YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
|
16.
|
Each
of the following events with respect to any series of Notes shall
be an
event of default (Events
of Default)
in connection with such series of
Notes:
|
(a)
|
default
in the payment of any principal, interest or Additional Amounts,
if
applicable, of any of the Notes of such Series when the same shall
become
due and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration,
by
prepayment or otherwise and such default continues for five calendar
days;
provided, however, that any failure to make any principal payment
under
circumstances provided for, and in compliance with, Section 5.16
(Adverse
Event) of the Indenture shall not constitute an Event of Default;
or
|
(b)
|
any
failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.19 (Limitations
on
Mergers, Consolidations, Sales and Conveyances) of the Indenture;
or
|
Exhibit
B-3
(c)
|
any
failure on the part of the Company to duly observe or perform any
of the
covenants or agreements of the Company under the Indenture (other
than
those referred to in (a) and (b) above) for a period of more than
30
calendar days after the date on which written notice thereof requiring
the
Company to remedy the same shall have been given to the Company by
the
Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount
Outstanding of the relevant Series of Notes;
or
|
(d)
|
there
occurs with respect to any Indebtedness (including any other Series
of
Notes but excluding any Outstanding Debt) of the Company or its Restricted
Subsidiaries having a principal amount of U.S. $30 million (or its
equivalent in other currencies) or more in the aggregate for all
such
Indebtedness of all such Persons (i) an event of default that results
in
the acceleration of the maturity of such Indebtedness or (ii) failure
to
make a principal payment when due and such defaulted payment is not
made,
waived or extended within the applicable grace period;
or
|
(e)
|
there
shall have been a revocation, cancellation, termination or suspension
for
more than twenty (20) consecutive days of the Concession Agreement;
or
|
(f)
|
there
shall have been entered against the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries a final judgment, decree or order by a court of competent
jurisdiction from which no appeal may be taken or, within the applicable
period to appeal, is taken for the payment of money, or the forfeiture
of
property with an aggregate value in excess of U.S. $30 million (or
its
equivalent in other currencies) and 60 calendar days shall have passed
since the entry of the order without it being satisfied, discharged
or
stayed (a Judgment),
provided
that
this clause (f) shall not apply to any Judgment relating to Outstanding
Debt; or
|
(g)
|
a
distress, attachment, execution, seizure before judgment or other
legal or
extrajudicial process is levied, enforced or sued out on or against
any
part of the property, assets or revenues of the Company or any of
its
Restricted Subsidiaries, which, if executed or consummated, would
have a
material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to make scheduled
principal and interest payments on the Notes, unless (a) such distress,
attachment, execution, seizure before judgment or other legal or
extrajudicial process is discharged or stayed within 90 days of notice
to
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, or
(b) if
such distress, attachment, execution, seizure before judgment or
legal or
extrajudicial process shall not have been discharged or stayed within
such
90-day period, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the
case may
be, shall have contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
such
distress, attachment, execution, seizure before judgment or legal
process;
provided
that
if such distress, attachment, execution, seizure before judgment
or legal
process shall not have been discharged or stayed within 365 days
of notice
to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be,
the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary shall have posted a bond or
other
appropriate collateral which shall have substituted such distress,
attachment, execution, seizure before judgment or other legal or
extrajudicial process within such time
period;
|
(h)
|
the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant
Subsidiary shall, after the Issuance
Date:
|
(i)
|
make
a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors,
|
(ii)
|
be
adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent,
or
|
Exhibit
B-4
(iii)
|
(A)
file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or a petition or an answer
seeking
reorganization or an arrangement with creditors pursuant to a
“concurso
preventivo de acreedores,”
(B) other than in connection with the Restructuring, seek approval
of its
creditors for an “acuerdo
preventivo extrajudicial”
through any means, including the distribution of an offering circular
or
similar disclosure materials to creditors in connection with such
“acuerdo
preventivo extrajudicial,” (C) other than in connection with the
Restructuring, file for court endorsement of an “acuerdo preventivo
extrajudicial,” (D) apply for or consent to the appointment (in a similar
court proceeding) of a receiver, trustee, liquidator or the like
for
itself or its property or (E) other than in connection with the
Restructuring, make a similar court filing seeking to take advantage
of
any applicable Insolvency Law;
|
(i)
|
after
the Issuance Date and without its application, approval or consent,
a
proceeding shall be instituted in any court of competent jurisdiction,
seeking in respect of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
that is a Significant Subsidiary adjudication in bankruptcy,
reorganization, dissolution, winding up, liquidation, a composition
or
arrangement with creditors (other than in connection with the
Restructuring), the appointment of a trustee, a receiver, liquidator
or
the like of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that
is a
Significant Subsidiary or of all of the assets thereof or other like
relief in respect of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
that is a Significant Subsidiary under any applicable bankruptcy
or
Insolvency Law, and either:
|
(i)
|
such
proceeding shall not be actively contested by the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary in good faith,
or
|
(ii)
|
any
order, judgment or decree shall be entered by any court of competent
jurisdiction to effect any of the
foregoing;
|
(j)
|
any
condemnation, seizure, compulsory purchase or expropriation, or taking
into custody or control, by any governmental authority or agency
of assets
or share capital of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries which,
in
the aggregate, would be likely to have a material adverse effect
upon the
business and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or
|
(k)
|
a
general moratorium shall be agreed or declared in respect of the
payment
or performance of the obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries that is a Significant
Subsidiary.
|
17.
|
If
an Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing with respect
to
the Fixed Rate Par Notes, Floating Rate Par Notes or the Discount
Notes,
respectively, the Trustee may and, at the written direction or request
of
the Holders of not less than 25% of the then Outstanding aggregate
principal amount of the Fixed Rate Par Notes, the Floating Rate Par
Notes
or the Discount Notes, respectively, shall, by notice in writing
to the
Company declare the principal amount of, and interest accrued on
all such
Fixed Rate Par Notes, Floating Rate Par Notes or Discount Notes,
respectively, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such
declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and
payable
upon the date that such written notice is received by or on behalf
of the
Company.
|
18.
|
After
a declaration of acceleration of the Fixed Rate Par Notes, the Floating
Rate Par Notes or the Discount Notes, respectively, but before a
judgment
or decree of the money due to respect of such Fixed Rate Par Notes,
Floating Rate Par Notes or Discount Notes has been obtained, the
Holders
of not less than a majority of the then Outstanding aggregate principal
amount of the Fixed Rate Par Notes, the Floating Rate Par Notes or
the
Discount Notes, respectively, may rescind by written notice to the
Trustee
an acceleration and its consequences if (i) all existing Events of
Default (other than the nonpayment of principal and interest and
any
Additional Amounts on such Fixed Rate Par Notes, Floating Rate Par
Notes
or Discount Notes, respectively, which have become due solely by
virtue of
such acceleration) have been cured or waived and (ii) if the
rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree. No such
rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair
any
right consequent thereto.
|
Exhibit
B-5
For
purposes of the provisions of “Events of Default” in paragraph 16, the Fixed
Rate Par Notes and the Floating Rate Par Notes will be deemed to constitute
a
single Series of Notes, and the Fixed Rate Par Notes and Floating Rate Par
Notes
will be aggregated for the quorums and majorities specified above in paragraphs
17 and 18.
19.
|
The
Company covenants that if:
|
(a)
|
a
default occurs in the payment of interest on any Note when such interest
becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of
30
days; or
|
(b)
|
a
default occurs in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if
any, on)
any Note at the Maturity thereof,
|
the
Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit
of
the Holders of this Note, (i) the aggregate amount then due and payable on
this
Note for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, (ii) to the extent that
payment of default interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any
overdue principal (and premium, if any) and interest, at the default interest
rate applicable to this Note, and (iii) such further amounts 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.
