CCH II, LLC AND CCH II CAPITAL CORP., AS ISSUERS CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC, AS PARENT GUARANTOR AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NA, AS TRUSTEE INDENTURE DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2006 10.25% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013
Exhibit
10.2
CCH
II, LLC
AND
CCH
II CAPITAL CORP.,
AS
ISSUERS
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC,
AS
PARENT GUARANTOR
AND
THE
BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NA,
AS
TRUSTEE
INDENTURE
DATED
AS OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2006
10.25%
SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013
(When
TOC needs updated, call 4023 and Info Processing will update
it)
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
ARTICLE I | DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE…………………………………………………………... | 1 |
SECTION
|
1.01.
Definitions…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
|
1 |
SECTION
|
1.02. Other Definitions………………………………………………………………………………………………….... | 26 |
SECTION
|
1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act…………………………………………………………..... | 26 |
SECTION
|
1.04. Rules of Construction………………………………………………………….…………………………………... | 27 |
ARTICLE II | THE NOTES………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………. | 27 |
SECTION
|
2.01. Form and Dating………………………………………………………….………………………………………… | 27 |
SECTION
|
2.02. Execution and Authentication………………………………………………………….…………………………. | 29 |
SECTION
|
2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent………………………………………………………….……………………………. | 29 |
SECTION
|
2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust………………………………………………………….……………….. | 30 |
SECTION
|
2.05. Holder Lists………………………………………………………….……………………………………………… | 30 |
SECTION
|
2.06. Transfer and Exchange………………………………………………………….…………………………………. | 30 |
SECTION
|
2.07. Replacement Notes………………………………………………………….……………………………………… | 34 |
SECTION
|
2.08. Outstanding Notes………………………………………………………….……………………………………… | 34 |
SECTION
|
2.09. Treasury Notes………………………………………………………….………………………………………….. | 35 |
SECTION
|
2.10. Temporary Notes………………………………………………………….………………………………………... | 35 |
SECTION
|
2.11. Cancellation………………………………………………………….……………………………………………… | 35 |
SECTION
|
2.12. Default Interest………………………………………………………….………………………………………….. | 35 |
SECTION
|
2.13. Record Date………………………………………………………….……………………………………………… | 35 |
SECTION
|
2.14. Computation of Interest………………………………………………………….………………………………… | 35 |
SECTION
|
2.15. CUSIP Numbers………………………………………………………….…………………………………………. | 35 |
SECTION
|
2.16. Special Transfer Provisions………………………………………………………….……………………………. | 36 |
SECTION
|
2.17. Issuance of Additional Notes………………………………………………………….…………………………. | 38 |
SECTION
|
2.18. Temporary Regulations S Global Notes………………………………………………………….………………. | 38 |
ARTICLE III | REDEMPTION………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………. | 39 |
SECTION
|
3.01. Notices to Trustee………………………………………………………….………………………………………. | 39 |
SECTION
|
3.02. Selection of Notes to be Redeemed………………………………………………………….…………………… | 39 |
SECTION
|
3.03. Notice of Redemption………………………………………………………….…………………………………... | 39 |
SECTION
|
3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption………………………………………………………….………………………... | 40 |
SECTION
|
3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price………………………………………………………….…………………………... | 40 |
SECTION
|
3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part………………………………………………………….………………………………… | 40 |
SECTION
|
3.07. Optional Redemption………………………………………………………….…………………………………… | 41 |
SECTION
|
3.08
Mandatory Redemption or Repurchase………………………………………………………….……………….
|
41 |
SECTION
|
3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds…………………………………………………………. | 41 |
ARTICLE IV | COVENANTS………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………... | 43 |
SECTION
|
4.01. Payment of Notes………………………………………………………….……………………………………….. | 43 |
i
SECTION
|
4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency………………………………………………………….…………………….. | 43 |
SECTION
|
4.03. Reports………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………… | 44 |
SECTION
|
4.04. Compliance Certificate………………………………………………………….………………………………….. | 45 |
SECTION
|
4.05. Taxes………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………… | 45 |
SECTION
|
4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws………………………………………………………….………………………. | 45 |
SECTION
|
4.07. Restricted Payments………………………………………………………….…………………………………….. | 45 |
SECTION
|
4.08. Investments………………………………………………………….……………………………………………… | 49 |
SECTION
|
4.09. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries……………………………………………. | 49 |
SECTION
|
4.10. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock………………………………………………… | 51 |
SECTION
|
4.11. Limitation on Asset Sales………………………………………………………….………………………………. | 53 |
SECTION
|
4.12. Sale and Leaseback Transactions………………………………………………………….……………………... | 55 |
SECTION
|
4.13. Transactions with Affiliates………………………………………………………….…………………………… | 55 |
SECTION
|
4.14. Liens………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………… | 56 |
SECTION
|
4.15. Existence………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………. | 57 |
SECTION
|
4.16. Repurchase at the Option of Holders upon a Change of Control……………………………………………... | 57 |
SECTION
|
4.17. Limitations on Issuances of Guarantees of Indebtedness……………………………………………………... | 59 |
SECTION
|
4.18. Payments for Consent………………………………………………………….…………………………………... | 59 |
SECTION
|
4.19. Application of Fall-Away Covenants………………………………………………………….…………………. | 59 |
ARTICLE V | SUCCESSORS………………………………………………………….………………………………………………….. | 60 |
SECTION
|
5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets………………………………………………………….…………….. | 60 |
SECTION
|
5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted………………………………………………………….…………………… |
61
|
ARTICLE VI | DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES ………………………………………………………….……………………………….. | 61 |
SECTION
|
6.01. Events of Default………………………………………………………….………………………………………... | 61 |
SECTION
|
6.02. Acceleration………………………………………………………….……………………………………………... | 62 |
SECTION
|
6.03. Other Remedies………………………………………………………….………………………………………….. | 63 |
SECTION
|
6.04. Waiver of Existing Defaults………………………………………………………….……………………………. | 63 |
SECTION
|
6.05. Control by Majority………………………………………………………….……………………………………... | 63 |
SECTION
|
6.06. Limitation on Suits………………………………………………………….………………………………………. | 63 |
SECTION
|
6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment………………………………………………………….…….. | 64 |
SECTION
|
6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee………………………………………………………….……………………………… | 64 |
SECTION
|
6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim………………………………………………………….……………………… | 64 |
SECTION
|
6.10. Priorities………………………………………………………….………………………………………………….. | 65 |
SECTION
|
6.11. Undertaking for Costs………………………………………………………….…………………………………... | 65 |
ARTICLE VII | TRUSTEE………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………….. | 65 |
SECTION
|
7.01. Duties of Trustee………………………………………………………….………………………………………... | 65 |
SECTION
|
7.02. Rights of Trustee………………………………………………………….………………………………………... | 66 |
SECTION
|
7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee………………………………………………………….…………………………… | 67 |
SECTION
|
7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer………………………………………………………….…………………………………….. | 68 |
ii
SECTION
|
7.05. Notes of Defaults………………………………………………………….………………………………………... | 68 |
SECTION
|
7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes………………………………………………………….…………. | 68 |
SECTION
|
7.07. Compensation and Indemnity………………………………………………………….………………………….. | 68 |
SECTION
|
7.08. Replacement of Trustee………………………………………………………….………………………………… | 69 |
SECTION
|
7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.………………………………………………………….…………………… | 70 |
SECTION
|
7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification………………………………………………………….……………………………... | 70 |
SECTION
|
7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuers…………………………………………………………... | 70 |
ARTICLE VIII | LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE………………………………………………………….. | 70 |
SECTION
|
8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance………………………………………………….. | 70 |
SECTION
|
8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge………………………………………………………….……………………… | 71 |
SECTION
|
8.03. Covenant Defeasance………………………………………………………….…………………………………... | 71 |
SECTION
|
8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance………………………………………………………….……….. | 72 |
SECTION
|
8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust: Other Miscellaneous Provisions…... | 73 |
SECTION
|
8.06. Repayment to Issuers………………………………………………………….…………………………………... | 74 |
SECTION
|
8.07. Reinstatement………………………………………………………….……………………………………………. |
74
|
ARTICLE IV | AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER………………………………………………………….…………… | 74 |
SECTION
|
9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes………………………………………………………….………………... | 74 |
SECTION
|
9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes………………………………………………………….……………………. | 75 |
SECTION
|
9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act………………………………………………………….………………… | 76 |
SECTION
|
9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents………………………………………………………….…………………… | 77 |
SECTION
|
9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes………………………………………………………….…………………….. | 77 |
SECTION
|
9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. ………………………………………………………….……………………. | 77 |
ARTICLE X | GUARANTEE………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………... | 77 |
SECTION
|
10.01. Unconditional Guarantee………………………………………………………….……………………………… | 77 |
SECTION
|
10.02. Severability………………………………………………………….……………………………………………... | 78 |
SECTION
|
10.03. Waiver of Subrogation………………………………………………………….………………………………... | 78 |
SECTION
|
10.04. Execution of Note Guarantee………………………………………………………….…………………………. | 79 |
SECTION
|
10.05. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws………………………………………………………….…………... | 79 |
ARTICLE XI | MISCELLANEOUS ………………………………………………………….……………………………………………. | 79 |
SECTION
|
11.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls………………………………………………………….………………………… | 79 |
SECTION
|
11.02. Notices………………………………………………………….………………………………………………….. | 79 |
SECTION
|
11.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes…………………………………………. | 81 |
SECTION
|
11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent…………………………………………………………... | 81 |
SECTION
|
11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion………………………………………………………….……… | 81 |
SECTION
|
11.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents………………………………………………………….………………………… | 81 |
iii
SECTION
|
11.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators, Members and Stockholders…… | 81 |
SECTION
|
11.08. Governing Law………………………………………………………….…………………………………………. | 82 |
SECTION
|
11.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements………………………………………………………….…... | 82 |
SECTION
|
11.10. Successors………………………………………………………….……………………………………………… | 82 |
SECTION
|
11.11. Severability………………………………………………………….……………………………………………... | 82 |
SECTION
|
11.12. Counterpart Originals………………………………………………………….………………………………….. | 82 |
SECTION
|
11.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.………………………………………………………….……………………. | 82 |
SECTION
|
11.14. Waiver of Jury Trial………………………………………………………….……………………………………. | 82 |
SECTION
|
11.15. Force Majeure………………………………………………………….………………………………………….. | 82 |
ARTICLE XII | SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE ………………………………………………………….……………………….. |
83
|
SECTION
|
12.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture………………………………………………………….……………. | 83 |
SECTION
|
12.02. Application of Trust Money………………………………………………………….………………………….. | 84 |
Exhibits:
Exhibit
A Form of
Note
Exhibit
B Form
of Certificate to be Delivered in connection with Transfers Pursuant to Rule
144A
Exhibit
C Form
of Certificate to be Delivered in connection with Transfers Pursuant to
Regulation S
Exhibit
D Form
of
Certificate of Beneficial Ownership in connection with exchanges of Temporary
Regulation S Global Notes
iv
CROSS-REFERENCE
TABLE
TIA
Section
|
Indenture
Section
|
|
310
|
(a)(1) |
7.10
|
(a)(2) |
7.10
|
|
(a)(3) |
N/A
|
|
(a)(4) |
N/A
|
|
(b) |
7.08;
7.10
|
|
(c) |
N/A
|
|
311
|
(a) |
7.11
|
(b) |
7.11
|
|
(c) |
N/A
|
|
312
|
(a) |
2.05
|
(b) |
11.03
|
|
(c) |
11.03
|
|
313
|
(a) |
7.06
|
(b)(1) |
N/A
|
|
(b)(2) |
7.06
|
|
(c) |
11.02
|
|
(d) |
7.06
|
|
314
|
(a) |
4.03;
4.04
|
(b) |
N/A
|
|
(c)(1) |
11.04
|
|
(c)(2) |
11.04
|
|
(c)(3) |
11.04
|
|
(d) |
N/A
|
|
(e) |
11.05
|
|
(f) |
N/A
|
|
315
|
(a) |
7.01
|
(b) |
7.05;
12.02
|
|
(c) |
7.01
|
|
(d) |
7.01
|
|
(e) |
6.11
|
|
316
|
(a) (last sentence) |
2.09
|
(a)(1)(A) |
6.05
|
|
(a)(1)(B) |
6.04
|
|
(a)(2) |
N/A
|
|
(b) |
6.07
|
|
317
|
(a)(1) |
6.08
|
(a)(2) |
6.09
|
|
(b) |
2.04
|
|
318
|
(a) |
11.01
|
N/A
means
Not Applicable
Note:
This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part
of
this Indenture.
i
INDENTURE
dated as of September 14, 2006 among CCH II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (as further defined below, the “Company”),
CCH
II Capital Corp., a Delaware corporation (as further defined below,
“Capital
Corp”
and
together with the Company, the “Issuers”),
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(the
“Parent
Guarantor”)
and
The Bank of New York Trust Company, NA, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
The
Issuers, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit
of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the
Notes:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION
1.01. Definitions.
“Acquired
Debt”
means,
with respect to any specified Person:
(1) Indebtedness
of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or
into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such
Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other
Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person;
and
(2) Indebtedness
secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified
Person.
“Additional
Notes”
means
any 10.25% Senior Notes due 2013 issued under this Indenture in addition to
the
Initial Notes (other than any Notes issued in respect of Initial Notes pursuant
to Section 2.06, 2.07, 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.16 or 9.05).
“Affiliate”
of
any
specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling
or
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified
Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any
Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise;
provided
that
beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person shall be
deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,”
“controlled by,” and “under common control with” shall have correlative
meanings.
“Agent”
means
any Registrar or Paying Agent.