20.
|
If
the Company fails to pay such amounts immediately upon demand, the
Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may
institute
a judicial proceeding for the collection of the amounts so due and
unpaid,
may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may
enforce
the same against the Company or any other successor obligor of this
Note
and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner
provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor
of
the Notes, wherever situated.
|
21.
|
If
an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may, in
its
discretion, proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights
of
the Holders by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee
shall
deem most effective to protect and enforce any such rights, whether
for
the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in the Indenture
or
in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce
any
other proper remedy.
|
22.
|
The
Trustee shall not be bound to institute any proceedings or take any
other
actions described in the two preceding paragraphs unless (a) it shall
have been so directed by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of a Series of Notes then Outstanding pursuant (and subject)
to
Section 5.12 (Control by Holders) of the Indenture and (b) it
shall have received an indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs,
expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such
direction.
|
23.
|
In
case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other
obligor upon the Notes), its property or its creditors, the Trustee
shall
be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust
Indenture Act, the Negotiable Obligations Law and Law 24,522, as
amended,
in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in
any such
proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect
and
receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any
such
claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee,
trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any
such
judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such
payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall
consent
to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to
the
Trustee any amount due 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 6.7 (Compensation and
Reimbursement) of the Indenture.
|
24.
|
No
provision of the Indenture 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 thereof or to authorize the
Trustee
to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such
proceeding.
|
Exhibit
B-6
25.
|
All
rights of action and claims under the Indenture or the Notes may
be
prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of
any of
the Notes or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto,
and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought
in its
own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment
shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and
counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes in
respect
of which such judgment has been
recovered.
|
26.
|
No
Holder of any Note will have any right by virtue of or by availing
itself
of any provision of the Indenture or the Notes to institute any suit,
action or proceeding in equity or at law, or otherwise, upon or under
or
with respect to the Indenture, or the Notes, or for any remedy thereunder,
unless:
|
(a)
|
such
Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written Notice
of
Default and of the continuance
thereof,
|
(b)
|
the
Holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of
the
Notes then Outstanding of the affected Series of Notes shall have
made
written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings
in its own name as Trustee under the Indenture and shall have offered
to
the Trustee an indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses
and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby,
and
|
(c)
|
the
Trustee for 30 days after its receipt of such notice, request and
offer of
indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action or proceeding
and
no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been
given
to the Trustee pursuant to the
Indenture.
|
27.
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision in the Indenture and any provision of this Note,
the
right of any Holder of any Note of any Series to receive payment
of the
principal of and interest on this Note (including Additional Amounts)
on
or after the respective due dates expressed in this Note, or to institute
suit (including any “acción
ejecutiva individual”
pursuant to Article 29 of the Negotiable Obligations Law) for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates,
shall
not be impaired or affected without the prior consent of such Holder.
To
that effect, any beneficial owner of Global Notes will have the right
to
obtain evidence of its beneficial ownership interest in a Global
Note in
accordance with Argentine Decree 677/01, as amended (including for
initiating summary proceedings (acción
ejecutiva)
in the manner provided by the Negotiable Obligations Law), and for
such
purposes, such beneficial owner will be treated as the owner of that
portion of the Global Note which represents its beneficial ownership
interest therein.
|
28.
|
If
the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce
any
right or remedy under the Indenture and such proceeding has been
discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined
adversely
to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such ease, subject
to
any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and
the
Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former
positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the
Trustee
and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been
instituted.
|
29.
|
Except
as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment
of
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in the last paragraph
of
Section 3.6 (Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved) of the
Indenture, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to
the
Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other
right
or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted
by
law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy
given
hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.
The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or
otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment
of any
other appropriate right or remedy.
|
Exhibit
B-7
30.
|
No
delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to
exercise
any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair
any
such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of
Default
or an acquiescence therein.
|
31.
|
The
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding
shall, upon offering to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it,
have the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or
power
conferred on the Trustee, provided
that:
|
(a)
|
such
direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the
Indenture or shall not be adverse in any material respect to the
Trustee;
and
|
(b)
|
the
Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which
is
not inconsistent with such direction;
and
|
(c)
|
such
right shall not impair the right of any individual Holder to file
suits
against the Company in accordance with Article 29 of the Negotiable
Obligations Law.
|
32.
|
Subject
to Section 5.2 (Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment)
of the Indenture, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal
amount of the Notes then Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders
of all
the Notes waive any past Default hereunder and its consequences,
except a
Default:
|
(a)
|
in
the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
on any
Note; or
|
(b)
|
in
respect of a covenant or provision which under Section 8.2
(Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders) of the Indenture
cannot
be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each
Note
affected.
|
33.
|
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 the Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent
thereon.
|
34.
|
In
any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under the Indenture,
or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered
or
omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant
in such
suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may
assess
costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent
provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided
that neither this paragraph nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be
deemed to
authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such
an
assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or the
Trustee.
|
35.
|
To
the extent that the Company or any of its revenues, assets or properties
shall be entitled, with respect to any Related Proceeding any time
brought
against the Company or any of its revenues, assets or properties
in the
courts identified above, to any immunity from suit, from the jurisdiction
of any such court, from attachment prior to judgment, from attachment
in
aid of execution of judgment, from execution of a judgment or from
any
other legal or judicial process or remedy, and to the extent that
in any
such jurisdiction there shall be attributed such an immunity, the
Company
has irrevocably agreed not to claim and has irrevocably waived such
immunity to the fullest extent permitted by law (including, without
limitation, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 of the United
States). The Company has agreed that final judgment in any such suit,
action or proceeding brought in such a court will be conclusive and
binding on it and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction
of
which the Company is subject by a suit upon such judgment; provided
that service of process if effected upon the Company in the manner
specified above or as otherwise permitted by
law.
|
36.
|
Upon
the occurrence of an Adverse Cash Flow Event or an Adverse Devaluation
Event, the Company may, at its option, elect to defer, reschedule
and
capitalize up to one year of principal amortization payments and
one year
of interest payments on any or all Series of Notes by written notice
to
the Trustee on or prior to the date such payment is due. In such
event,
the relevant principal and interest payments deferred shall be rescheduled
and capitalized over the remaining scheduled principal payments on
such
Series of Notes in proportion to the remaining amortization schedule
of
such Series of Notes.
|
Exhibit
B-8
37.
|
The
Company may invoke the option contained in paragraph 36 no more than
once
in respect of an Adverse Cash Flow Event and no more than once in
respect
of an Adverse Devaluation Event during the term of the Notes and
will be
obligated to resume payments no later than the third Interest Payment
Date
after the option in paragraph 36 is
exercised.
|
38.
|
During
an Adverse Event Period, (i) any obligation to make payments pursuant
to
Section 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment With Excess Cash) of the Indenture
will
be suspended, (ii) the Company will not make any Market Purchases
of Notes
and (iii) the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will continue
to
comply with Article 9 (subject to clause (i) above), except that
the
Company will not pay any cash dividends or make any cash distributions
to
its shareholders that it would otherwise be permitted to pay or make
under
the Indenture and clauses (a)(iv), (c)(i) and, in respect of the
Company
only, (c)(ii) of Section 9.8 (Limitation on Restricted Payments)
of the
Indenture will not apply, except for payments to EASA in an aggregate
amount (including, but not limited to, withholding taxes, but net
of value
added taxes) not to exceed U.S. $0.2 million, in any fiscal year,
and (B)
paragraph (c) (but only if the Adverse Event occurs after the fifth
anniversary of the Issuance Date and the Company is not otherwise
required
under any applicable rules or regulations or by any relevant authorities
to maintain a strategic operator) and (d) of Section 9.6 (Limitation
on
Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates) of the Indenture will
not
apply, except for payments to EASA in an aggregate amount (including,
but
not limited to, withholding taxes, but net of value added taxes)
not to
exceed U.S. $0.2 million in any fiscal
year.
|
39.
|
If
on any June 30 or December 31 (each, a Calculation
Date)
after the Issuance Date and in each case no later than the next Interest
Payment Date following such Calculation Date (a Mandatory
Prepayment Date):
|
(a)
|
the
Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.5, then any Excess Cash shall be
applied,
at the Company’s discretion, to purchase Notes through Market Purchases or
Optional Redemption transactions;
|
(b)
|
the
Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.5, but greater than 3.0,
the
Company will apply any Excess Cash as follows, at its
discretion:
|
(i)
|
(A)
a minimum of 50% of such Excess Cash shall be applied, at the Company’s
discretion, to purchase Notes through Market Purchases or Optional
Redemption transactions; and (B) after the Leverage Ratio has been
certified in accordance with paragraph (c) of Section 9.9 (Delivery
of
Financial Statements) of the Indenture a maximum of 50% of such Excess
Cash shall be applied to or committed for Capital Expenditures;
or
|
(ii)
|
(A)
a minimum of 75% of such Excess Cash shall be applied, at the Company’s
discretion, to purchase Notes through Market Purchases or Optional
Redemption transactions; and (B) after the Leverage Ratio has been
certified in accordance with paragraph (c) of Section 9.9 (Delivery
of
Financial Statements) of the Indenture a maximum of 25% of such Excess
Cash shall be used entirely at the Company’s discretion, including,
without limitation, for the payment of dividends;
or
|
(c)
|
the
Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.0, but greater than 2.5,
(A) a
minimum of 50% of such Excess Cash, shall be applied, at the Company’s
discretion, to purchase Notes through Market Purchases or Optional
Redemption transactions; and (B) after the Leverage Ratio has been
certified in accordance with paragraph (c) of Section 9.9 (Delivery
of
Financial Statements) of the Indenture a maximum of 50% of such Excess
Cash shall be used entirely at the Company’s discretion, including,
without limitation, for the payment of
dividends;
|
Exhibit
B-9
provided
that any Excess Cash not applied pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b)(i)(A),
(b)(ii)(A) or (c)(A) above on or prior to any Mandatory Prepayment
Date
will be applied pro rata to (i) a Debt Prepayment (on a pro rata
basis) of
Fixed Rate Par Notes and Floating Rate Par Notes no later than twenty
(20)
days following the applicable Mandatory Prepayment Date, and (ii)
subject
to compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations, a
Discount
Buyback (as defined below). Upon expiration of the Discount Buyback,
any
remaining Excess Cash will be used by the Company, (x) until such
time as
there are no Fixed Rate Par Notes and Floating Rate Par Notes outstanding,
to make a Debt Prepayment of, at its discretion, Fixed Rate Par Notes
or
Floating Rate Par Notes, and (y) thereafter, for any purpose (including
for payment of dividends or other cash distributions to its shareholders),
at the Company’s discretion, except that if on any Calculation
Date:
|
(a)
|
the
Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.5, then the Company will not be
entitled
to use Excess Cash for the payment of dividends or other cash
distributions to its shareholders;
|
(b)
|
the
Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.5, but greater than 3.0.,
the
Company will be entitled to use up to 25% of Excess Cash for the
payment
of dividends or other cash distributions to its
shareholders;
|
(c)
|
the
Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.0, but greater than 2.5,
the
Company will be entitled to use up to 50% of Excess Cash for the
payment
of dividends or other cash distributions to its shareholders;
and
|
(d)
|
the
Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 2.5, the Company will not
be
restricted from using any and all Excess Cash for the payment of
dividends
or other cash distributions to its
shareholders;
|
in
each
case, except for any dividend payments or other cash distributions to its
shareholders otherwise permitted pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 9.8
(Limitation on Restricted Payments) of the Indenture.
40.
|
All
Debt Prepayments in respect of a given Series of Notes will be made
in
direct order of maturity (i.e., such principal payment will be considered
a payment of the next principal installment due, rather than being
applied
pro rata across all future
payments).
|
41.
|
The
first Calculation Date shall be the first June 30 or December 31
after the
Issuance Date.
|
42.
|
Excess
Cash will be calculated in pesos based on the Company’s financial
statements in accordance with Argentine GAAP. For purposes of determining
the amount of cash to be applied by the Company pursuant to this
provision, the Excess Cash will be converted into dollars using the
Prevailing Exchange Rate as of the relevant Calculation Date. To
the
extent that any authorization of the Central Bank required to make
any
such payment is not obtained on or prior to the relevant Mandatory
Prepayment Date, the Company will deposit the Excess Cash to be applied
to
Market Purchases, Optional Redemptions, Debt Prepayments or Discount
Buybacks, as applicable, as described above in a trust account, to
be
opened and maintained by the Trustee, on the Mandatory Prepayment
Date,
and such funds will be held by the trustee of such trust for the
benefit
of the Holders of the Notes, until such payment can be made. Any
investment income earned by the trust will be added to the Excess
Cash
amount payable to Holders of Notes. The Company will use commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain any required authorization of the Central
Bank prior to each Mandatory Prepayment Date, and, if such approval
is not
obtained prior to a Mandatory Prepayment Date, the Company shall
use
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such approval within 90
days
after such Mandatory Prepayment Date. In the event that the Company
is
unable to receive the authorization of the Central Bank within such
90-day
period, the Company will, no later than 30 days after the end of
such
90-day period, make such payment by following the procedures as set
forth
under Section 1.19 (Foreign Exchange Restrictions) of the
Indenture.
|
Exhibit
B-10
43.
|
Any
such delay in payment shall not constitute an Event of Default, and
no
past due interest will be payable to Holders of Notes in respect
of any
such amount. At the request of the Company, the trustee for the trust
mentioned above will apply the funds held in the trust account to
purchase
U.S. Dollars and apply such funds to scheduled payments of principal
and
interest on the Notes if permitted by the Central
Bank.
|
44.
|
Discount
Buyback
means an offer to repurchase Discount Notes, on a pro
rata
basis, up to the amount of Excess Cash, at a price equal to 100%
of the
outstanding principal amount thereof by sending, no later than twenty
(20)
days following the applicable Mandatory Prepayment Date, by first-class
mail, a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, stating,
among
other things, the purchase date (the Buyback
Purchase Date),
which must be no earlier than 30 days from the date the notice is
mailed.
|
On
the
Buyback Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:
(A)
|
accept
for payment all Discount Notes or portions thereof properly tendered
free
and clear of any and all liens, restrictions, charges, pledges, security
interests, encumbrances or rights of any kind of third parties pursuant
to
the Discount Buyback; and
|
(B)
|
deposit
with the Trustee funds in an amount equal to the Discount Buyback
in
respect of all Discount Notes or portions thereof so
tendered.
|
To
the
extent Holders of Discount Notes properly tender Discount Notes in an aggregate
amount exceeding the amount of Excess Cash allocated to a Discount Buyback
pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment With Excess
Cash) of the Indenture, the Company will purchase the Discount Notes on a pro
rata basis (based on amounts tendered). If only a portion of a Discount Note
is
purchased pursuant to a Discount Buyback, a new Discount Note in a principal
amount equal to the portion thereof not purchased will be issued in the name
of
the Holder of the Discount Note thereof upon cancellation of the original
Discount Note (or appropriate adjustments to the amount and beneficial interests
in a Global Note will be made, as appropriate).
45.
|
To
the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations
conflict with the provisions of Section 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment
With
Excess Cash) of the Indenture the Company will comply with the applicable
securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached
its obligations under the Indenture by doing
so.
|
46.
|
If
at any time (i) the Company consummates a Public Equity Offering
and (ii)
the Leverage Ratio immediately after giving effect to such transaction
on
a pro
forma
basis, as certified by the Company’s auditors, is greater than 2.5, the
Company shall use 25% of the net cash proceeds from the sale of the
base
amount of offered securities (not including any upsize or greenshoe)
in
such Public Equity Offering (after payment of all expenses, commissions
and the like incurred in connection therewith) to purchase Notes
through
Market Purchases within two years after the consummation of such
Public
Equity Offering; provided
that
the Company will have no obligation to purchase Notes at a price
greater
than the face value of such Notes; provided
further
that, during the two-year period following the consummation of the
Public
Equity Offering, the Company shall maintain the proceeds to be used
for
the purchase of Notes through Market Purchases in a trust account
to be
opened and maintained by the Trustee and to be released only to purchase
Notes in accordance with this
covenant.
|
47.