“Asset
Acquisition”
means
(a) an Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in
any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or shall be
merged with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or
(b) the acquisition by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of
the assets of any Person which constitute all or substantially all
of
the
assets of such Person, any division or line of business of such Person or
any
other properties or assets of such Person other than in the ordinary course
of
business.
“Asset
Sale”
means:
(1) the
sale,
lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights by the Company
or
a Restricted Subsidiary, other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course
of
the Cable Related Business; provided
that the
sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall be governed by
Section 4.16 and/or Section 5.01 and not by the provisions of
Section 4.11; and
(2) the
issuance of Equity Interests by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or
the
sale by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of Equity
Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.
Notwithstanding
the preceding, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset
Sales:
(1) any
single transaction or series of related transactions that: (a) involves
assets having a fair market value of less than $100 million; or (b) results
in net proceeds to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of less than
$100
million;
(2) a
transfer of assets between or among the Company and/or its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(3) an
issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the
Company or to another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company;
(4) a
Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07, a Restricted
Investment that is permitted by Section 4.08 or a Permitted
Investment;
(5) the
incurrence of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture and the disposition of
assets related to such Liens by the secured party pursuant to a foreclosure;
and
(6) any
disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents.
“Attributable
Debt”
in
respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination,
the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during
the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction,
including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the
option of the lessee, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using
a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction,
determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Bankruptcy
Law”
means
Title 11, U.S. Code or any federal or state law of any jurisdiction relating
to
bankruptcy, insolvency, winding up, liquidation, reorganization or relief of
debtors.
2
“Beneficial
Owner”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the
Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any
particular “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the
Exchange Act) such “person” shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all
securities that such “person” has the right to acquire, whether such right is
currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent
condition.
“Board
of Directors”
means
the board of directors or comparable governing body of CCI or, if so specified,
the Company, in either case, as constituted as of the date of any determination
required to be made, or action required to be taken, pursuant to this
Indenture.
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Legal Holiday.
“Cable
Related Business”
means
the business of owning cable television systems and businesses ancillary,
complementary or related thereto.
“Capital
Corp”
means
CCH II Capital Corp., a Delaware corporation, and any successor Person
thereto.
“Capital
Lease Obligation”
means,
at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability
in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be
capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.
“Capital
Stock”
means:
(1) in
the
case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in
the
case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate
stock;
(3) in
the
case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership
interests (whether general or limited); and
(4) any
other
interest (other than any debt obligation) or participation that confers on
a
Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or
distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
“Capital
Stock Sale Proceeds”
means
the aggregate net proceeds (including the fair market value of the non-cash
proceeds, as determined by an independent appraisal firm) received by the
Company from and after the Issue Date, in each case:
(x) as
a
contribution to the common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity
Interests (other than Disqualified Stock and other than issuances or sales
to a
Subsidiary of the Company) of the Company after the Issue Date, or
(y) from
the
issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible
or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into
3
or
exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than
Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary
of the Company).
“Cash
Equivalents”
means:
(1) United
States dollars;
(2) securities
issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States
government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided
that the
full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having
maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of
acquisition;
(3) certificates
of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of twelve months or
less
from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding
six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic
commercial bank having combined capital and surplus in excess of $500 million
and a Xxxxxxxx Bank Watch Rating at the time of acquisition of “B” or
better;
(4) repurchase
obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities
of
the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any
financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3)
above;
(5) commercial
paper having a rating at the time of acquisition of at least “P-1” from Xxxxx’x
or at least “A-1” from S&P and in each case maturing within twelve months
after the date of acquisition;
(6) corporate
debt obligations maturing within twelve months after the date of acquisition
thereof, rated at the time of acquisition at least “Aaa” or “P-1” by Xxxxx’x or
“AAA” or “A-1” by S&P;
(7) auction-rate
Preferred Stocks of any corporation maturing not later than 45 days after the
date of acquisition thereof, rated at the time of acquisition at least “Aaa” by
Xxxxx’x or “AAA” by S&P;
(8) securities
issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, or by
any
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, maturing not later than
six
months after the date of acquisition thereof, rated at the time of acquisition
at least “A” by Xxxxx’x or S&P; and
(9) money
market or mutual funds at least 90% of the assets of which constitute Cash
Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (8) of this
definition.
“CCH
I”
means
CCH I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successor Person
thereto.
“CCH I
Indenture”
means,
collectively (a) the indenture pursuant to which the CCH I Notes were
issued and (b) any indentures, note purchase agreements or similar documents
4
entered
into by CCH I and/or CCH I Capital Corp. on or after the Issue Date
for the purpose of incurring Indebtedness in exchange for, or the proceeds
of
which are used to refinance, any of the Indebtedness outstanding under the
CCH I Indenture described in the foregoing clause (a), in each case,
together with all instruments and other agreements entered into by CCH I or
CCH I Capital Corp. in connection therewith, as the same may be refinanced,
replaced, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“CCH I
Notes”
means
the 11.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 issued by CCH I and CCH I
Capital Corp.
“CCHC”
means
CCHC, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successor Person
thereto.
“CCI”
means
Charter Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor Person
thereto.
“CCI
Indentures”
means,
collectively, the indentures entered into by CCI with respect to its 5.875%
Convertible Senior Notes due 2009, and any indentures, note purchase agreements
or similar documents entered into by CCI for the purpose of incurring
Indebtedness in exchange for, or the proceeds of which are used to refinance,
any of the Indebtedness described above, in each case, together with all
instruments and other agreements entered into by CCI in connection therewith,
as
any of the foregoing may be refinanced, replaced, amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.
“CCO”
means
Charter Communications Operating, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
and
any successor Person thereto.
“CCO
Holdings”
means
CCO Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successor
Person thereto.
“Change
of Control”
means
the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) the
sale,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or
consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a
whole, or of a Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person”
(as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than
Xxxx
X.
Xxxxx and the Related Parties;
(2) the
adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company
or
a Parent (except the liquidation of any Parent into any other
Parent);
(3) the
consummation of any transaction, including any merger or consolidation, the
result of which is that any “person” (as defined above) other than Xxxx X. Xxxxx
and Related Parties becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of
more than 35% of the Voting Stock of the Company or a Parent, measured by voting
power rather than the number of shares, unless Xxxx X. Xxxxx or a Related Party
Beneficially Owns, directly or indirectly, a greater percentage of Voting Stock
of the
5
Company
or such Parent, as the case may be, measured by voting power rather than
the
number of shares, than such person;
(4) after
the
Issue Date, the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board
of
Directors of CCI are not Continuing Directors;
(5) the
Company or a Parent consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person,
or
any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company or a Parent,
in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding
Voting Stock of the Company or such Parent is converted into or exchanged
for
cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where
the
Voting Stock of the Company or such Parent outstanding immediately prior
to such
transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the surviving or transferee Person constituting a
majority of the outstanding shares of such Voting Stock of such
surviving or transferee Person immediately after giving effect to such issuance;
or
(6) (i) Charter
Communications Holding Company, LLC shall cease to own beneficially, directly
or
indirectly, 100% of the Capital Stock of Charter Holdings or (ii) Charter
Holdings shall cease to own beneficially, directly or indirectly, 100% of the
Capital Stock of the Company.
“Charter
Holdings”
means
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
and
any successor Person thereto.
“Charter
Holdings Indentures”
means,
collectively (a) the indentures entered into by Charter Holdings and
Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation in connection with the
issuance of the 8.250% Senior Notes Due 2007 dated March 1999, 8.625% Senior
Notes Due 2009 dated March 1999, 9.920% Senior Discount Notes Due 2011 dated
March 1999, 10.00% Senior Notes Due 2009 dated January 2000, 10.250% Senior
Notes Due 2010 dated January 2000, 11.750% Senior Discount Notes Due 2010 dated
January 2000, 10.75% Senior Notes Due 2009 dated January 2001, 11.125% Senior
Notes Due 2011 dated January 2001, 13.50% Senior Discount Notes Due 2011 dated
January 2001, 9.625% Senior Notes Due 2009 dated May 2001, 10.00% Senior Notes
Due 2011 dated May 2001, 11.750% Senior Discount Notes Due 2011 dated May 2001,
9.625% Senior Notes Due 2009 dated January 2002, 10.00% Senior Notes Due 2011
dated January 2002, and 12.125% Senior Discount Notes Due 2012 dated January
2002, and (b) any indentures, note purchase agreements or similar documents
entered into by Charter Holdings and/or Charter Communications Holdings Capital
Corporation on or after the Issue Date for the purpose of incurring Indebtedness
in exchange for, or proceeds of which are used to refinance, any of the
Indebtedness described in the foregoing clause (a), in each case, together
with all instruments and other agreements entered into by Charter Holdings
or
Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation in connection therewith,
as
the same may be refinanced, replaced, amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
“Charter
Refinancing Indebtedness”
means
any Indebtedness of a Charter Refinancing Subsidiary issued in exchange for,
or
the net proceeds of which are used within 90 days after the date of issuance
thereof to extend, repay, refinance, renew, replace, defease, purchase, acquire
or refund (including successive extensions, refinancings, renewals,
replacements, defeasances,
6
purchases,
acquisitions or refunds), (i) Indebtedness initially incurred under any one
or
more of the CCI Indentures, the Charter Holdings Indentures, the CIH Indenture,
the CCH I Indenture, the Existing CCH II Indenture or this Indenture or (ii)
any
other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
up
to an aggregate principal amount of $1.5 billion pursuant to this clause
(ii);
provided
that:
(1) the
principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Charter Refinancing
Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if
applicable) of, plus accrued interest and premium, if any, on the Indebtedness
so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, purchased, acquired or
refunded (plus the amount of reasonable fees, commissions and expenses incurred
in connection therewith); and
(2) such
Charter Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final
maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or
greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, purchased, acquired or
refunded.
“Charter
Refinancing Subsidiary”
means
any direct or indirect, wholly owned Subsidiary (and any related corporate
co-obligor if such Subsidiary is a limited liability company or other
association not taxed as a corporation) of CCI or Charter Communications Holding
Company, LLC, which is or becomes a Parent.
“CIH”
means
CCH I Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successor
Person thereto.
“CIH
Indenture”
means,
collectively (a) the indenture pursuant to which the CIH Notes were issued
and (b) any indentures, note purchase agreements or similar documents
entered into by CIH and/or CCH I Holdings Capital Corp. on or after the Issue
Date for the purpose of incurring Indebtedness in exchange for, or the proceeds
of which are used to refinance, any of the Indebtedness outstanding under the
CIH Indenture described in the foregoing clause (a), in each case, together
with all instruments and other agreements entered into by CIH or CCH I Holdings
Capital Corp. in connection therewith, as the same may be refinanced, replaced,
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“CIH
Notes”
means
each of the following series of notes issued by CIH and CCH I Holdings Capital
Corp.: The 11.125% Senior Accreting Notes Due 2014, the 9.920% Senior Accreting
Notes Due 2014, the 10.00% Senior Accreting Notes Due 2014, the 11.75% Senior
Accreting Notes Due 2014, the 13.50% Senior Accreting Notes Due 2014, and the
12.125% Senior Accreting Notes Due 2015.
“Clearstream”
means
Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (formerly Cedelbank).
“Company”
means
CCH II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successor Person
thereto.
“Consolidated
EBITDA”
means
with respect to any Person, for any period, the consolidated net income (or
net
loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such
7
period
calculated in accordance with GAAP plus, to
the extent such amount was deducted in calculating such net income:
(1) Consolidated
Interest Expense;
(2) income
taxes;
(3) depreciation
expense;
(4) amortization
expense;
(5) all
other
non-cash items, extraordinary items and nonrecurring and unusual items
(including any restructuring charges and charges related to litigation
settlements or judgments) and the cumulative effects of changes in accounting
principles reducing such net income, less all non-cash items, extraordinary
items, nonrecurring and unusual items and cumulative effects of changes in
accounting principles increasing such net income;
(6) amounts
actually paid during such period pursuant to a deferred compensation plan;
and
(7) for
purposes of Section 4.10 only, Management Fees;
all
as
determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP, provided
that
Consolidated EBITDA shall not include:
(x) the
net
income (or net loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary
(“Other
Person”),
except (i) with respect to net income, to the extent of the amount of
dividends or other distributions actually paid to such Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries by such Other Person during such period; and
(ii) with respect to net losses, to the extent of the amount of investments
made by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person in such Other
Person during such period;
(y) solely
for the purposes of calculating the amount of Restricted Payments that may
be
made pursuant to Section 4.07(c)(3) (and in such case, except to the extent
includable pursuant to clause (x) above), the net income (or net loss) of
any Other Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary
or
is merged into or consolidated with such Person or any Restricted Subsidiaries
or all or substantially all of the property and assets of such Other Person
are
acquired by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(z) the
net
income of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent that the
declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted
Subsidiary of such net income is not at the time of determination of such
Consolidated EBITDA permitted by the operation of the terms of such Restricted
Subsidiary’s charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order,
statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Restricted
Subsidiary (other than any agreement or instrument evidencing Indebtedness
or
Preferred Stock (i) outstanding on the Issue Date,
8
or
(ii) incurred or issued thereafter in compliance with Section 4.10,
provided
that
(a) the terms of any such agreement or instrument (other than
Existing Indebtedness and any modifications, increases or refinancings that
are
not materially more restrictive taken as a whole) restricting the declaration
and payment of dividends or similar distributions apply only in the event
of a
default with respect to a financial covenant or a covenant relating to payment,
beyond any applicable period of grace, contained in such agreement or
instrument; (b) such terms are determined by such Person to be customary in
comparable financings; and (c) such restrictions are determined by the
Company not to materially affect the Issuers’ ability to make principal or
interest payments on the Notes when due).