|
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien upon its property,
assets or
revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, securing any
Indebtedness of any Person, unless the Notes are equally and ratably
secured by such Liens, other than the following (Permitted
Liens):
|
(a)
|
Liens
for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims or fines
not yet
due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained
on the
books of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may
be, to
the extent required by Argentine
GAAP;
|
Exhibit
B-11
(b)
|
Liens
created by any Restricted Subsidiaries over their assets solely in
favor
of the Company or another Restricted
Subsidiary;
|
(c)
|
deposits
to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory
obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other
obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of
business;
|
(d)
|
Liens
arising by reason of (1) any judgment, decree or order of any court,
so
long as such Lien is being contested in good faith and any appropriate
legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review
of
such judgment, decree or order shall not have been finally terminated
or
the period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not
have
expired; (2) any embargo preventivo or any other interlocutory or
temporary attachment order or measure in connection with an action
or
proceeding during the pendency of such action or proceeding;
(3) security for payment of workers’ compensation or other insurance
or obligations arising from other social security laws; and (4) operation
of law in favor of warehousemen, landlords, mechanics, material men,
laborers, employees or suppliers or other similar liens imposed by
law or
by contract incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums
which are
not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by negotiations
or
by appropriate proceedings which suspend the collection thereof,
and, in
each case, for which adequate reserves are maintained on the books
of the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, to the
extent
required by Argentine GAAP;
|
(e)
|
leases
or subleases granted to others, easements, rights of way, zoning
and
similar covenants and restrictions and other similar encumbrances
or title
defects, which do not materially detract from the value of the property
subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct
of the
business of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
|
(f)
|
Liens
on any property acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
as a
result of a Permitted Capital Expenditure and/or a Regulatory Capital
Expenditure which are created, incurred or assumed contemporaneously
with
such acquisition to secure or provide for the payment of all or any
part
of the purchase price of such property; provided
that
(i) such Lien is created and the Indebtedness secured thereby is
Incurred
within 90 days after that acquisition, and (ii) no such Lien shall
extend
to or cover any physical assets or equipment other than the physical
assets or equipment being acquired;
|
(g)
|
Liens
on property at the time the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
acquires such property, including any acquisition by means of a merger
or
consolidation of such Person with or into the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created in contemplation
of
such acquisition and do not extend to any other property of the Company
or
any Restricted Subsidiary existing immediately prior to such
acquisition;
|
(h)
|
escrow
deposits, trusts or similar accounts created or established pursuant
to
the Indenture or for the payment of debt service obligations under
the
Notes;
|
(i)
|
any
banker’s right of set-off arising from operation of law with respect to
deposits made in the ordinary course of business by the
Company;
|
(j)
|
Liens
securing obligations under Hedging
Contracts;
|
Exhibit
B-12
(k)
|
any
interest or title of a lessor under any Capital
Lease;
|
(l)
|
Liens
resulting from attachments or other proceedings initiated by any
holder of
Outstanding Debt who elects not to participate in the Restructuring
in
respect of a claim for payment on such Outstanding
Debt;
|
(m)
|
Liens
in existence on the Issuance Date and identified in Schedule A attached
to
the Indenture and any renewals or extensions thereof, so long as
(A) such
renewal or extension Lien does not extend to any property other than
that
originally subject to the Liens being renewed or extended and (B)
the
principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien, if applicable,
is not increased;
|
(n)
|
Liens
to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness which is Incurred
to
refinance any Indebtedness which has been secured by a Lien permitted
under this paragraph; provided that such new Liens are not materially
more
favorable to the lienholders with respect to such Liens than the
Liens in
respect of the Indebtedness being refinanced, and do not extend to
any
property or assets other than property or assets securing the Indebtedness
refinanced by such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness;
|
(o)
|
Liens
required under the Indenture; and
|
(p)
|
Liens
created or established in order to comply with any applicable rule,
regulation, order, resolution, decree, directive or instruction of
any
federal, provincial or municipal government of Argentina, or any
agency or
instrumentality thereof, in connection with the conduct of a Permitted
Business.
|
provided
that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, any Lien, of any nature or source, on the
concession granted pursuant to the Concession Agreement shall not be considered
a Permitted Lien.
48.
|
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, incur any Indebtedness, except for the following Indebtedness
(Permitted
Indebtedness):
|
(a)
|
Indebtedness
outstanding on the Issuance Date and identified in Schedule A attached
to
the Indenture;
|
(b)
|
Indebtedness
Incurred pursuant to the Restructuring (including the Notes) other
than
any Notes issued pursuant to the Cash
Offer;
|
(c)
|
Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness;
|
(d)
|
Subordinated
Indebtedness;
|
(e)
|
Indebtedness
Incurred in any year for purposes of financing Permitted Capital
Expenditures or Regulatory Capital Expenditures in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed the amount of Permitted Capital Expenditures
that the
Company is permitted to make under the Indenture during such
year;
|
(f)
|
Indebtedness
in respect of Hedging Contracts;
|
(g)
|
Indebtedness
with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and similar
obligations issued in the ordinary course of business and not supporting
Indebtedness, including performance bonds and letters of credit supporting
performance bonds;
|
Exhibit
B-13
(h)
|
Indebtedness
of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries owed to the
Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as such Indebtedness
continues to be owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and
which,
if the obligor is the Company and such Indebtedness is owed to such
Restricted Subsidiary, is subordinated in right of payment and priority
to
the Notes, pursuant to a Subordination Agreement;
and
|
(i)
|
Indebtedness
Incurred for general corporate purposes in an aggregate principal
amount
not to exceed U.S. $50 million (or its equivalent in other currencies)
at
any time outstanding.
|
49.
|
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, make any Asset Sale (including a Major Asset Sale)
unless:
|
(a)
|
the
Asset Sale is for fair market value, as determined in good faith
by the
Board of Directors;
|
(b)
|
at
least 75% of the value of the consideration therefrom is in the form
of
Cash and Cash Equivalents; provided that (i) any non-cash consideration
received is for fair market value and (ii) the receipt of such non-cash
consideration is otherwise permitted under the Indenture;
and
|
(c)
|
immediately
before and immediately after giving effect to such Asset Sale, no
Default
or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.
|
50.
|
Within
180 days after the receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds from an Asset
Sale
(other than a Major Asset Sale or a Sale and Leaseback Transaction),
the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall, at its election, apply
the Net
Cash Proceeds of such Asset Sale to (i) purchase, prepay or redeem
Notes
through Market Purchases or Optional Redemption transactions or through
a
Debt Prepayment of Fixed Rate Par Notes or Floating Rate Par Notes
or a
Discount Buyback or (ii) (A) acquire or commit to acquire all or
substantially all of the assets of a Permitted Business, or a majority
of
the Voting Stock of another Person that thereupon becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary engaged in a Permitted Business, or (B) make or commit
to make
Permitted Capital Expenditures or Regulatory Capital Expenditures
or
otherwise acquire or commit to acquire assets that are to be used
by the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a Permitted Business; provided
that,
if the Company receives Net Cash Proceeds from Asset Sales in an
aggregate
amount in excess of U.S. $20 million in any fiscal year, the Company
shall
apply such excess for the purposes set forth in clauses (i) provided
that
any Debt Prepayment will be made on a pro rata basis with a Discount
Buybank) or (ii)(A) above; and provided, further that the Company
shall
not make any Asset Sale of Receivables or Related Assets.
|
The
Company shall apply any Net Cash Proceeds of any Sale and Leaseback Transaction,
of the Company’s election, to purchase, prepay or redeem Notes through Market
Purchases or Optional Redemption transactions or through a Debt
Prepayment.
51.
|
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, enter into, renew or extend any transaction
or
arrangement including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of property
or
assets, or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate of the
Company
(other than Sociedad
Anónima Centro de Movimiento de Energía (SACME))
except upon terms not less favorable to the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary than those that could be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length
transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the
Company.
|
52.
|
If
any such transaction or series of related transactions has an aggregate
value in excess of U.S. $10 million, prior to such transaction, the
Company will obtain a favorable written opinion from (i) the audit
committee of the Company, which committee shall include at least
two
independent members of the Board of Directors and (ii) at least one
independent consultant that the terms of the transaction are consistent
with those that could be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction
with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the
Company.
|
Exhibit
B-14
53.
|
Paragraphs
51 and 52 do not apply to:
|
(a)
|
any
transaction between the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
or
between Restricted Subsidiaries of the
Company;
|
(b)
|
any
transaction or payment required pursuant to Argentine laws and regulations
to be made on terms different than in comparable arm’s-length
transactions;
|
(c)
|
any
payments made pursuant to the Technical Assistance Agreement, dated
September 15, 2005, between EDF and the Company, or pursuant to a
technical service or operating agreement with the then current strategic
operator on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the Issuance Date
(or
later, if the Company is required under any applicable rules or
regulations or by any relevant authorities to engage a strategic
operator
after such fifth anniversary); in an aggregate amount not to exceed
U.S.