“Consolidated
Indebtedness”
means,
with respect to any Person as of any date of determination, the sum, without
duplication, of:
(1) the
total
amount of outstanding Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, plus
(2) the
total
amount of Indebtedness of any other Person that has been Guaranteed by the
referent Person or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus
(3) the
aggregate liquidation value of all Disqualified Stock of such Person and all
Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person, in each case,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated
Interest Expense”
means,
with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the sum
of:
(1) the
consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
for
such period, whether paid or accrued (including amortization or original issue
discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred
payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with
Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges
incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and
net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations); and
(2) the
consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
that was capitalized during such period; and
(3) any
interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such
Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets
of
such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not such Guarantee
or Lien is called upon);
in
each
case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP, excluding, however,
any amount of such interest of any Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person
if the net income of such Restricted Subsidiary is excluded in the calculation
of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clause (z) of the definition thereof
(but only in the same proportion as the net income of such Restricted Subsidiary
is excluded from the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to
clause (z) of the definition thereof).
9
“Continuing
Directors”
means,
as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of CCI
who:
(1) was
a
member of the Board of Directors of CCI on the Issue Date; or
(2) was
nominated for election or elected to the Board of Directors of CCI with the
approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such
Board of Directors of CCI at the time of such nomination or election or whose
election or appointment was previously so approved.
“Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee”
shall
be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.02 or such other
address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Issuers.
“Credit
Facilities”
means,
with respect to the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more
debt
facilities or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks or other
lenders (other than a Parent of the Issuers) providing for revolving credit
loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of
receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow
from
such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case,
as
amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole
or in part from time to time.
“Default”
means
any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both
would be, an Event of Default.
“Definitive
Note”
means
a
certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in
accordance with Section 2.06, substantially in the form of Exhibit
A
hereto,
except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have
the “Schedule
of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note”
attached thereto.
“Depositary”
means,
with respect to the Global Notes, the Person specified in Section 2.03 as
the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto
appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the
applicable provision of this Indenture.
“Disposition”
means,
with respect to any Person, any merger, consolidation or other business
combination involving such Person (whether or not such Person is the surviving
Person) or the sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance, or other
disposition of all or substantially all of such Person’s assets or Capital
Stock.
“Disqualified
Stock”
means
any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into
which
it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option
of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is
mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,
or
redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or
prior
to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute
Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require
the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change
of
control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms
of
such Capital Stock provide that the Company
10
may
not
repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless
such repurchase or redemption complies with
Section 4.07.
“Equity
Interests”
means
Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital
Stock
(but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable
for,
Capital Stock).
“Equity
Offering”
means
any private or underwritten public offering of Qualified Capital Stock of the
Company or a Parent of which the gross proceeds to the Company or received
by
the Company as a capital contribution from such Parent (directly or indirectly),
as the case may be, are at least $25 million.
“Euroclear”
means
Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels office, as operator of
the
Euroclear system.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange
Notes”
means
the Issuers’ 10.25% Senior Notes due 2013, containing terms substantially
identical to the Initial Notes or any Initial Additional Notes (except that
(i) such Exchange Notes shall not contain terms with respect to transfer
restrictions and shall be registered under the Securities Act and
(ii) certain provisions relating to an increase in the stated rate of
interest thereon shall be eliminated), that are issued and exchanged for
(a) the Initial Notes, as provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement
relating to such Initial Notes and this Indenture or (b) such Initial
Additional Notes, as may be provided in any Registration Rights Agreement
relating to such Initial Additional Notes and this Indenture (including any
amendment or supplement thereto).
“Exchange
Offers”
means:
(1) the
acquisition by CCHC and/or the Company of Indebtedness outstanding under the
CCI
Indentures, in exchange for the Issuers’ 10.25% Senior Notes due 2010, Class A
common stock of CCI and cash, pursuant to the Prospectus dated August 11,
2006 and related documents, as such documents may be supplemented, modified
or
extended from time to time; and
(2) the
acquisition by CCH I and/or the Company of Indebtedness outstanding under
the Charter Holdings Indentures, in exchange for CCH I Notes and
CCH II Notes, pursuant to the Offering Memorandum dated August 11,
2006 and related documents, as such documents may be supplemented, modified
or
extended from time to time; and
(3) the
distribution, loan or investment of (a) Indebtedness accepted in the exchanges
contemplated by clauses (1) and (2) of this definition and (b) amounts
sufficient to satisfy the expenses incurred by any Parent in connection
therewith (including any required payment of accrued interest thereon), in
each
case, directly or indirectly to or in any Parent;
provided,
that
any such Indebtedness referred to in clause (1) or (2) of this definition either
shall be held by a Parent of Charter Holdings or shall be cancelled as part
of
the Exchange Offers.
11
“Existing
CCH II Indenture”
means,
collectively (a) the indenture pursuant to which the Issuers’ 10.25% Senior
Notes due 2010 were issued and (b) any indentures, note purchase agreements
or
similar documents entered into by the Issuers on or after the Issue Date for
the
purpose of incurring Indebtedness in exchange for, or the proceeds of which
are
used to refinance, any of the Indebtedness outstanding under the Existing
CCH II Indenture described in the foregoing clause (a), in each case,
together with all instruments and other agreements entered into by the Issuers
in connection therewith, as the same may be refinanced, replaced, amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Existing
Indebtedness”
means
Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on
the
Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid.
“Existing
Notes Issue Date”
means
September 23, 2003.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute
of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity
as
have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which
are in effect on the Issue Date.
“Global
Note Legend”
means
the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(ii), which is required to be placed
on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
“Global
Notes”
means,
individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the
Unrestricted Global Notes.
“Government
Securities”
means
direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of
America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith
and
credit.
“Guarantee”
or
“guarantee”
means
a
guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection
in
the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including
by
way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement
agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness, measured
as the lesser of the aggregate outstanding amount of the Indebtedness so
guaranteed and the face amount of the guarantee.
“Hedging
Obligations”
means,
with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:
(1) interest
rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar
agreements;
(2) interest
rate option agreements, foreign currency exchange agreements, foreign currency
swap agreements; and
(3) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest and currency exchange rates.
12
“Holder”
means
a
holder of the Notes.
“Indebtedness”
means,
with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether
or not contingent:
(1) in
respect of borrowed money;
(2) evidenced
by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
(3) in
respect of banker’s acceptances;
(4) representing
Capital Lease Obligations;
(5) in
respect of the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any
property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade
payable; or
(6) representing
the notional amount of any Hedging Obligations,
if
and to
the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging
Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified
Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness”
includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the
specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified
Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by such Person
of any indebtedness of any other Person.
The
amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be:
(1) the
accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original
issue discount; and
(2) the
principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than
30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.
“Indenture”
means
this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Initial
Additional Notes”
means
Additional Notes issued in an offering not registered under the Securities
Act.
“Initial
Notes”
means
the Issuers’ 10.25% Senior Notes due 2013, issued on the Issue Date (and any
Notes issued in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.06, 2.07, 2.10, 3.06,
3.09, 4.16 or 9.05).
“Investment
Grade Rating”
means
a
rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Xxxxx’x and BBB- (or
the equivalent) by S&P.
“Investments”
means,
with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons,
including Affiliates, in the forms of direct or indirect loans (including
guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations), advances or capital
contributions (excluding commission,
13
travel
and similar advances to officers and employees
made in the ordinary course of business) and purchases or other acquisitions
for
consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together
with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance
sheet
prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Issue
Date”
means
September 14, 2006.
“Issuers”
has
the
meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.
“Legal
Holiday”
means
a
Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New
York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive
order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of
payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that
is
not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the
intervening period.
“Leverage
Ratio”
means,
as to the Company, as of any date, the ratio of:
(1) the
Consolidated Indebtedness of the Company on such date to
(2) the
aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA for the Company for the most recently
ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available
(the
“Reference
Period”),
multiplied by four.
In
addition to the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, “Consolidated
EBITDA”
shall
be calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to
(1) the
issuance of the Notes;
(2) the
incurrence of the Indebtedness or the issuance of the Disqualified Stock by
the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary
(and the application of the proceeds therefrom) giving rise to the need to
make
such calculation and any incurrence or issuance (and the application of the
proceeds therefrom) or repayment of other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock
or
Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, other than the incurrence or
repayment of Indebtedness for ordinary working capital purposes, at any time
subsequent to the beginning of the Reference Period and on or prior to the
date
of determination, as if such incurrence (and the application of the proceeds
thereof), or the repayment, as the case may be, occurred on the first day of
the
Reference Period; and
(3) any
Dispositions or Asset Acquisitions (including any Asset Acquisition giving
rise
to the need to make such calculation as a result of such Person or one of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (including any person that becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Acquisition) incurring, assuming or
otherwise becoming liable for or issuing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or
Preferred Stock) made on or subsequent to the first day of the Reference Period
and on or prior to the date of determination, as if such Disposition or Asset
Acquisition (including the incurrence, assumption or liability for any such
Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock and also including any
Consolidated EBITDA associated with such Asset Acquisition, including any cost
14
savings
adjustments in compliance with Regulation S-X
promulgated by the SEC) had occurred on the first day of the Reference
Period.
“Lien”
means,
with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest
or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed,
recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional
sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any
option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing
of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial
Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.
“Management
Fees”
means
the fees (including expense reimbursements) payable to any Parent pursuant
to
the management and mutual services agreements between any Parent of the Company
and CCO or between any Parent of the Company and other Restricted Subsidiaries
of the Company or pursuant to the limited liability company agreements of
certain Restricted Subsidiaries as such management, mutual services or limited
liability company agreements exist on the Issue Date (or, if later, on the
date
any new Restricted Subsidiary is acquired or created), including any amendment
or replacement thereof, provided,
that
any such new agreements or amendments or replacements of existing agreements,
taken as a whole, are not more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes
in
any material respect than such agreements existing on the Issue Date and
further provided,
that
such new, amended or replacement management agreements do not provide for
percentage fees, taken together with fees under existing agreements, any higher
than 3.5% of CCI’s consolidated total revenues for the applicable payment
period.
“Moody’s”
means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business
thereof.
“Net
Proceeds”
means
the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including any cash received upon
the
sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset
Sale), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including legal,
accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any
relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof or taxes paid or payable as
a
result thereof (including amounts distributable in respect of owners’, partners’
or members’ tax liabilities resulting from such sale), in each case after taking
into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing
arrangements and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of
Indebtedness.
“Non-Recourse
Debt”
means
Indebtedness:
(1) as
to
which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
(a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking,
agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness); (b) is
directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise; or
(c) constitutes the lender;
(2) no
default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof
may
have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit
upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness (other
than
15
the
Notes) of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the
payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity;
and
(3) as
to
which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any
recourse to the Capital Stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries.
“Non-U.S.
Person”
means
a
Person who is not a U.S. Person.
“Note”
or
“Notes”
means
the Initial Notes, any Additional Notes and the Exchange Notes.
“Note
Custodian”
means
the Trustee when serving as custodian for the Depositary with respect to the
Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.
“Note
Guarantee”
means
the unconditional Guarantee by the Parent Guarantor of the Issuers’ payment
Obligations under the Notes pursuant to Article X and the provisions of the
Notes.
“Obligations”
means
any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements,
damages, Guarantees and other liabilities payable under the documentation
governing any Indebtedness, in each case, whether now or hereafter existing,
renewed or restructured, whether or not from time to time decreased or
extinguished and later increased, created or incurred, whether or not arising
on
or after the commencement of a case under Title 11, U.S. Code or any
similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors (including post- petition
interest) and whether or not allowed or allowable as a claim in any such
case.
“Officer”
means,
with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial
Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary
or any Vice-President of such Person.
“Officers’
Certificate”
means
a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company or Capital Corp, as the case may
be,
by two Officers of the Company or Capital Corp, as the case may be, one of
whom
must be the principal executive officer, the chief financial officer or the
treasurer of the Company or Capital Corp, as the case may be, that meets the
requirements of Section 11.05.
“Opinion
of Counsel”
means
an opinion from legal counsel that meets the requirements of Section 11.05.
The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or any Subsidiary
of
the Company.
“Other
Global Note”
means
a
global note substantially in the form of Exhibit
A
hereto
bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited
with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its
nominee that will be issued (or the principal amount of which will be increased)
in connection with a transfer pursuant to Section 2.16(d).
16
“Parent”
means
CCH I, CIH, Charter Holdings, CCHC, Charter Communications Holding Company,
LLC, CCI and/or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the foregoing 100% of
the
Capital Stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by one or more of the
foregoing Persons, as applicable, and that directly or indirectly beneficially
owns 100% of the Capital Stock of the Company, and any successor Person to
any
of the foregoing.
“Parent
Guarantor”
means
Charter Holdings.
“Participant”
means,
with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has
an
account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with
respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).
“Permanent
Regulation S Global Note”
means
a
Regulation S Global Note that does not bear the Temporary Regulation S
Legend.