$2.0 million (or its equivalent in other currencies), net of withholding
taxes, in any fiscal year; or
|
(d)
|
any
payments to Electricidad Argentina S.A. (EASA) in an aggregate amount
(including, but not limited to, withholding taxes, but net of value
added
taxes) not to exceed U.S. $2.5 million (or its equivalent in other
currencies) in any fiscal year.
|
54.
|
The
Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary
to, make any capital expenditure other than Permitted Capital
Expenditures, Regulatory Capital Expenditures and, to the extent
permitted
under (and funded by) Section 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment With Excess
Cash)
of the Indenture, and funded by Excess Cash, Additional Capital
Expenditures.
|
55.
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary may apply
Net
Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale (other than a Major Asset Sale)
and any
proceeds from casualty events for capital expenditures in excess
of
Permitted Capital Expenditures in accordance with the provisions
set forth
under Section 9.5 (Limitations on Asset Sales) of the Indenture without
regard to paragraph 54 and this paragraph and the application of
such
amounts will not reduce the aggregate amount of Permitted Capital
Expenditures that may be made in any fiscal year under paragraph
54 and
this paragraph..
|
56.
|
The
Company will not and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, take any of the following
actions
(each, a Restricted
Payment):
|
(a)
|
declare
or pay any dividend or return of capital or make any distribution
on or in
respect of Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
to
Holders of such Equity Interests other than (i) any dividends or
distributions in the form of Qualified Equity Interests of the Company,
(ii) dividends, distributions or returns of capital payable to the
Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) dividends, distributions or returns
of
capital made on a pro rata basis to the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries on the one hand, and minority Holders of Equity Interests
of
a Restricted Subsidiary on the other hand or (iv) any payments permitted
to be made pursuant to Section 9.6 (Limitation on Transactions with
Shareholders and Affiliates) of the
Indenture;
|
(b)
|
purchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests
of
the Company;
|
(c)
|
repay,
redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value,
or
make any payment on or with respect to, any Subordinated Indebtedness,
other than (i) scheduled payments of interest or principal (provided
no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing),
(ii)
any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and/or
any
Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) any payments permitted to be made
pursuant to Section 9.6 (Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders
and
Affiliates) of the Indenture; or
|
Exhibit
B-15
(d)
|
make
any Investments (other than Permitted
Investments).
|
in
each
case other than as permitted pursuant to Section 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment
With
Excess Cash) of the Indenture; provided
that the
Company will not pay any dividends or other cash distributions to its
shareholders (other than any payments to EASA permitted to be made under
paragraph (d) of Section 9.6 (Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders
and
Affiliates) of the Indenture) until the earlier of (i) the second anniversary
of
the Issuance Date and (ii) December 31, 2008.
57.
|
The
Company will furnish to the
Trustee:
|
(a)
|
as
soon as available, but in any event within 120 days after the end
of each
fiscal year (December 31) of the Company, a copy of the consolidated
balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such year and the related
consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal
year,
audited by independent accountants selected by the Company and of
internationally recognized
standing;
|
(b)
|
as
soon as available, but in any event within 75 days after the end
of each
of the first three fiscal quarters of the Company, a copy of the
unaudited
consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the end of each such
quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income
and
cash flows of the Company for such quarter and the portion of the
fiscal
year through such date; and
|
(c)
|
concurrently
with the delivery of the financial statements for each fiscal year
and the
second fiscal quarter of the Company referred to in clauses (a) and
(b),
respectively above, a certificate of the Company’s independent accountants
certifying the calculation of the Leverage Ratio and Excess Cash;
and
|
(d)
|
concurrently
with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in clause
(a)
above, a certificate of the general manager or chief financial officer
of
the Company stating (i) whether, to the best of such officer’s knowledge,
anything came to his or her attention (except for the Restructuring)
to
cause him or her to believe that there existed on the date of such
statements a Default or an Event of Default, and if so, specifying
the
nature and period of existence
thereof.
|
All
of
the financial statements referred to in (a) and (b) above are to be complete
and
correct in all material respects, to be prepared in reasonable detail and in
accordance with Argentine GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods
reflected therein and to be delivered in both the English and Spanish
languages.
58.
|
Delivery
of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for
informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports
shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained
therein or determinable from information contained therein, including
the
Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the
Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’
Certificates).
|
59.
|
The
Company will use reasonable efforts to notify the Trustee by facsimile
or
electronic mail (receipt confirmed telephonically or by electronic
mail or
electronic mail receipt) promptly after it becomes aware of the occurrence
of any Event of Default, or any condition or event which with the
giving
of notice, lapse of time or satisfaction of any other condition or
any
combination of the foregoing would, unless cured or waived, become
an
Event of Default. Each notice given pursuant to this paragraph shall
be
accompanied by a certificate of an Officer of the Company setting
forth
the details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what
action
the Company proposes to take with respect
thereto.
|
Exhibit
B-16
60.
|
The
Company will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain and maintain
a
listing on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, the admission to trading
on
the Xxxxxxx
Abierto Electrónico S.A.,
a listing on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the admission to trading
on
the Euro MTF, the alternative market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
In
the event that the Notes are admitted to trading on Euro MTF, the
Company
will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such listing;
provided
that
the Company may terminate such listing and delist the Notes from
Euro MTF
if it determines that the provisions of the European Transparency
Obligations Directive (2003/2004/COD) or other applicable legislation
becomes unduly onerous or burdensome, in which case the Company will
use
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an alternative admission
to
listing, trading and/or quotation for the Notes by another listing
authority, exchange and/or system within or outside the European
Union, as
it may decide and to the extent
feasible.
|
61.
|
Except
as otherwise permitted under the Indenture and referred to below
under
Section 9.19 (Limitations on Mergers, Consolidations, Sales and
Conveyances) of the Indenture, the Company, at all times, will do
all
things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its
corporate existence and preserve and keep in full force and effect
in all
respects all material licenses and permits necessary to the proper
conduct
of its business and its rights (charter and statutory) and franchises
and
such rights and franchises of its Restricted Subsidiaries necessary
to the
proper conduct of the business of the Company and such Subsidiaries,
as a
whole.
|
62.
|
The
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not engage in any business
other than a Permitted Business.
|
63.
|
The
Company will cause all material tangible properties used in the conduct
of
its business or the business of any of its Significant Subsidiaries
to be
maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and
supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all
necessary repairs, renewals, replacements and improvements thereof,
all as
in the Company’s judgment may be necessary so that the business carried on
in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted
at
all times; provided,
however,
that this covenant will not prevent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties
if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business
and the
business of its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and not adverse in
any
material respect to the holders of the
Notes.
|
64.
|
The
Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain
insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried
by
electricity transmission and distribution companies, subject to any
applicable laws and regulations of
Argentina.
|
65.
|
The
Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay or
discharge
or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become
delinquent, all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied
or
imposed upon the Company or its Subsidiaries; provided,
however,
that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will be required to pay
or
discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment,
charge or claim which is being contested in good faith and, if
appropriate, by appropriate legal proceedings and adequate reserves
with
respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Company or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be, to the extent required by Argentine
GAAP.
|
66.
|
The
Company may designate any Subsidiary, including a newly acquired
or
created Subsidiary, to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary under the Indenture
if:
|
(a)
|
the
Restricted Subsidiary is not a Significant
Subsidiary;
|
(b)
|
no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
at the
time of and after giving effect to such
designation;
|
(c)
|
such
Subsidiary does not own any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary or hold any Indebtedness of, or any Lien on any property
of,
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and
|
Exhibit
B-17
(d)
|
the
Subsidiary is not party to any transaction or arrangement with the
Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary that would not be permitted under Section
9.6
(Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates) of
the
Indenture.
|
If
the
Subsidiary being designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary is, at the time of
designation, a Restricted Subsidiary, the consequences set forth in paragraph
(c) apply. Once so designated, the Subsidiary will remain an Unrestricted
Subsidiary, subject to paragraph (b).
67.
(a)
A
Subsidiary previously designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary which fails to
meet
the qualifications set forth in paragraph 66 above will be deemed to become
at
that time a Restricted Subsidiary, subject to the consequences set forth in
paragraph 69.
(b)
|
the
Company may designate an Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted
Subsidiary if the designation would not cause a
Default.
|
68.
|
Upon
a Restricted Subsidiary becoming an Unrestricted
Subsidiary:
|
(a)
|
all
existing Investments of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries
therein valued at the Company’s proportional share of the fair market
value of its assets less liabilities will be deemed made at that
time;
|
(b)
|
all
existing Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary held
by it
will be deemed incurred at that time, and all Liens on property of
the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary held by it will be deemed incurred
at
that time;
|
(c)
|
all
existing transactions between it and the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary will be deemed entered into at that time;
and
|
(d)
|
it
will cease to be subject to the provisions of the Indenture and the
Notes
as a Restricted Subsidiary.
|
69.
|
Upon
an Unrestricted Subsidiary becoming, or being deemed to become, a
Restricted Subsidiary:
|
(a)
|
all
of its Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock will be deemed incurred
at that
time for purposes of Section 9.4 (Limitations on Indebtedness) of
the
Indenture;
|
(b)
|
Investments
therein previously charged under Section 9.8 (Limitation on Restricted
Payments) of the Indenture, as adjusted to reflect any change in
the
Company’s proportional share of the fair market value of its assets less
liabilities, will be credited thereunder;
and
|
(c)
|
it
will thenceforward be subject to the provisions of the Indenture
and the
Notes as a Restricted Subsidiary.
|
Any
designation by the Company of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or
Unrestricted Subsidiary shall, unless so noted by the Company, be deemed to
include the designation of all of the Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary. Any
designation by the Company of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or
Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by delivering to the
Trustee a copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors giving effect to
the
designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the designation
complied with the foregoing provisions, not later than the next succeeding
delivery of financial statements as required under Section 9.9 (Delivery of
Financial Statements) of the Indenture.
Exhibit
B-18
70.
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the obligations of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries to comply with the covenants described above under the
captions Sections 9.1 (Mandatory Prepayment With Excess Cash), 9.4
(Limitations on Indebtedness), 9.5 (Limitations on Asset Sales),
9.7
(Limitation on Capital Expenditures) and 9.8 (Limitation on Restricted
Payments) (collectively, the Suspended
Covenants)
will be suspended and cease to have any further effect during the
period
(the Suspended
Period)
from and after the first date that either (a) the Company attains
from at
least one of the Rating Agencies, a rating on its long-term debt
denominated in currencies other than pesos that is Investment Grade
or (b)
the Leverage Ratio (as certified by the Company’s auditors) is equal to or
lower than 2.5 and until, as applicable, the date (the Reversion
Date)
on which either (i) none of the Rating Agencies provide the Company’s
non-Peso denominated long-term debt an Investment Grade rating or
(ii) the
Leverage Ratio is greater than 2.5. On the Reversion Date, the Company
and
its Restricted Subsidiaries’ obligation to comply with the Suspended
Covenants shall be reinstated; provided, however, that the Suspended
Covenants will not be of any effect with regard to actions of the
Company
or its Restricted Subsidiaries taken during the Suspension Period,
and no
Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred as a result of a
failure
to comply with the Suspended Covenants during the Suspension
Period.
|
71.
|
On
the Reversion Date, all Indebtedness incurred while the Suspended
Covenants were suspended will be classified to have been incurred
pursuant
to one of the paragraphs set forth in Section 9.4 (Limitations on
Indebtedness) of the Indenture (to the extent such Indebtedness would
be
permitted to be incurred thereunder as of the Reversion Date and
after
giving effect to Indebtedness outstanding on the Reversion Date).
To the
extent such Indebtedness would not be so permitted to be incurred
pursuant
to Section 9.4 (Limitations on Indebtedness) of the Indenture such
Indebtedness will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issuance
Date,
so that it is classified as permitted under paragraph (a) of Section
9.4
(Limitations on Indebtedness) of the
Indenture.
|
72.
|
The
Company will not enter into any merger, consolidation, spin-off or
reorganization with any Person (whether or not the Company is the
surviving or continuing Person) or sell, assign, transfer or otherwise
convey or dispose of all or substantially all of its and its Restricted
Subsidiaries’ assets, taken as a whole, whether by one transaction or a
series of transactions, to any Person
unless:
|
(a)
|
the
surviving or transferee Person (if not the Company) is a sociedad
anónima organized
under the laws of Argentina;
|
(b)
|
the
surviving or transferee Person (if not the Company) shall have expressly
assumed, by a document executed and delivered to the Trustee in form
and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the obligations
of the Company under the Notes and the
Indenture;
|
(c)
|
immediately
after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions
on a pro
forma basis, (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be
continuing, and (B) the Leverage Ratio of the Company or such surviving
entity will be equal to or lower than the Leverage Ratio of the Company
immediately prior to such transaction, as certified by the Company’s
auditors;
|
(d)
|
the
rating of the Notes by any Rating Agency shall not have been downgraded
as
a result of such transaction or series of transactions within sixty
(60)
days of the public announcement of such transaction or series of
transactions; and
|
(e)
|
the
surviving or transferee Person shall have delivered to the Trustee
an
Officers’ Certificate stating that such merger, consolidation, sale,
assignment, transfer or other conveyance or disposition complies
with this
covenant and the Indenture.
|
73.
|
Upon
the occurrence of any of the transactions permitted by the preceding
paragraph, the surviving or transferee Person (if not the Company)
will
succeed to and become substituted for the Company, and may exercise
every
right and power of the Company, with the same effect as if it had
been
named in the Notes and the Indenture. Following such transaction,
the
Company will be released from its liability as obligor on the Notes
and
under the Indenture.
|
Exhibit
B-19
74.
|
In
the event of any such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or
disposition, the Company, as the predecessor entity, may be dissolved,
wound-up or liquidated at any time
thereafter.
|
75.
|
Except
as provided in the paragraph below, each payment by the Company in
respect
of the Notes shall, except as required by law, be made without withholding
or deduction for or on account of any Taxes imposed by Argentina
or any
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (Argentine
Taxes).
If any Argentine Taxes are required to be withheld or deducted from
any
such payment, the Company shall pay such additional amounts (Additional
Amounts)
as may be necessary to ensure that the net amount actually received
by the
holder after such withholding or deduction is equal to the amount
that the
holder would have received had no withholding or deduction been required,
provided,
however
that no such Additional Amounts shall be payable in respect
of:
|
(a)
|
any
Taxes that would not have been so imposed but for the presentation
by the
holder of any such Note for payment on a date more than 30 days after
the
date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on
which
payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs
later;
|
(b)
|
any
Taxes imposed by reason of the holder’s failure to comply with the
provisions under Section 3.12 (Information From Holders of Notes)
of the
Indenture;
|
(c)
|
any
Taxes imposed on a holder by reason of any connection between the
holder
and the taxing jurisdiction other than the mere acquisition, holding
or
disposition of such Notes, or the receipt of principal or interest
in
respect thereof;
|
(d)
|
any
estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property tax
or any
similar tax, assessment or governmental
charge;
|
(e)
|
any
Taxes that are payable otherwise than by withholding or deduction
from
payments on or in respect of the Notes;
or
|
(f)
|
the
Personal Assets Tax under Argentine tax law, if the Company is compelled
by law to make any withholding or deduction for or on account of,
or is
obligated to act as “substitute obligor” for, such
tax.
|
76.
|
In
no event, shall the Company pay Additional Amounts with respect to
any
payment under any Notes to any holder thereof, to the extent any
such Tax
is required to be deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed, above
the
amount resulting from the grossed-up deduction or withholding that
would
be imposed on a Person set forth in Section 93(c)(1) of the Argentine
Income Tax Law or any amendment to such section in effect at the
time of
such payment.
|
77.
|
The
Company will also make such withholding or deduction compelled by
applicable law and remit the full amount deducted or withheld to
the
relevant authority in accordance with applicable
law.
|
78.
|
The
Company will furnish to the Trustee, within 60 days after the date
of
receipt of written request from the holders of the Notes through
the
Trustee, copies of such receipts evidencing the payment of any Taxes
so
deducted or withheld in such form as provided in the normal course
by the
taxing authority imposing such Taxes and as is reasonably available
to the
Company to the Trustee. The Trustee will make such evidence available
to
the holders of Notes upon request.
|
79.
|
The
Company covenants that if the Company or the Trustee or any Paying
Agent
is required by law to make any deduction or withholding on payments
of
principal of or interest on the Notes for or on account of any Argentine
tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge, the Company shall,
at
least 10 Business Days prior to the first payment on which such deduction
or withholding is applicable, (and at least 10 Business Days prior
to each
succeeding payment date or any redemption date or maturity date if
there
has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the
below-mentioned Officer’s Certificate) deliver to the Trustee (with a copy
to any other Paying Agent) an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount
so required to be deducted or withheld and certifying that the Company
shall pay such deduction or
withholding.