“Permitted
Investments”
means:
(1) any
Investment by the Company in a Restricted Subsidiary thereof, or any Investment
by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in the Company or in another
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(2) any
Investment in Cash Equivalents;
(3) any
Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Person,
if
as a result of such Investment:
(a) such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or
(b) such
Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or
conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(4) any
Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an
Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with
Section 4.11;
(5) any
Investment made out of the net cash proceeds of the issue and sale (other than
to a Subsidiary of the Company) of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Company or cash contributions to the common equity of the Company,
in each case after the Issue Date, to the extent that such net cash proceeds
have not been applied to make a Restricted Payment or to effect other
transactions pursuant to Section 4.07 hereof (with the amount of usage of
the basket in this clause (5) being determined net of the aggregate amount
of principal, interest, dividends, distributions, repayments, proceeds or other
value otherwise returned or recovered in respect of any such Investment, but
not
to exceed the initial amount of such Investment);
(6) other
Investments in any Person (other than any Parent) having an aggregate fair
market value, when taken together with all other Investments in any Person
made
by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (without duplication) pursuant
to
17
this
clause (6) from and after the Issue Date, not to exceed $750 million
(initially measured on the date each such Investment was made and without
giving
effect to subsequent changes in value, but reducing the amount outstanding
by
the aggregate amount of principal, interest, dividends , distributions,
repayments, proceeds or other value otherwise returned or recovered in respect
of any such Investment, but not to exceed the initial amount of such Investment)
at any one time outstanding;
(7) Investments
in customers and suppliers in the ordinary course of business which either
(A) generate accounts receivable or (B) are accepted in settlement of
bona fide disputes;
(8) Investments
consisting of payments by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of amounts
that
are neither dividends nor distributions but are payments of the kind described
in Section 4.07(4) to the extent such payments constitute
Investments;
(9) regardless
of whether a Default then exists, Investments in any Unrestricted Subsidiary
made by the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with the proceeds
of distributions from any Unrestricted Subsidiary; and
(10) Investments
that are part of the Exchange Offers.
“Permitted
Liens”
means:
(1) Liens
on
the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness
and other Obligations under any Credit Facilities;
(2) Liens
on
property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into
or
consolidated with the Company; provided
that
such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or
consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person
merged into or consolidated with the Company and related assets, such as the
proceeds thereof;
(3) Liens
on
property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company;
provided
that
such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such
acquisition;
(4) Liens
to
secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds,
performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary
course of business;
(5) purchase
money mortgages or other purchase money Liens (including any Capital Lease
Obligations) incurred by the Company upon any fixed or capital assets acquired
after the Issue Date or purchase money mortgages (including Capital Lease
Obligations) on any such assets, whether or not assumed, existing at the time
of
acquisition of such assets, whether or not assumed, so long as
(i) such
mortgage or Lien does not extend to or cover any of the assets of the Company,
except the asset so developed, constructed, or acquired, and
18
directly
related assets such as enhancements and modifications thereto, substitutions,
replacements, proceeds (including insurance proceeds), products, rents and
profits thereof, and
(ii) such
mortgage or Lien secures the obligation to pay all or a portion of the purchase
price of such asset, interest thereon and other charges, costs and expenses
(including the cost of design, development, construction, acquisition,
transportation, installation, improvement, and migration) and is incurred in
connection therewith (or the obligation under such Capital Lease Obligation)
only;
(6) Liens
existing on the Issue Date and replacement Liens therefor that do not encumber
additional property;
(7) Liens
for
taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent
or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly
instituted and diligently concluded; provided
that any
reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with
GAAP shall have been made therefor;
(8) statutory
and common law Liens of landlords and carriers, warehousemen, mechanics,
suppliers, materialmen, repairmen or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary
course of business and with respect to amounts not yet delinquent or being
contested in good faith by appropriate legal proceedings promptly instituted
and
diligently conducted and for which a reserve or other appropriate provision,
if
any, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been
made;
(9) Liens
incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection
with
workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social
security;
(10) Liens
incurred or deposits made to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases,
statutory or regulatory obligation, bankers’ acceptance, surety and appeal
bonds, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other
obligations of a similar nature incurred in the ordinary course of business
(exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money);
(11) easements,
rights-of-way, municipal and zoning ordinances and similar charges,
encumbrances, title defects or other irregularities that do not materially
interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries;
(12) Liens
of
franchisors or other regulatory bodies arising in the ordinary course of
business;
(13) Liens
arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements regarding
leases or other Uniform Commercial Code financing statements for precautionary
purposes relating to arrangements not constituting Indebtedness;
19
(14) Liens
arising from the rendering of a final judgment or order against the Company
or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that does not give rise to an Event of
Default;
(15) Liens
securing reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit that
encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and
the
products and proceeds thereof;
(16) Liens
encumbering customary initial deposits and margin deposits, and other Liens
that
are within the general parameters customary in the industry and incurred in
the
ordinary course of business, in each case, securing Indebtedness under Hedging
Obligations and forward contracts, options, future contracts, future options
or
similar agreements or arrangements designed solely to protect the Company or
any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries from fluctuations in interest rates, currencies
or the price of commodities;
(17) Liens
consisting of any interest or title of licensor in the property subject to
a
license;
(18) Liens
on
the Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
(19) Liens
arising from sales or other transfers of accounts receivable which are past
due
or otherwise doubtful of collection in the ordinary course of
business;
(20) Liens
incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries with respect to obligations which in the aggregate do not exceed
$50 million at any one time outstanding;
(21) Liens
in
favor of the Trustee arising under the provisions of Section 7.07 of this
Indenture and similar provisions in favor of trustees or other agents or
representatives under indentures or other agreements governing debt instruments
entered into after the date hereof;
(22) Liens
in
favor of the Trustee for its benefit and the benefit of Holders as their
respective interests appear; and
(23) Liens
securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, to the extent that the Indebtedness
being refinanced was secured or was permitted to be secured by such
Liens.
“Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness”
means
any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued
in
exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used, within 60 days after the
date of issuance thereof, to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or
refund, other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
(other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided
that
unless permitted otherwise by this Indenture, no Indebtedness of any Restricted
Subsidiary may be issued in exchange for, nor may the net proceeds of
Indebtedness be used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund,
Indebtedness of the Company; provided further
that:
20
(1) the
principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted
value, if applicable), plus accrued interest and premium, if any, on the
Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded
(plus the amount of reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith),
except to the extent that any such excess principal amount (or accreted value,
as applicable) would be then permitted to be incurred by other provisions of
Section 4.10;
(2) such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the
final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to
or
greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and
(3) if
the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded
is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of,
and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on terms at least as
favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation
governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
defeased or refunded.
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited
liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization,
government or agency or political subdivision thereof or any other
entity.
“Preferred
Stock,”
as
applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means Capital Stock of any class
or
classes (however designated) which, by its terms, is preferred as to the payment
of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over shares of Capital
Stock of any other class of such Person.
“Private
Placement Legend”
means
the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(i) to be placed on all Notes issued
under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of
this
Indenture.
“Productive
Assets”
means
assets (including assets of a Person owned directly or indirectly through
ownership of Capital Stock) of a kind used or useful in the Cable Related
Business.
“QIB”
means
a
“qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.
“QIB
Global Note”
means
a
global note substantially in the form of Exhibit
A
hereto
bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited
with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its
nominee that will be issued in an initial denomination that, when aggregated
with the initial denomination of the other QIB Global Notes, will equal the
outstanding principal amount of the Initial Notes or any Initial Additional
Notes, in each case initially sold in reliance on Rule 144A or Section 4(2)
of the Securities Act.
“Qualified
Capital Stock”
means
any Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock.
21
“Rating
Agencies”
means
Xxxxx’x and S&P.
“Registration
Rights Agreement”
means
(a) the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the Issue
Date among the Issuers, CCH I, CCH I Capital Corp., Charter Holdings, Banc
of
America Securities LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. with respect to the
Initial Notes and (b) any registration rights agreement among the Issuers
and the initial purchasers named therein with respect to any Initial Additional
Notes.
“Registered
Exchange Offer”
means
an offer to exchange Initial Notes or Initial Additional Notes, if any, for
Exchange Notes pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.
“Regulation
S”
means
Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Regulation
S Global Note”
means
a
global note substantially in the form of Exhibit
A
hereto
bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited
with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its
nominee that will be issued in an initial denomination that, when aggregated
with the initial denominations of the other Regulation S Global Notes, will
equal the outstanding principal amount of the Initial Notes or any Initial
Additional Notes, in each case, initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of
Regulation S.
“Related
Party”
means:
(1) the
spouse or an immediate family member, estate or heir of Xxxx X. Xxxxx;
or
(2) any
trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries,
stockholders, partners, owners or Persons beneficially holding an 80% or more
controlling interest of which consist of Xxxx X. Xxxxx and/or such other Persons
referred to in the immediately preceding clause (1).
“Responsible
Officer”
means,
when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice
president, assistant treasurer, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and having direct responsibility for the administration of this
Indenture, and also, with respect to a particular
matter,
any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have
direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Restricted
Definitive Note”
means
a
Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.
“Restricted
Global Note”
means
a
Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.
“Restricted
Investment”
means
an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
“Restricted
Period”
means
the
relevant 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in
Regulation S.
22
“Restricted
Subsidiary”
of
a
Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
“Rule
144”
means
Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule
144A”
means
Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule
903”
means
Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule
904”
means
Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“S&P”
means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, a division of the XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies,
Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
“SEC”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Significant
Subsidiary”
means
(a) with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person
which would be considered a “Significant Subsidiary” as defined in
Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and
(b) in addition, with respect to the Company, Capital Corp.
“Special
Interest”
means
special or additional interest in respect of the Notes that is payable by the
Issuers as liquidated damages upon specified registration defaults pursuant
to
any Registration Rights Agreement.
“Stated
Maturity”
means,
with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of
Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or principal was
scheduled to be paid in the documentation governing such Indebtedness on the
Issue Date, or, if none, the original documentation governing such Indebtedness,
and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase
any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the
payment thereof.
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person:
(1) any
corporation, association or other business entity of which at least 50% of
the
total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the
occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers
or
trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly,
by
such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a
combination thereof) and, in the case of any such entity of which 50% of the
total voting power of shares of Capital Stock is so owned or controlled by
such
Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person, such Person
and
its Subsidiaries also have the right to control the management of such entity
pursuant to contract or otherwise; and
(2) any
partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of
which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, or (b) the only
general
23
partners
of which are such Person or of one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or
any
combination thereof).
“Tax”
shall
mean any tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other governmental charge
(including penalties, interest and any other liabilities related
thereto).
“Temporary
Regulation S Global Note”
means
a
Regulation S Global Note that bears the Temporary Regulation S
Legend.
“TIA”
or
“Trust
Indenture Act”
means
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect
on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA; provided,
however,
that in
the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, then
“TIA”
means,
to the extent required by such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as
so
amended.
“Transfer
Restricted Notes”
means
Notes that bear or are required to bear the Private Placement
Legend.
“Trustee”
means
The Bank of New York Trust Company, NA until a successor replaces The Bank
of
New York Trust Company, NA in accordance with the applicable provisions of
this
Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
“Unrestricted
Global Note”
means
a
permanent global note substantially in the form of Exhibit
A
attached
hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule
of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note”
attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered
in
the name of the Depositary, representing a series of Notes that do not bear
the
Private Placement Legend.
“Unrestricted
Subsidiary”
means
any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors
of
the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a board resolution, but
only to the extent that such Subsidiary:
(1) has
no
Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;
(2) is
not
party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof unless the terms of any such agreement,
contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company
or
such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from
Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company unless such terms constitute
Restricted Investments permitted under Section 4.08, Permitted Investments,
Asset Sales permitted under Section 4.11 or sale and leaseback transactions
permitted under Section 4.12;
(3) is
a
Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation: (a) to subscribe for
additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s
financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels
of
operating results;
24
(4) has
not
guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for
any
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
and
(5) does
not
own any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.
Any
designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall
be evidenced to the Trustee by delivering to the Trustee a certified copy of
the
board resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate
certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and
was
permitted by Section 4.08. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary
would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary,
it
shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this
Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred
by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such
Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under
Section 4.10,
the
Company shall be in default of Section 4.10. The Board of Directors of the
Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted
Subsidiary; provided
that
such designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a
Restricted Subsidiary of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary and such designation shall only be permitted if:
(1) such
Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.10 calculated on a pro forma
basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter
reference period; and
(2) no
Default or Event of Default would be in existence immediately following such
designation.
“U.S.
Person”
means
a
U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities
Act.
“Voting
Stock”
of
any
Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the
time
entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors or comparable
governing body of such Person.
“Weighted
Average Life to Maturity”
means,
when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained
by
dividing:
(1) the
sum
of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then
remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments
of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by
(b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will
elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by
(2) the
then
outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
“Wholly
Owned Restricted Subsidiary”
of
any
Person means a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person where all of the outstanding
common equity interests or other ownership interests of such Restricted
Subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned
by such Person and/or by one or more Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of
such Person.
25
SECTION
1.02. Other
Definitions.
Term |
Defined
in Section
|
Affliliate Transaction |
4.13
|
Agent Members |
2.06(a)
|
Asset Sale Offer |
3.09
|
Authentication Order |
2.02
|
Capital Corp. |
Preamble
|
Change of Control Offer |
4.16
|
Change of Control Payment |
4.16
|
Change of Control Payment Date |
4.16(1)
|
Company |
Preamble
|
Covenant Defeasance |
8.03
|
DTC |
2.03
|
Event of Default |
6.01
|
Excess Proceeds |
4.11(c)
|
Guaranteed Indebtedness |
4.17
|
Incur |
4.10
|
Issuers |
Preamble
|
Legal Defeasance |
8.02
|
Offer Amount |
3.09
|
Offer Period |
3.09
|
Option of Holder to Elect Purchase |
4.16(4),
3.09(f)
|
Parent Guarantor |
Preamble
|
Paying Agent |
2.03
|
Payment Default |
6.01(5)(a)
|
Permitted Debt |
4.10
|
Preferred Stock Financing |
4.10
|
Purchase Date |
3.09
|
QIBs |
2.01(b)
|
Registrar |
2.03
|
Regulation S |
2.01(b)
|
Restricted Payments |
4.07(c)
|
Rule 144A |
2.01(b)
|
Subordinated Debt Financing |
4.10
|
Subordinated Notes |
4.10
|
Subsidiary Guarantee |
4.17(1)
|
Suspended Covenants |
4.19
|
Temporary Regulation S Legend |
2.06(f)(iii)
|
Trustee |
8.05, Preamble
|
SECTION
1.03. Incorporation
by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following
TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
26
“indenture
securities” means the Notes;
“indenture
security holder” means a Holder of a Note;
“indenture
to be qualified” means this Indenture;
“indenture
trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and
“obligor”
on the Notes means the Issuers and any successor obligor upon the
Notes.
All
other
terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA
reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the
meanings so assigned to them.
SECTION
1.04. Rules
of Construction.
Unless
the context otherwise requires:
(1) a
term
has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an
accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it, and all
accounting determinations shall be made, in accordance with GAAP;
(3) “or”
is
not exclusive and “including” means “including without limitation”;
(4) words
in
the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the
singular;
(5) all
exhibits are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part of
this
Indenture;
(6) references
to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be deemed to include
substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from
time to time;
(7) references
to any statute, law, rule or regulation shall be deemed to refer to the same
as
from time to time amended and in effect and to any successor statute, law,
rule
or regulation; and
(8) any
transaction or event shall be considered “permitted by” or made “in accordance
with” or “in compliance with” this Indenture or any particular provision thereof
if such transaction or event is not expressly prohibited by this Indenture
or
such provision, as the case may be.
ARTICLE II
THE
NOTES
SECTION
2.01. Form
and Dating.
27
(a) General.
The
Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in
the form of Exhibit
A
hereto.
The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock
exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.
The Notes shall be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof.
The
Global Notes shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes
represented thereby with the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary, and
registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly
executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter
provided.
Each
Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified
therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount
of
outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate
amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced
or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges, redemptions and transfers
of
interests. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any
increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby
shall be made by the Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the
Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required
by Section 2.06 hereof.
(b) The
Initial Notes are being issued by the Issuers only (i) to “qualified
institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act
(“Rule
144A“))
(“QIBs”)
and
(ii) in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act
(“Regulation S”).
After
such initial offers, Initial Notes that are Transfer Restricted Notes may be
transferred (i) to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A, (ii) outside
the United States pursuant to Regulation S, (iii) to the Issuers, in
each case, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Notes or
(iv) pursuant to other transfers that do not require registration under the
Securities Act. Initial Notes that are offered to QIBs in reliance on Section
4(2) of the Securities Act shall be issued in the form of one or more permanent
QIB Global Notes deposited with the Trustee, as Note Custodian, duly executed
by
the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. Initial
Notes that are offered in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S
shall be issued in the form of one or more Temporary Regulation S Global Notes
deposited with the Trustee, as Note Custodian, duly executed by the Issuers
and
authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The QIB Global Notes
and
the Regulation S Global Notes shall each be issued with separate CUSIP numbers.
The aggregate principal amount of each Global Note may from time to time be
increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as
Note Custodian. Transfers of Notes between or among QIBs and to or by purchasers
pursuant to Regulation S shall be represented by appropriate increases and
decreases to the respective amounts of the appropriate Global Notes, as more
fully provided in Sections 2.06 and 2.16.
Section
2.01(b) shall apply only to Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of the
Depositary.
(c) The
Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any Holder that is a
member of (or a participant
in) DTC or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of
DTC
(or its nominee) or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any
ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery of any notice
(including any notice
28
of
redemption) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Notes (or other
security or property) under or with respect to the Notes. The Trustee may
rely
(and shall be fully protected in relying) upon information furnished by DTC
with
respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners in the
Notes.
(d) Definitive
Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
attached
hereto (but without including the text referred to in footnotes 2 and 3
thereto).
SECTION
2.02. Execution
and Authentication.
An
Officer shall sign the Notes for each Issuer by manual or facsimile
signature.
If
an
Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time
a
Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
A
Note
shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature (which may be
by
facsimile) of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that
the
Note has been authenticated under this Indenture. At any time and from time
to
time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Issuers may deliver
Notes executed by the Issuers to the Trustee for authentication; and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver (i) Initial Notes for original issue in the
aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000, (ii) Additional Notes from time
to time for original issue in aggregate principal amount specified by the
Issuers and (iii) Exchange Notes from time to time for issue in exchange
for a like principal amount of Initial Notes or Initial Additional Notes, in
each case specified in clauses (i) through (iii) above, upon a written
order of the Issuers signed by an Officer of each of the Issuers (an
“Authentication
Order”).
Such
Authentication Order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated
and
the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated, whether such notes are
to
be Initial Notes, Additional Notes or Exchange Notes and whether the Notes
are
to be issued as one or more Global Notes and such other information as the
Issuers may include or the Trustee may reasonably request. The aggregate
principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture is unlimited.
The
Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuers to
authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever
the
Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the
Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has
the
same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the
Issuers.
SECTION
2.03. Registrar
and Paying Agent.
The
Issuers shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for
registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency
where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent“). The Registrar shall
keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuers
may
appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents.
The
term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes
any additional paying agent. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or
Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee
in
writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture.
If
the Issuers fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or
29
Paying
Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries
may
act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The
Issuers initially appoint The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)
to act
as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The
Issuers initially appoint the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent
and to act as Note Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
SECTION
2.04. Paying
Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The
Issuers shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in
writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders
or
the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal,
premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of
any
default by the Issuers in making any such payment. While any such default
continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by
it to
the Trustee. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all
money
held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent
(if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability
for
the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall
segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders
all
money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization
proceedings relating to the Issuers, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent
for
the Notes.
SECTION
2.05. Holder
Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses
of
all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee
is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven
Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as
the
Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as
the
Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of
Notes and the Issuers shall otherwise comply with TIA Section
312(a).
SECTION
2.06. Transfer
and Exchange.
(a) Each
Global
Note shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global
Notes
or the nominee of such Depositary, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian
for such Depositary and (iii) bear legends as set forth in Section
2.06(f).
Members
of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent
Members”)
shall
have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on
their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under such
Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Issuers, the Trustee
and
any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global
Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein
shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuers or the
Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other
authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary
and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the
exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Note.
(b) Transfers
of a Global Note shall be limited to transfers of such Global Note in whole,
but
not in part, to the Depositary,
its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of
30
beneficial
owners in a Global Note may be transferred in accordance with Section 2.16
and
the rules and procedures of the Depositary. In addition, Definitive Notes
shall
be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial
interests if (i) the Depositary notifies the Issuers that the Depositary
is
unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Notes or the
Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act
and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Issuers within ninety
(90)
days of such notice, (ii) the Issuers at their sole discretion, notify the
Trustee in writing that they elect to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes
under this Indenture or (iii) an Event of Default of which a Responsible
Officer
of the Trustee has actual notice has occurred and is continuing and the
Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue such Definitive
Notes.
(c) In
connection with the transfer of the entire Global Note to beneficial owners
pursuant to clause (b) of this Section, such Global Note shall be deemed to
be
surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuers shall execute,
and
the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified
by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note
an
equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized
denominations.
(d) The
registered holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize
any
person, including Agent Members and persons that may hold interests through
Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under
this
Indenture or the Notes.
(e) A
Definitive Note may not be transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest
in
a Global Note.
(f) Legends.
The
following legends shall appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive
Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the
applicable provisions of this Indenture.
(i) Private
Placement Legend.
Except
as permitted by Section 2.16, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and
all
Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend
in substantially the following form:
THIS
SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF
1933,
AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAW. THE HOLDER
HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY
THAT
NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED,
RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED (X) PRIOR TO THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY
OF
THE ISSUANCE HEREOF OR (Y) AT ANY TIME BY ANY TRANSFEROR THAT WAS AN AFFILIATE
OF EITHER ISSUER DURING THE THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE OF SUCH OFFER,
RESALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER, IN EITHER CASE, OTHER THAN (1) TO AN ISSUER,
(2) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(3) SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO
31
RULE
144A
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON WHOM THE TRANSFEROR
REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF
RULE 144A PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER, IN EACH CASE, TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE OFFER,
RESALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A,
(4) TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH
RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (5) IN
ANY
OTHER TRANSACTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE
OF
THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND SUBJECT TO THE
TRUSTEE OR THE ISSUERS RECEIVING SUCH CERTIFICATES, LEGAL OPINIONS AND OTHER
INSTRUMENTS, IN THE CASE OF TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (3), (4) OR (5),
AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE.
(ii) Global
Note Legend.
Each
Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following
form:
UNLESS
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OR TRANSFER,
EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF
CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR SUCH OTHER REPRESENTATIVE
OF
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE
TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER
USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE
REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS
OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN
PART,
TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO. OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S
NOMINEE.
(iii) Temporary
Regulation S Legend.
Each
Regulation S Global Note shall initially bear a legend (the “Temporary
Regulation S Legend”)
in
substantially the following form:
THE
HOLDER OF THIS NOTE BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS
THAT IF IT IS A PURCHASER IN A SALE THAT
00
XXXXXX
XXXXXXX XXX XXXXXX XXXXXX WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S OF THE SECURITIES
ACT, IT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, UNTIL EXPIRATION OF THE “40-DAY DISTRIBUTION
COMPLIANCE PERIOD” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 903 OF REGULATION S, ANY OFFER OR
SALE OF THIS NOTE SHALL NOT BE MADE BY IT TO A U.S. PERSON TO OR FOR THE ACCOUNT
OR BENEFIT OF A U.S. PERSON WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 902(k) UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT.
(g) Cancellation
and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.
At such
time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged
for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased
or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned
to
or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11. At
any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global
Note
is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof
in
the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive
Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall
be
reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by
the
Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such
reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred
to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest
in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly
and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the
Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such
increase.
(h) General
Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(i) To
permit
registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon the Issuers’
order or at the Registrar’s request.
(ii) No
service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global
Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or
exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any
transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith
(other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable
upon
exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.02, 2.10, 3.06, 4.11, 4.16 and
9.05).
(iii) The
Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any
Note
or portion of a Note selected for redemption or repurchase in whole or in part,
except the unredeemed or unrepurchased portion of any Note being redeemed or
repurchased in part.
(iv) All
Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer
or
exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations
of
the Issuers, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under
this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.
33
(v) The
Issuers shall not be required to register the transfer of or to exchange a
Note
for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or
repurchased or during the period between a record date and the next succeeding
interest payment date.
(vi) Prior
to
due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee,
any
Agent and the Issuers may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note
is
registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving
payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes,
and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuers shall be affected by notice
to
the contrary.
(vii) The
Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance
with
the provisions of Section 2.02.
(viii) All
certifications, certificates and opinions of counsel required to be submitted
to
the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.16 to effect a
registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
SECTION
2.07. Replacement
Notes.
If any
mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Issuers and the Trustee
receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
any
Note, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication
Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are
met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, an indemnity bond must be
supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and
the
Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating
agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The
Issuers may charge for their expenses in replacing a Note.
Every
replacement Note is an additional legally binding obligation of the Issuers
and
shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
SECTION
2.08. Outstanding
Notes.
The
Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee
except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those
reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in
accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and those described in this
Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09, a
Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of
the
Company holds the Note.
If
a Note
is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless
the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held
by
a bona fide purchaser.
If
the
principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01, it
ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If
the
Paying Agent (other than an Issuer or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any
thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to
pay
Notes payable on that date plus accrued and unpaid interest to such date, then
on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding
and shall cease to accrue interest.
34
SECTION
2.09. Treasury
Notes.
In
determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have
concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by an Issuer, or
by
any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct
or indirect common control with an Issuer, shall be considered as though not
outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only
Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be
so
disregarded.
SECTION
2.10. Temporary
Notes. Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the
Issuers may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order,
shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially
in
the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuers consider
appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee
shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary
Notes.
Holders
of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this
Indenture.
SECTION
2.11. Cancellation.
The
Issuers at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The
Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered
to
them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no
one
else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange,
payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Notes
in
its customary manner. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes
that
they have paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation.
SECTION
2.12. Defaulted
Interest. If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, they
shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent
lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are
Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided
in the Notes and in Section 4.01. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in
writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note
and
the date of the proposed payment. The Issuers shall fix or cause to be fixed
each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such
special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment
date
for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date,
the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the
name and at the expense of the Issuers) shall mail or cause to be mailed to
Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date
and the amount of such interest to be paid.
SECTION
2.13. Record
Date. The record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders
entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or
permitted under this Indenture shall be determined as provided for in TIA § 316
(c).
SECTION
2.14. Computation
of Interest. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a
360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
SECTION
2.15. CUSIP
Numbers. The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers, and if
they do so, the Trustee shall use such CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption
or
exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may
state that no
35
representation
is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP numbers printed in
the
notice or on the Notes and that reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed on the Notes. The Issuers shall promptly notify
the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers.
SECTION
2.16. Special
Transfer Provisions. Unless and until a Transfer Restricted Note is
transferred or exchanged under an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) Transfers
to QIBs.
The
following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any
proposed transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note to a QIB:
(i) The
Registrar shall register the transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note by a Holder
to a QIB if such transfer is being made by a proposed transferor who has
provided the Registrar with (a) an appropriately
completed certificate of transfer in the form attached to the Note and (b)
a
letter substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B
hereto.
(ii) If
the
proposed transferee is an Agent Member and the Transfer Restricted
Note to
be transferred consists of an interest in either a Regulation S Global Note
or
an Other Global Note, upon receipt by the Registrar of (x) the items
required by paragraph (i) above and (y) instructions given in accordance with
the Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures therefor, the Registrar shall
reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal
amount of the QIB Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of
the beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or Other Global
Note, as applicable, to be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect
on
its books and records the date and an appropriate decrease in the principal
amount of such Regulation S Global Note or Other Global Note, as
applicable.