|
Exhibit
B-20
80.
|
The
Company hereby covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and each other
Paying
Agent) for, and to hold the Trustee harmless against any loss, liability
or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the Trustee’s part
arising out of actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance
on any
Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section or the failure of
the Trustee to receive on a timely basis such Officer’s Certificate or any
information or documentation requested by it or otherwise required
by
applicable laws or regulations to be obtained, furnished or filed
in
respect of any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge
pursuant
to the foregoing provisions of Section 9.20 (Payment of Additional
Amounts) of the Indenture.
|
81.
|
The
indemnification obligations of the Company under Section 9.20 (Payment
of
Additional Amounts) of the Indenture shall survive the payment of
the
Notes, the termination of the Indenture and the resignation or removal
of
the Trustee.
|
82.
|
The
Company will pay any present or future stamp, or documentary taxes,
that
arise in Argentina from the execution, delivery or registration of
the
Notes or any other document or instrument referred to in the
Notes.
|
83.
|
If
any Holder of Notes does not timely provide all or part of the
information, documents or evidence that may be required by the Company
from time to time under Section 3.12 (Information From Holders of
Notes)
of the Indenture, the Company will not pay any Additional Amounts
and will
withhold or deduct the maximum amount that may be required by Argentine
law in the absence of such information, documents or evidence. The
Company
will inform the Trustee in writing if the Company will not be obligated
to
pay any Additional Amounts in respect of any Holder pursuant to this
paragraph.
|
84.
|
If
the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, it will,
on or
before each payment date of the principal of (and premium, if any)
or
interest on any of the Notes, segregate and hold in trust for the
benefit
of the Persons entitled to such payment a sum sufficient to pay the
principal (and premium, if any) or interest due until such sums shall
he
paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided
and will
promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to
act.
|
85.
|
Whenever
the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents, it will, prior
to each
payment date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest
on any
Notes, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such
amount,
such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless
such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify
the
Trustee of its action or failure so to act. Principal and interest
shall
be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or
Paying
Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds
in
accordance with the Indenture U.S. Dollars designated for and sufficient
to pay all principal and interest then due and the Trustee or the
Paying
Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money
to the
Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of the
Indenture.
|
86.
|
The
Company will cause each Paying Agent, other than the Trustee, to
execute
and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent
shall
agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 9.21
(Money
for Note Payments to be Held in Trust) of the Indenture, that such
Paying
Agent will:
|
(a)
|
hold
all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium,
if
any) or interest, or any other amounts due on Notes, in trust for
the
benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be
paid to
such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein
provided;
|
Exhibit
B-21
(b)
|
give
the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor
upon the Notes) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium,
if
any) or interest or any other amounts due on the Notes;
and
|
(c)
|
at
any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written
request of the Trustee, immediately pay to the Trustee all sums so
held in
trust by such Paying Agent.
|
87.
|
The
Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction
and
discharge of the Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company
Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held
in
trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by
the
Trustee upon the same term as those upon which such sums were held
by the
Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying
Agent
to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further
liability with respect to such
money.
|
88.
|
Any
money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or held by
the
Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium,
if
any) or interest on any Note which remains unclaimed for three years
after
such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and
payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then
held
by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder
of
this Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look
only to
the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee
or such
Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability
of the
Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided,
however,
that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make
any
such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published
once, in a newspaper customarily published on each Business Day and
of
general circulation in the city of Buenos Aires, 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 publication, any unclaimed
balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the
Company.
|
89.
|
Claims
filed in Argentina courts against the Company for payment of principal
in
respect of the Notes (including Additional Amounts) shall be prescribed
unless made within ten years of the due date for payment of such
principal. Claims for the payment of interest shall be prescribed
unless
made within four years of the due date for payment of such
interest.
|
90.
|
Claims
filed in the courts of the State of New York will be subject to the
applicable statute of limitations for such
claims.
|
91.
|
In
the event of any foreign exchange restriction or prohibition in Argentina,
the Company shall make any and all payments of any Note in Dollars
to be
made outside Argentina by:
|
(a)
|
purchasing,
with pesos, “Bonos
Externos Globales de la República Argentina”
issued by Argentina and payable in Dollars or any other public or
private
securities issued in Argentina and denominated in Dollars, or any
other
securities (collectively, the Securities) and selling such instruments
outside Argentina for Dollars; or
|
(b)
|
any
other legal mechanism for the acquisition of Dollars in any exchange
market.
|
(c)
|
In
addition, in the event of any foreign exchange restriction or prohibition
in Argentina, any Holder of Notes may elect to receive the payment
in an
amount equivalent to the Peso amount necessary for purchasing Securities
and the reasonable and customary cost of transferring and selling
such
Securities outside Argentina for Dollars in an amount equivalent
to the
sums due and payable under the Notes. Such payment will discharge
and
satisfy the Company’s payment obligations to such Holders on such payment
date. In each case, all reasonable and customary costs, including
any
taxes, relative to such operations to obtain foreign currency will
be
borne by the Company.
|
Exhibit
B-22
(d)
|
In
addition, in the event of any restriction or prohibition in Argentina
to
pay in foreign currency any obligations under the Notes to any Holder
of
Notes that is not a resident in Argentina, the Company shall make
its best
efforts to obtain the corresponding authorization of the Central
Bank to
make such payments in Dollars. However, if such authorization cannot
be
obtained after reasonable attempts, the Company shall pay such Holder
the
Peso equivalent amount of the foreign currency amount due on the
relevant
payment date.
|
(e)
|
Such
payments in pesos will be calculated using the U.S. $/ Peso exchange
rate
quoted by Reuters Screen “ARSVH=” ASK SIDE (Valor Xxx Xxxxxxx) at 12:00
p.m. New York City time on the payment date; provided that (i) if
the U.S.
$/ Peso exchange rate does not appear on such Reuters Screen, the
U.S. $/
Peso exchange rate shall mean, with respect to the payment date,
the U.S.
$/ Peso exchange rate which appears on Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg
Screen
(ARS currency)-ASK SIDE-PCS Composite (NY)) at 12:00 p.m. New York
City
time on such payment date. Such payment in pesos will fully discharge
and
satisfy the Company’s payment obligation to such holder on the payment
date and shall not constitute an Event of
Default.
|
92.
|
Any
suit, action or proceeding against the Company or its properties,
assets
or revenues with respect to the Notes or the Indenture (a Related
Proceeding)
may be brought in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County
of
New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern
District
of New York, or in the courts of Argentina that sit in the City of
Buenos
Aires, as the person bringing such Related Proceeding may elect in
its
sole discretion. The Company has consented to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of each such court for the purpose of any Related Proceeding
and has irrevocably waived any objection to the laying of venue of
any
Related Proceeding brought in any such court and to the fullest extent
it
may effectively do so and the defense of an inconvenient forum to
the
maintenance of any Related Proceeding or any such suit, action or
proceeding in any such court.
|
93.
|
The
Company has agreed that service of all writs, claims, process and
summonses in any Related Proceeding brought against it in the State
of New
York may be made upon CT Corporation System (the Process
Agent),
and the Company irrevocably appointed the Process Agent as its agent
and
true and lawful attorney in fact in its name, place and stead to
accept
such service of any and all such writs, claims, process and summonses,
and
has agreed that the failure of the Process Agent to give any notice
to it
of any such service of process shall not impair or affect the validity
of
such service or of any judgment based thereon. The Company has agreed
to
maintain at all times an agent with offices in New York City to act
as its
Process Agent. Nothing in the Indenture shall in any way be deemed
to
limit the ability to serve any such writs, process or summonses in
any
other manner permitted by applicable
law.
|
94.
|
The
Company irrevocably waives trial by jury in any legal action or proceeding
relating to the Indenture or the
Notes.
|
95.
|
The
Company will ensure that its obligations under the Notes will at
all times
constitute direct, unconditional and unsubordinated obligations of
the
Company ranking at least pari
passu
in
priority of payment, in right of security upon liquidation and in
all
other respects among themselves and with all other unsecured indebtedness
of the Company now or hereafter outstanding, except to the extent
that
such other indebtedness may be preferred by mandatory provisions
of
applicable law or subordinated by its
terms.
|
Exhibit
B-23
ANNEX
A
FORM
OF REGULATION S CERTIFICATE
(For
transfers pursuant to Section 3.4(b)(i), (iii) and (v) of the
Indenture)
The
Bank
of New York
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00 Xxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn:
Corporate Trust Administration—Global Finance Unit
Re:
·
(the
Notes)
Reference
is made to the Indenture, dated ·
(the
Indenture),
between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee. Terms used herein
and
defined in the Indenture or in Regulation S or Rule 144 under the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities
Act)
are
used herein as so defined.