(b) Transfers
Pursuant to Regulation S.
The
Registrar shall register the transfer of any Permanent Regulation S Global
Note
without requiring any additional certification. The following provisions shall
apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Transfer
Restricted Note pursuant to Regulation S:
(i) The
Registrar shall register any proposed transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note
pursuant to Regulation S by a Holder upon receipt of (a)
an
appropriately completed certificate of transfer in the form attached
to the
Note and (b) a
letter
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C
hereto
from the proposed transferor.
(ii) If
the
proposed transferee is an Agent Member and the Transfer Restricted Note to
be
transferred consists of an interest in a QIB Global Note or an Other Global
Note, upon receipt by the Registrar of (x) the items required by
paragraph (i) above and (y) instructions given in accordance with the
Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures therefor, the Registrar shall
reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal
amount of the Regulation S Global Note in an amount equal to the principal
amount of the beneficial interest in the QIB Global Note or Other Global Note,
as applicable, to be transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its books
and records the
36
date
and
an appropriate decrease in the principal amount of the QIB Global Note or
Other
Global Note, as applicable.
(c) Exchange
Offer.
Upon
the occurrence of the applicable Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with
the applicable Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers shall issue and,
upon
receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02, the Trustee
shall authenticate one or more Global Notes not bearing the Private Placement
Legend in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the
beneficial interests in the Global Notes that are Transfer Restricted Notes
tendered for acceptance in accordance with the Registered Exchange Offer and
accepted for exchange in the Registered Exchange Offer.
Concurrently
with the issuance of such Global Notes, the Registrar shall cause the aggregate
principal amount of the applicable Transfer Restricted Notes to be reduced
accordingly, and the Registrar shall deliver to the Persons designated by the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes Global Notes not bearing the Private
Placement Legend in the appropriate principal amount.
(d) Other
Transfers.
The
following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration by the
Registrar of any other proposed transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note that
does
not require registration under the Securities Act:
(i) The
Registrar shall register such transfer if it is being made by a proposed
transferor who has provided the Registrar with (a) an appropriately
completed certificate of transfer in the form attached to the Note and (b)
a
legal opinion from a law firm of nationally recognized standing to the effect
that such transfer does not require registration under the Securities
Act.
(ii) Subject
to clause (iii) below, if the proposed transferee is an Agent Member and the
Transfer Restricted
Note to
be transferred consists of an interest in either a QIB Global Note or a
Regulation S Global Note, upon receipt by the Registrar of (x) the items
required by paragraph (i) above and (y) instructions given in accordance with
the Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures therefor, the Registrar shall
reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal
amount of the Other Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount
of
the beneficial interest in the QIB Global Note or the Regulation S Global Note,
as applicable, to be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its
books and records the date and an appropriate decrease in the principal amount
of such QIB Global Note or Regulation S Global Note or, as
applicable.
(iii) In
connection with the first transfer pursuant to this Section 2.16(d), an Other
Global Note shall be issued in the form of a permanent Global Note substantially
in the form set forth in Exhibit A
deposited with the Trustee, as Note Custodian, duly executed by the Issuers
and
authenticated by the Trustee as herein provided. The Other Global Note shall
be
issued with its own CUSIP number. The aggregate principal amount of the Other
Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments
made
on the records of the Trustee, as Note Custodian.
37
(e) Private
Placement Legend.
Upon
the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes not bearing the Private Placement
Legend, the Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear the Private Placement
Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Transfer Restricted Notes,
the Registrar shall deliver only Transfer Restricted Notes unless either
(i) such transfer or exchange is made in connection with a Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) the circumstances contemplated in Section 2.18 exist,
or
(iii) there is delivered to the Registrar an Opinion of Counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Issuers and the Trustee to the effect that neither such
legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to
maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.
(f) General.
By its
acceptance of any Transfer Restricted Note, each Holder of such a Note
acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in this
Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend and agrees that it shall transfer
such Note only as provided in this Indenture.
The
Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written
communications received pursuant to this Section 2.16.
SECTION
2.17. Issuance
of Additional Notes.
The
Issuers shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture that
shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes, other than with respect to
the
date of issuance, issue price and amount of interest payable on the first
interest payment date applicable thereto (and, if such Additional Notes shall
be
issued in the form of Transfer Restricted Notes, other than with respect to
transfer restrictions, any Registration Rights Agreement and additional interest
with respect thereto). The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes and all
Exchange Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this
Indenture.
With
respect to any Additional Notes, the Issuers shall set forth in a resolution
of
each of their Boards of Directors and in an Officers’ Certificate, a copy of
each of which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following
information:
(i) the
aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and
delivered
pursuant to this Indenture;
(ii) the
issue
price, the date on which such Additional Notes shall be issued, the CUSIP
number, the first interest payment date and the amount of interest payable
on
such first interest payment date applicable thereto and the date from which
interest shall accrue; and
(iii) whether
such Additional Notes shall be Transfer Restricted Notes.
SECTION
2.18. Temporary
Regulation S Global Notes.
An
owner of a beneficial interest in a Temporary Regulation S Global Note (or
a
Person acting on behalf of such an owner) may provide to the Trustee (and the
Trustee shall accept) a duly completed certificate in the form of
Exhibit D hereto at any time after the Restricted Period (it being
understood that the Trustee shall not accept any such certificate during the
Restricted Period). Promptly after acceptance of such a certificate with respect
to such a beneficial interest, the Trustee shall cause such beneficial interest
to be exchanged for an equivalent beneficial interest in a Permanent
38
Regulation S
Global Note, and shall (x) permanently reduce the
principal amount of such Temporary Regulation S Global Note by the amount of
such beneficial interest and (y) increase the principal amount of such Permanent
Regulation S Global Note by the amount of such beneficial interest.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION
SECTION
3.01. Notices
to Trustee.
If the
Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions
of
Section 3.07, they shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not
more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting
forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption
shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of
Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.
SECTION
3.02. Selection
of Notes to Be Redeemed. If less than all of the Notes are redeemed or
purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the
Notes to be redeemed or purchased among the Holders of the Notes in compliance
with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any,
on
which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata
basis, by lot or in accordance with any other method the Trustee considers
fair
and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular
Notes
to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from
the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.
The
Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected
for
redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the
principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected
shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000; except that if
all
of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount
of
Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed.
Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture
that
apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called
for
redemption.
SECTION
3.03. Notice
of Redemption.
Subject
to the provisions of Section 3.09, at least 30 days but not more than 60
days before a redemption date, the Issuers shall mail or cause to be mailed,
by
first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to
be
redeemed at its registered address.
The
notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the
redemption date;
(b) the
redemption price;
(c) if
any
Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such
Note
to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note,
a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall
be
issued upon cancellation of the original Note;
39
(d) the
name
and address of the Paying Agent;
(e) that
Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect
the redemption price;
(f) that,
unless the Issuers default in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes
called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption
date;
(g) the
paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the
Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(h) that
no
representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number,
if
any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
At
the
Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the
Issuers’ name and at their expense; provided,
however,
that
each of the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior
to the redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee
give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice
as provided in the preceding paragraph.
SECTION
3.04. Effect
of Notice of Redemption.
Once
notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03, Notes
called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption
date
at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may be conditional.
SECTION
3.05. Deposit
of Redemption Price. At or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
redemption date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying
Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest
on
all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall
promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the
Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the
redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be
redeemed.
If
the
Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after
the
redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions
of
Notes called for redemption. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
if
a Note is redeemed on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the
related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be
paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered on the redemption
date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender
for
redemption because of the failure of the Issuers to comply with the preceding
paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption
date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest
not
paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes
and in Section 4.01.
SECTION
3.06. Notes
Redeemed in Part.
Upon
surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall issue and,
upon
the Issuers’ written request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at
the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the
unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
40
SECTION
3.07. Optional
Redemption.
(a) Except
as
set forth in clause (b) of this Section 3.07, the Issuers shall not
have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 3.07 prior to
October 1, 2010. On or after October 1, 2010, the Issuers shall have the
option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor
more
than 60 days’ notice, at the applicable redemption prices (expressed as
percentages of the principal amount of the Notes) set forth below plus accrued
and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the applicable redemption date, if
redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on October 1 of the years
indicated below:
Year
|
Percentage
|
2010
|
105.125%
|
2011
|
102.563%
|
2012
and thereafter
|
100.000%
|
(b) Notwithstanding
the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.07, at any time prior
to October 1, 2009, the Issuers may, on any one or more occasions, redeem
up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including
the
principal amount of any Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture on a
pro
rata basis (or nearly as pro rata as practicable) at a redemption price of
110.25% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest,
if
any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity
Offerings; provided
that:
(i) at
least
65% of the original
aggregate principal amount of Notes (including the principal amount of any
Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture must remain outstanding
immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by
the
Issuers and their Subsidiaries); and
(ii) the
redemption must occur within 60 days of the date of the closing of such Equity
Offering.
Any
redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the
provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06.
SECTION
3.08. Mandatory
Redemption or Repurchase.
Except
as otherwise provided in Section 4.11 or Section 4.16 below, the
Issuers shall not be required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect
to the Notes or be required to repurchase any Notes.
SECTION
3.09. Offer
to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds. In the event that the Issuers
shall be required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes pursuant
to Section 4.11 (an “Asset Sale Offer“), they shall follow the procedures
specified below.
The
Asset
Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its
commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is
required by applicable law (the “Offer
Period”).
No
later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (any
such date of purchase, the “Purchase
Date”),
the
Issuers shall purchase the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased
pursuant to Section 4.11 (the “Offer
Amount”)
or, if
41
less
than
the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the
Asset
Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same
manner
as interest payments are made. Unless the Issuers default in making such
payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall
cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date.
The
Issuers shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange
Act (or any successor rules) and any other securities laws and regulations
thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection
with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent
that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the
provisions of this Section 3.09, the Issuers’ compliance with such laws and
regulations shall not in and of itself cause a breach of their obligations
under
this Section 3.09.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Indenture, if the Purchase Date is on or after
an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date,
any
accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note
is
registered on the Purchase Date.
Upon
the
commencement of an Asset Sale Offer the Issuers shall send, by first class
mail,
a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee.
The
notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such
Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer
shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the
Asset Sale Offer, shall state:
(a) that
the
Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and
Section 4.11 and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain
open;
(b) the
Offer
Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;
(c) that
any
Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue
interest;
(d) that,
unless the Issuers default in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment
pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the
Purchase Date;
(e) that
Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may
elect to have Notes purchased in integral multiples of $1,000 only;
(f) that
Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer
shall
be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option
of Holder to Elect Purchase”
on
the
reverse of the Note completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the
Issuers, a depositary, if appointed by the Issuers, or a Paying Agent at the
address specified in the notice at least three Business Days before the Purchase
Date;
(g) that
Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Issuers, the
depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than
the
expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or
letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note
the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is
withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;
42
(h) that,
if
the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the
Offer
Amount, the Issuers shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis
(with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Issuers so that
only
Notes in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples thereof, shall be
purchased); and
(i) that
Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal
in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or
transferred by book-entry transfer).
On
or
before the Purchase Date, the Issuers shall, to the extent lawful, accept for
payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes
or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer or if less than
the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and shall deliver to
the
Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof
were accepted for payment by the Issuers in accordance with the terms of this
Section 3.09. The Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case
may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the
Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to
the
purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuers
for purchase, and the Issuers shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee,
upon written request from the Issuers, shall authenticate and mail or deliver
such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased
portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly
mailed or delivered by the Issuers to the Holder thereof. The Issuers shall
publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase
Date.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
SECTION
4.01. Payment
of Notes.
The
Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal, premium, if any, and
interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date
due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuers or a Subsidiary thereof,
holds as of 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the due date money deposited by
the
Issuers in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to
pay
all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. The Issuers shall pay
all
Special Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts
set
forth in any Registration Rights Agreement.
The
Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding
under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the then applicable interest
rate on the Notes; they shall pay interest (including post-petition interest
in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest
(without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent
lawful.
SECTION
4.02. Maintenance
of Office or Agency.
The
Issuers shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the
Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes
may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where
notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this
Indenture may be
43
served.
The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location,
and
any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the
Issuers
shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to
furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders,
notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of
the
Trustee.
The
Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or
agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such
purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Issuers shall
give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission
and of any change in the location of any such other office or
agency.
The
Issuers hereby designate The Bank of New York Trust Company, NA, at 0 Xxxxx
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000; Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000; Attn: Corporate Trust
Department, as one such office or agency of the Issuers in accordance with
Section 2.03.
SECTION
4.03. Reports.
(a) Whether
or not required by the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuers
shall furnish to the Holders of Notes, within the time periods specified in
the
SEC’s rules and regulations:
(1) all
quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be
contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Issuers were
required to file such forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section and, with respect to
the annual information only, a report on the annual consolidated financial
statements of the Company of its independent public accountants;
and
(2) all
current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K
if
the Issuers were required to file such reports.
(b) While
(a) any Parent of the Company that guarantees the Notes is subject to the
reporting obligations of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (including
pursuant to the terms of its Indebtedness), (b) the rules and regulations
of the SEC permit the Company and any such Parent to report at the level of
such
Parent on a consolidated basis and (c) such Parent is not engaged in any
business in any material respect other than incidental to its direct or indirect
ownership of the Capital Stock of the Company, such consolidated reporting
at
such Parent level in a manner consistent with that described in this Section
4.03 for the Company shall satisfy this Section 4.03; provided
that
such Parent includes in its reports information about the Company that is
required to be provided by a parent guaranteeing debt of an operating company
subsidiary pursuant to Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X or any successor
rule then in effect.
For
any
fiscal quarter or fiscal year at the end of which Subsidiaries of the Company
are Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the quarterly and annual financial information
required by the preceding paragraph shall include a reasonably detailed
presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes
thereto, and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of
44
operations
of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations
of
the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.
In
addition, after consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer for the Initial
Notes, whether or not required by the SEC, the Issuers shall file a copy of
all
of the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with
the
SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules
and regulations, unless the SEC will not accept such a filing, and make such
information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon
request.
SECTION
4.04. Compliance
Certificate.
(a) The
Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each
fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of
the Issuers and their Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been
made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining
whether the Issuers have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their
obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer
signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Issuers
have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained
in this Indenture and are not in default in the performance or observance of
any
of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default
or
Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events
of
Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuers are
taking or propose to take with respect thereto).
(b) The
Issuers shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the
Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event
of
Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default
and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect
thereto.
SECTION
4.05. Taxes.
The
Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay,
prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies
except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or
where the failure to effect such payment is not likely to result in a material
adverse effect on the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.
SECTION
4.06. Stay,
Extension and Usury Laws. Each of the Issuers covenants (to the extent that
it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or
in
any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay,
extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force,
that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each
of
the Issuers (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives
all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not,
by
resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power
herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of
every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
SECTION
4.07. Restricted
Payments. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
45
(a) declare
or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of
its
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including any payment
in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any
of
its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the
Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their
capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable (x) solely
in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or (y) in
the
case of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, to the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary thereof);
(b) purchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including in connection with
any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect
Parent of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than,
in the case of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any such Equity
Interests owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries);
or
(c) make
any
payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire
or retire for value, any Indebtedness of the Company that is subordinated to
the
Notes, except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof
(all
such
payments and other actions set forth in clauses (a) through (c) above are
collectively referred to as “Restricted
Payments”),
unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted
Payment:
(1) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would
occur
as a consequence thereof; and
(2) the
Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro
forma
effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning
of
the applicable quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00
of
additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Leverage Ratio test set forth in the
first paragraph of Section 4.10; and
(3) such
Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted
Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from and after
the
Existing Notes Issue Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by
clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) of the next succeeding
paragraph), shall not exceed, at the date of determination, the sum of the
following:
(a) an
amount
equal to 100% of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company for the period beginning
on the first day of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the Existing Notes
Issue Date to the end of the Company’s most recently ended full fiscal quarter
for which internal financial statements are available, taken as a single
accounting period, less the product of 1.3 times the Consolidated Interest
Expense of the Company for such period, plus
(b) an
amount
equal to 100% of Capital Stock Sale Proceeds less any amount of such Capital
Stock Sale Proceeds used in connection with an
46
Investment
made on or after the Existing Notes Issue
Date pursuant to clause (5) of the definition of “Permitted
Investments,”
plus
(c) $100
million.
So
long
as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the
preceding provisions shall not prohibit:
(1) the
payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof,
if
at said date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions
of this Indenture;
(2) the
redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any
subordinated Indebtedness of the Company in exchange for, or out of the net
proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary
of
the Company) of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock);
provided
that the
amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption,
repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition shall be excluded from
clause (3)(b) of the preceding paragraph;
(3) the
defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with the
net
cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness;
(4) regardless
of whether a Default then exists, the payment of any dividend or distribution
made in respect of any calendar year or portion thereof during which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is a Person that is not treated as a separate tax
paying entity for United States federal income tax purposes by the Company
and
its Subsidiaries (directly or indirectly) to the direct or indirect holders
of
the Equity Interests of the Company or its Subsidiaries that are Persons that
are treated as a separate tax paying entity for United States federal income
tax
purposes, in an amount sufficient to permit each such holder to pay the actual
income taxes (including required estimated tax installments) that are required
to be paid by it with respect to the taxable income of any Parent (through
its
direct or indirect ownership of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries), the
Company, its Subsidiaries or any Unrestricted Subsidiary, as applicable, in
any
calendar year, as estimated in good faith by the Company or its Subsidiaries,
as
the case may be;
(5) regardless
of whether a Default then exists, the payment of any dividend by a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its common Equity Interests on
a pro
rata basis;
(6) the
repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value, or the
payment of any dividend or distribution to the extent necessary to permit the
repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value, of any
Equity Interests of the Company or a Parent of the Company held by any member
of
the Company’s, such Parent’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s management pursuant
to any management equity subscription agreement or stock option agreement
entered into in
47
accordance
with the policies of the Company, any Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that the
aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired
Equity Interests shall not exceed $10 million in any fiscal year of the
Issuers;
(7) payment
of fees in connection with any acquisition, merger or similar transaction in
an
amount that does not exceed an amount equal to 1.25% of the transaction value
of
such acquisition, merger or similar transaction;
(8) additional
Restricted Payments directly or indirectly to CCH I or any other Parent
(i) regardless of whether a Default exists (other than a Default under
Section 6.01(1), (2), (7) or (8)), for the purpose of enabling Charter
Holdings, CIH, CCH I or any Charter Refinancing Subsidiary to pay interest
when
due on Indebtedness under the Charter Holdings Indentures, the CIH Indenture,
the CCH I Indenture and/or any Charter Refinancing Indebtedness, (ii) for
the purpose of enabling CCI and/or any Charter Refinancing Subsidiary to pay
interest when due on Indebtedness under the CCI Indentures and/or any Charter
Refinancing Indebtedness and (iii) so long as the Company would have been
permitted, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma
effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning
of
the applicable quarter period, to incur at least $1.00 of additional
Indebtedness pursuant to the Leverage Ratio test set forth in the first
paragraph of Section 4.10, (A) to the extent required to enable
Charter Holdings, CIH, CCH I, CCI or any Charter Refinancing Subsidiary to
defease, redeem, repurchase, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise acquire
or
retire Indebtedness under the Charter Holdings Indentures, the CIH Indenture,
the CCH I Indenture, the CCI Indentures or any Charter Refinancing Indebtedness
(including any expenses incurred by any Parent in connection therewith) or
(B) consisting of purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions by the
Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under the Charter
Holdings Indentures, the CIH Indenture, the CCH I Indenture, the CCI Indentures
or any Charter Refinancing Indebtedness (including any expenses incurred by
the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith) and the
distribution, loan to or investment in any Parent of Indebtedness so purchased,
redeemed or acquired; and
(9) Restricted
Payments that are part of the Exchange Offers.
The
amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market
value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities
proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any
assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant shall
be
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose resolution with
respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee. Such Board of Directors’
determination must be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an
accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if the
fair market value exceeds $100 million.
Not
later
than the date of making any Restricted Payment involving an amount or fair
market value in excess of $10 million, the Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee
an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and
setting forth the basis upon
48
which
the calculations required by this
Section 4.07 were computed, together with a copy of
any
fairness opinion or appraisal required by this Indenture.
SECTION
4.08. Investments.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
directly or indirectly:
(1) make
any
Restricted Investment; or
(2) allow
any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries to become an Unrestricted
Subsidiary,
unless,
in each case:
(a) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would
occur
as a consequence thereof; and
(b) the
Company would, at the time of, and after giving effect to, such Restricted
Investment or such designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional
Indebtedness pursuant to the Leverage Ratio test set forth in the first
paragraph of Section 4.10.
An
Unrestricted Subsidiary may be redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary if such
redesignation would not cause a Default.
SECTION
4.09. Dividend
and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.
The
Company shall not, directly or indirectly, create, or permit to exist or become
effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to:
(1) pay
dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company
or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or
participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness owed
to
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) make
loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
or
(3) transfer
any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries.
However,
the preceding restrictions shall not apply to encumbrances or restrictions
existing under or by reason of:
(1) Existing
Indebtedness, contracts and other instruments as in effect on the Issue Date
and
any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements,
refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof; provided
that
such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements,
refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive,
taken as a whole, with
49
respect
to such dividend and other payment
restrictions than those contained in the most restrictive Existing Indebtedness,
contracts or other instruments, as in effect on the Issue Date;
(2) applicable
law;
(3) any
instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by
the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such
acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness was incurred in connection
with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction
is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person,
other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired;
provided
that, in
the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this
Indenture to be incurred;
(4) customary
non-assignment provisions in leases, franchise agreements and other commercial
agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(5) purchase
money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business
that
impose restrictions on the property so acquired of the nature described in
clause (3) of the preceding paragraph;
(6) any
agreement for the sale or other disposition of Capital Stock or assets of a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that restricts distributions by such
Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale or other disposition;
(7) Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness; provided
that the
restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive at the time such restrictions
become effective, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements
governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;
(8) Liens
securing Indebtedness or other obligations otherwise permitted to be incurred
under Section 4.14 that limit the right of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to dispose of the assets subject to such
Lien;
(9) provisions
with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint
venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary
course of business;
(10) restrictions
on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts
entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(11) restrictions
contained in the terms of Indebtedness or Preferred Stock permitted to be
incurred under Section 4.10; provided
that
such restrictions are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than
the terms contained in the most restrictive, together or individually, of the
Credit Facilities and other Existing Indebtedness as in effect on the Issue
Date; and
50
(12) restrictions
that are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than customary
provisions in comparable financings and that the management of the Company
determines, at the time of such financing, will not materially impair the
Issuers’ ability to make payments as required under the Notes.
SECTION
4.10. Incurrence
of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise
become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect
to
(collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and the
Company shall not issue any Disqualified Stock and shall not permit any of
its
Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred
Stock, provided that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may
incur
Indebtedness, the Company may issue Disqualified Stock and, subject to the
final
paragraph of this covenant below, Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company may
issue Preferred Stock if the Leverage Ratio of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries would have been not greater than 5.5 to 1.0 determined on a pro
forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom),
as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock
or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of
the
most recently ended fiscal quarter.
So
long
as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would be caused thereby,
the first paragraph of this covenant shall not prohibit the incurrence of any
of
the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted
Debt“):
(1) the
incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under
Credit Facilities; provided
that the
aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries outstanding under this clause (1) for all Credit Facilities of
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after giving effect to such
incurrence does not exceed an amount equal to $9.75 billion less the aggregate
amount of all Net Proceeds from Asset Sales applied by the Company or any of
its
Restricted Subsidiaries to repay any such Indebtedness under a Credit Facility
pursuant to Section 4.11;
(2) the
incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of Existing
Indebtedness (other than under Credit Facilities);
(3) the
incurrence on the Issue Date by the Company of Indebtedness represented by
the
Notes (but not including any Additional Notes);
(4) the
incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness
represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money
obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any
part
of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement (including the
cost
of design, development, construction, acquisition, transportation, installation,
improvement, and migration) of Productive Assets of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed,
together with any related Permitted
51
Refinancing
Indebtedness permitted by clause (5)
below, $75 million at any time outstanding:
(5) the
incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are
used
to refund, refinance or replace, in whole or in part, Indebtedness (other than
intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred
under this clause (5), the first paragraph of this covenant or
clauses (2), (3) or (4) of this paragraph;
(6) the
incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany
Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; provided
that:
(a) if
the
Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be expressly
subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with
respect to the Notes; and
(b) (i) any
subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such
Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary thereof and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such
Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary thereof, shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence
of such Indebtedness that was not permitted by this
clause (6);
(7) the
incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging
Obligations that are incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest
rate
risk with respect to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by the
terms of this Indenture to be outstanding;
(8) the
guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness
of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was permitted to be incurred
by
another provision of this Section 4.10;
(9) the
incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional
Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding under
this
clause (9), not to exceed $300 million; and
(10) the
accretion or amortization of original issue discount and the write up of
Indebtedness in accordance with purchase accounting.
For
purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.10, any Indebtedness
under Credit Facilities outstanding on the Issue Date shall be deemed to have
been incurred pursuant to clause (1) above, and, in the event that an item
of proposed Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness initially deemed on the
Issue Date to be incurred under clause (1) above) (a) meets the
criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in
clauses (1) through (10) above or (b) is entitled to be incurred
pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company shall be permitted
to classify and from time to time to reclassify such item of Indebtedness in
any
manner that complies with this covenant. Once any item of Indebtedness is
52
so
reclassified, it shall no longer be deemed outstanding under the category
of
Permitted Debt where initially incurred or previously reclassified. For
avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness incurred pursuant to a single agreement,
instrument, program, facility or line of credit may be classified as
Indebtedness arising in part under one of the clauses listed above or under
the
first paragraph of this covenant, and in part under any one or more of the
clauses listed above, to the extent that such Indebtedness satisfies the
criteria for such classification.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in no event shall any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
consummate a Subordinated Debt Financing or a Preferred Stock Financing. A
“Subordinated
Debt Financing”
or
a
“Preferred
Stock Financing,”
as
the
case may be, with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall
mean
a public offering or private placement (whether pursuant to Rule 144A under
the Securities Act or otherwise) of Subordinated Notes or Preferred Stock
(whether or not such Preferred Stock constitutes Disqualified Stock), as the
case may be, of such Restricted Subsidiary to one or more purchasers (other
than
to one or more Affiliates of the Company). “Subordinated
Notes”
with
respect to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall mean Indebtedness
of
such Restricted Subsidiary that is contractually subordinated in right of
payment to any other Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary (including
Indebtedness under Credit Facilities), provided
that the
foregoing shall not apply to priority of Liens, including by way of
intercreditor arrangements. The foregoing limitation shall not apply
to:
(a) any
Indebtedness or Preferred Stock of any Person existing at the time such Person
is merged with or into or becomes a Subsidiary of the Company; provided
that
such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock was not incurred or issued in connection
with, or in contemplation of, such Person merging with or into, or becoming
a
Subsidiary of, the Company, and
(b) any
Indebtedness or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued in connection
with, and as part of the consideration for, an acquisition, whether by stock
purchase, asset sale, merger or otherwise, in each case involving such
Restricted Subsidiary, which Indebtedness or Preferred Stock is issued to the
seller or sellers of such stock or assets; provided
that
such Restricted Subsidiary is not obligated to register such Indebtedness or
Preferred Stock under the Securities Act or obligated to provide information
pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
SECTION
4.11. Limitation
on Asset Sales.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(1) the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of
such
Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity
Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of;
(2) such
fair
market value is determined by the Board of Directors of the Company and
evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’
Certificate delivered to the Trustee; and
53
(3) at
least
75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary is in the form of cash, Cash Equivalents or readily marketable
securities.