This
certificate relates to U.S.
$
principal amount of Notes, which are evidenced by the following certificate(s)
(the Specified
Notes):
COMMON
CODE No(s). ________________________________
ISIN
No(s). __________________________________________
CERTIFICATE
No(s). __________________________________
The
person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the Undersigned)
hereby
certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the Specified
Notes, (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners of the
Specified Notes and is duly authorized by them to do so or (iii) it is the
Holder of a Global Note and has received a certification to the effect set
forth
below. Such beneficial owner or owners are referred to herein collectively
as
the “Owner”.
If the
Specified Notes are not represented by a Global Note, they are registered in
the
name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.
The
Owner
has requested that the Specified Notes be transferred to a person (the
Transferee)
who
will take delivery in the form of a Regulation S Note. In connection with
such transfer, the Owner hereby certifies or has certified that, unless such
transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement
under
the Securities Act, it is being effected in accordance with Rule 904 of
Regulation S or Rule 144 under the Securities Act and with all
applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other
jurisdictions. Accordingly, the Owner hereby further certifies or has certified
as follows:
Annex
A-1
(1) Rule 904
Transfers
If
the
transfer is being effected in accordance with Rule 904 of
Regulation S:
(A) |
the
Owner is not a distributor of the Notes, an affiliate of the Company
or
any such distributor or a person acting on behalf of any of the
foregoing;
|
(B) |
the
offer of the Specified Notes was not made to a person in the United
States;
|
(C) |
either:
|
(i)
|
at
the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside
the
United States or the Owner and any person acting on its behalf reasonably
believed that the Transferee was outside the United States,
or
|
(ii)
|
the
transaction is being executed in, on or through the facilities of
the
Eurobond market, as regulated by the International Notes Market
Association or another designated offshore Notes market and neither
the
Owner nor any person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction
has
been prearranged with a buyer in the United
States;
|
(D)
|
no
directed selling efforts have been made in the United States by or
on
behalf of the Owner or any affiliate thereof;
and
|
(E)
|
the
transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.
|
(2) Rule 144
Transfers
If
the
transfer is being effected pursuant to Rule 144:
(A)
|
the
transfer is occurring after ·
[insert date one year after Issuance Date] and is being effected
in
accordance with the applicable amount, manner of sale and notice
requirements of Rule 144; or
|
(B)
|
the
transfer is occurring after ·
[insert date two years after Issuance Date], and the Owner is not,
and
during the preceding three months has not been, an affiliate of the
Company.
|
This
certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and
the benefit of the Company.
Dated:
(Print
the name of the Undersigned, as such term is defined in the second
paragraph of this certificate.)
|
|||
By:
|
|||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
|||
(If
the Undersigned is a corporation, partnership or fiduciary, the
title of
the person signing on behalf of the Undersigned must be
stated.)
|
Annex
A-2
ANNEX
B
FORM
OF RESTRICTED NOTES CERTIFICATE
(For
transfers pursuant to Section 3.4(b)(ii), (iii) and (v) of the
Indenture)
The
Bank
of New York
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00 Xxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn:
Corporate Trust Administration—Global Finance Unit
Re: ·
(the
Notes)
Reference
is made to the Indenture, dated ·
(the
Indenture),
between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee. Terms used herein
and
defined in the Indenture or in Regulation S or Rule 144 under the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities
Act)
are
used herein as so defined.
This
certificate relates to U.S.
$
principal amount of Notes, which are evidenced by the following certificate(s)
(the Specified
Notes):
COMMON
CODE No(s). ____________________________
ISIN
No(s). ______________________________________
CERTIFICATE
No(s). ______________________________
The
person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the Undersigned)
hereby
certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the Specified
Notes, (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners of the
Specified Notes and is duly authorized by them to do so or (iii) it is the
Holder of a Global Note and has received a certification to the effect set
forth
below. Such beneficial owner or owners are referred to herein collectively
as
the Owner.
If the
Specified Notes are not represented by a Global Note, they are registered in
the
name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.
The
Owner
has requested that the Specified Notes be transferred to a person (the
Transferee)
who
will take delivery in the form of a Restricted Note. In connection with such
transfer, the Owner hereby certifies or has certified that, unless such transfer
is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act, it is being effected in accordance with Rule 144A or
Rule 144 under the Securities Act and all applicable securities laws of the
states of the United States and other jurisdictions. Accordingly, the Owner
hereby further certifies or has certified that:
(l) Rule 144A
Transfers
If
the
transfer is being effected in accordance with Rule 144A:
(A) |
the
Specified Notes are being transferred to a person that the Owner
and any
person acting on its behalf reasonably believe is a “qualified
institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, acquiring for
its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer;
and
|
(B) |
the
Owner and any person acting on its behalf have taken reasonable steps
to
ensure that the Transferee is aware that the Owner may be relying
on
Rule 144A in connection with the
transfer.
|
Annex
B-1
(2) Rule 144
Transfers
If
the
transfer is being effected pursuant to Rule 144:
(A) |
the
transfer is occurring after ·
[insert date one year after Issuance Date] and is being effected
in
accordance with the applicable amount, manner of sale and notice
requirements of Rule 144; or
|
(B) |
the
transfer is occurring after ·
[insert date two years after Issuance Date], and the Owner is not,
and
during the preceding three months has not been, an affiliate of the
Company.
|
This
certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and
the benefit of the Company.
Dated:
(Print
the name of the Undersigned, as such term is defined in the second
paragraph of this certificate.)
|
|||
By:
|
|||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
|||
(If
the Undersigned is a corporation, partnership or fiduciary, the
title of
the person signing on behalf of the Undersigned must be
stated.)
|
Annex
B-2
ANNEX
C
FORM
OF UNRESTRICTED NOTES CERTIFICATE
(For
removal of Securities Act legends pursuant to Section 3.4(c)(iv) of the
Indenture)
The
Bank
of New York
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00 Xxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn:
Corporate Trust Administration—Global Finance Unit
Re.
·
(the
Notes)
Reference
is made to the Indenture, dated ·
(the
Indenture),
between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee. Terms used herein
and
defined in the Indenture or in Regulation S or Rule 144 under the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities
Act)
are
used herein as so defined.
This
certificate relates to U.S.
$
principal amount of Notes, which are evidenced by the following certificate(s)
(the Specified
Notes):
COMMON
CODE No(s). ____________________________________
ISIN
No(s). ______________________________________________
CERTIFICATE
No(s). ______________________________________
The
person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the Undersigned)
hereby
certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the Specified
Notes, (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners of the
Specified Notes and is duly authorized by them to do so or (iii) it is the
Holder of a Global Note and has received a certification to the effect set
forth
below. Such beneficial owner or owners are referred to herein collectively
as
the “Owner”.
If the
Specified Notes are not represented by a Global Note, they are registered in
the
name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.
The
Owner
has requested that the Specified Notes be exchanged for Notes bearing no
Securities Act legend pursuant to Section 3.4(c)(iv)of the Indenture. In
connection with such exchange, the Owner hereby certifies or has certified
that
the exchange is occurring after ·
[insert
date two years after Issuance Date], and the Owner is not, and during the
preceding three months has not been, an affiliate of the Company. The Owner
also
acknowledges or has acknowledged that any future transfers of the Specified
Notes must comply with all applicable securities laws of the states of the
United States and other jurisdictions.
This
certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and
the benefit of the Company.
Dated:
(Print
the name of the Undersigned, as such term is defined in the second
paragraph of this certificate.)
|
|||
By:
|
|||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
|||
(If
the Undersigned is a corporation, partnership or fiduciary, the
title of
the person signing on behalf of the Undersigned must be
stated.)
|
Annex
C-1