For
purposes of this Section 4.11, each of the following shall be deemed to be
cash:
(a) any
liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most
recent balance sheet) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than
contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated
to
the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to
a
customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary from further liability;
(b) any
securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such
Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the recipient
thereof into cash, Cash Equivalents or readily marketable securities within
60
days after receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash, Cash Equivalents or
readily marketable securities received in that conversion); and
(c) Productive
Assets.
Within
365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof may apply such Net Proceeds at its
option:
(1) to
repay
debt under Credit Facilities or any other Indebtedness of the Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Company (other than Indebtedness represented by a guarantee
of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); or
(2) to
invest
in Productive Assets; provided
that any
such amount of Net Proceeds which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof
has committed to invest in Productive Assets within 365 days of the applicable
Asset Sale may be invested in Productive Assets within two years of such Asset
Sale.
The
amount of any Net Proceeds received from Asset Sales that are not applied or
invested as provided in the preceding paragraph shall constitute “Excess
Proceeds.”
When
the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25 million, the Company shall
make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes and will repay, redeem or
offer
to purchase all other Indebtedness of the Company that is of equal priority
in
right of payment with the Notes containing provisions requiring repayment,
redemption or offers to purchase with the proceeds of sales of assets, to
purchase, repay or redeem, on a pro rata basis, the maximum principal amount
of
Notes and such other Indebtedness of the Company of equal priority that may
be
purchased, repaid or redeemed out of the Excess Proceeds, which amount includes
the entire amount of the Net Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer
shall be payable in cash and equal to 100% of the principal amount of the
subject Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase.
If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered into such Asset Sale Offer
and such other Indebtedness of equal priority to be purchased, repaid or
redeemed out of the Excess Proceeds exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds,
the
Trustee shall select the Notes tendered into such Asset Sale Offer and such
other Indebtedness
of equal priority to be purchased, repaid or redeemed on a pro rata
basis.
54
If
any
Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, then the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof may use such remaining Excess
Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. Upon
completion of any Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be
reset
at zero.
In
the
event that the Company shall be required to commence an offer to Holders to
purchase Notes pursuant to this Section 4.11, it shall follow the
procedures specified in Sections 3.01 through 3.09.
SECTION
4.12. Sale
and Leaseback Transactions.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided that the Company and
its
Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction
if:
(1) the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have
(a) incurred
Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such sale
and leaseback transaction under the Leverage Ratio test in the first paragraph
of Section 4.10 and
(b) incurred
a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.14 or the
definition of Permitted Liens; and
(2) the
transfer of assets in that sale and leaseback transaction is permitted by,
and
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary applies the proceeds of such
transaction in compliance with, Section 4.11.
The
foregoing restrictions shall not apply to a sale and leaseback transaction
if
the lease is for a period, including renewal rights, of not in excess of three
years.
SECTION
4.13. Transactions
with Affiliates.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of
its
properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter
into
or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan,
advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each, an
“Affiliate Transaction”), unless:
(1) such
Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not less favorable to the Company
or
the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained
in a
comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with a
Person who is not an Affiliate; and
(2) the
Company delivers to the Trustee:
(a) with
respect to any Affiliate Transaction, or series of related Affiliate
Transactions, involving aggregate consideration given or received by the Company
or any such Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $15 million, a resolution of
the
Board of Directors of the Company or CCI set forth in an Officers’ Certificate
certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this
55
Section 4.13
and that such Affiliate Transaction
has been approved by a majority of the members of such Board of Directors;
and
(b) with
respect to any Affiliate Transaction, or series of related Affiliate
Transactions, involving aggregate consideration given or received by the Company
or any such Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $50 million, an opinion as to
the
fairness to the Holders of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point
of
view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national
standing.
The
following items shall not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore,
shall not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph:
(1) any
existing employment agreement and employee benefit arrangement (including stock
purchase or option agreements, deferred compensation plans, and retirement,
savings or similar plans) entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
and any employment agreement and employee benefit arrangements entered into
by
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business;
(2) transactions
between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(3) payment
of reasonable directors fees to Persons who are not otherwise Affiliates of
the
Company, and customary indemnification and insurance arrangements in favor
of
directors, regardless of affiliation with the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(4) payment
of Management Fees;
(5) Restricted
Payments that are permitted by Section 4.07 and Restricted Investments that
are permitted by Section 4.08;
(6) Permitted
Investments;
(7) transactions
pursuant to agreements existing on the Issue Date, as in effect on the Issue
Date, or as subsequently modified, supplemented, or amended, to the extent
that
any such modifications, supplements or amendments comply with the applicable
provisions of the first paragraph of this Section 4.13; and
(8) contributions
to the common equity capital of the Company or the issue or sale of Equity
Interests of the Company.
SECTION
4.14. Liens.
The
Company shall not, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer
to
exist any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness, Attributable Debt or trade
payables on any asset of the Company, whether owned on the Issue Date or
thereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens.
56
SECTION
4.15. Existence.
Subject to Article 5, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things
necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its limited
liability company existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence
of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational
documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or
any
such Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory),
licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license
or
franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Capital Corp), if the Board of Directors
of
the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable
in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not likely to result in a
material adverse effect on the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken
as
a whole.
SECTION
4.16. Repurchase
at the Option of Holders upon a Change of Control. If a Change of Control
occurs, each Holder of Notes shall have the right to require the Issuers to
repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 in principal amount, or in either
case, an integral multiple thereof) of that Holder’s Notes pursuant to a
“Change of Control Offer.” In the Change of Control Offer, the Issuers
shall offer a “Change of Control Payment” in cash equal to 101% of the
aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest
thereon, if any, to the date of purchase.
Within
ten days following any Change of Control, the Issuers shall mail a notice to
each Holder (with a copy to the Trustee) describing the transaction or
transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating:
(1) the
purchase price and the purchase date, which shall not exceed 30 Business Days
from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change
of Control Payment Date”);
(2) that
any
Note not tendered shall continue to accrue interest;
(3) that,
unless the Issuers default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment,
all
Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease
to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;
(4) that
Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control
Offer shall be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled
“Option
of Holder to Elect Purchase”
on
the
reverse of the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the
Issuers, a depositary, if appointed, or a Paying Agent at the address specified
in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding
the Change of Control Payment Date;
(5) that
Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent
receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day
preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal
amount of Notes delivered for
57
purchase,
and a statement that such Holder is
withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and
(6) that
Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes
equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered,
which unpurchased portion must be equal to $1,000 in principal amount or an
integral multiple thereof.
The
Issuers shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange
Act (or any successor rules) and any other securities laws and regulations
thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection
with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the
extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with
the provisions of this Section 4.16, the Issuers’ compliance with such laws
and regulations shall not in and of itself cause a breach of their obligations
under this Section 4.16.
On
the
Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuers shall, to the extent
lawful:
(1) accept
for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the
Change of Control Offer;
(2) deposit
with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in
respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and
(3) deliver
or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with
an
Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or
portions thereof being purchased by the Issuers.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Indenture, if the Change of Control Payment
Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related
interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the
Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Change of Control Payment
Date.
The
Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so tendered the Change
of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate
and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note
equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered,
if any; provided
that
each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral
multiple thereof. The Issuers shall publicly announce the results of the Change
of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control
Payment Date.
The
provisions described above that require the Issuers to make a Change of Control
Offer following a Change of Control shall be applicable regardless of whether
or
not any other provisions in this Indenture are applicable.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 4.16, the Issuers shall not be required
to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party
makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise
in
compliance with the requirements
58
set
forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of
Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all Notes validly tendered
and
not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
SECTION
4.17. Limitations
on Issuances of Guarantees of Indebtedness.
The
Company shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or
indirectly, to Guarantee or pledge any assets to secure the payment of any
other
Indebtedness of the Company, except in respect of Credit Facilities (the
“Guaranteed Indebtedness”), unless:
(1) such
Restricted Subsidiary simultaneously executes and delivers a supplemental
indenture providing for the Guarantee (a “Subsidiary
Guarantee”)
of the
payment of the Notes by such Restricted Subsidiary, and
(2) until
one
year after all the Notes have been paid in full in cash, such Restricted
Subsidiary waives and will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the
benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation
or any other rights against the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary
thereof as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its
Subsidiary Guarantee;
provided
that
this paragraph shall not be applicable to any Guarantee of any Restricted
Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary
and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person
becoming a Restricted Subsidiary.
If
the
Guaranteed Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes, then the Guarantee of
such
Guaranteed Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Subsidiary Guarantee at
least to the extent that the Guaranteed Indebtedness is subordinated to the
Notes.
Any
Subsidiary Guarantee shall terminate upon the release of such guarantor from
its
guarantee of the Guaranteed Indebtedness.
SECTION
4.18. Payments
for Consent.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly
or
indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit
of
any Holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment
of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such
consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders of the Notes
that
consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation
documents relating to such consent, waiver or amendment.
SECTION
4.19. Application
of Fall-Away Covenants. During any period of time that (a) the Notes
have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies and (b) no Default
or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to the provisions
of Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13 and clause (d) of
Section 5.01 (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”).
If
the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended
Covenants for any period of time as a result of the previous sentence and,
subsequently, one, or both of the Rating Agencies withdraws its ratings or
downgrades the ratings assigned to the Notes below the required Investment
Grade
Ratings or a Default or Event of Default occurs and
59
is
continuing, then the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall thereafter
again be subject to the Suspended Covenants. The ability of the Company and
its
Restricted Subsidiaries to make Restricted Payments after the time of such
withdrawal, downgrade, Default or Event of Default shall be calculated in
accordance with the terms of Section 4.07 as though such covenant had been
in effect during the entire period of time from the Issue
Date.
ARTICLE V
SECTION
5.01. Merger,
Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.
Neither
Issuer may, directly or indirectly, (1) consolidate or merge with or into
another Person (whether or not such Issuer is the surviving Person) or
(2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related
transactions, to another Person; unless:
(a) either:
(i) such
Issuer is the surviving Person; or
(ii) the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition shall have been made is a Person organized or existing under the
laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia,
provided
that if
the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger with such
Issuer is a Person other than a corporation, a corporate co-issuer shall also
be
an obligor with respect to the Notes;
(b) the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance
or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of such
Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to agreements reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee;
(c) immediately
after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists; and
(d) such
Issuer or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger
(if
other than such Issuer) will, on the date of such transaction after giving
pro forma
effect
thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred
at
the beginning of the applicable period,
(x) be
permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the
Leverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.10;
or
(y) have
a
Leverage Ratio immediately after giving effect to such consolidation or merger
no greater than the Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such consolidation
or
merger.
60
In
addition, neither of the Issuers may, directly or indirectly, lease all or
substantially all of their properties or assets, in one or more related
transactions, to any other Person. The foregoing clause (d) shall not apply
to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets
between or among an Issuer and any of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries
or to the consummation of the Exchange Offers.
SECTION
5.02. Successor
Corporation Substituted.
Upon
any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease,
conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
either Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor Person formed
by such consolidation or into which either Issuer is merged or to which such
transfer is made shall succeed to and (except in the case of a lease) be
substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Issuer under
this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named
therein as such Issuer, and (except in the case of a lease) such Issuer shall
be
released from the obligations under the Notes and this Indenture, except with
respect to any obligations that arise from, or are related to, such
transaction.
ARTICLE
VI
DEFAULTS
AND REMEDIES
SECTION
6.01. Events
of Default.
Each of
the following is an “Event of Default” with respect to the Notes:
(1) default
for 30 consecutive days in the payment when due of interest on the
Notes;
(2) default
in payment when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on the
Notes;
(3) failure
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the
provisions of Sections 4.16 or 5.01;
(4) failure
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 30 consecutive days
after written notice thereof has been given to the Issuers by the Trustee,
or to
the Issuers and the Trustee by Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, to comply with any of their
other covenants or agreements in this Indenture;
(5) default
under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued
or
by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which
is
guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such
Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, if
that default:
(a) is
caused
by a failure to pay at final stated maturity the principal amount of such
Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such
Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment
Default”);
or
61
(b) results
in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express
maturity,
and,
in
each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the
principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been
a
Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates
$100 million or more;
(6) failure
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments
which are non-appealable aggregating in excess of $100 million, net of
applicable insurance which has not been denied in writing by the insurer, which
judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60
days;
(7) the
Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the meaning
of any Bankruptcy Law:
(a) commences
a voluntary case,
(b) consents
to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary
case,
(c) consents
to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of
its
property,
(d) makes
a
general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(8) a
court
of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law
that:
(a) is
for
relief against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in an
involuntary case;
(b) appoints
a custodian of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or for all
or
substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries; or
(c) orders
the liquidation of the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries;
and
the
order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive
days.
SECTION
6.02. Acceleration.
In the
case of an Event of Default arising from clauses (7) or (8) of
Section 6.01 with respect to the Company, all outstanding Notes shall
become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any
other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the
Issuers or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee may declare all
the
Notes to be due and payable immediately. The Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee
may on
62
behalf
of
all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the
rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing
Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that
has
become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or
waived.
SECTION
6.03. Other
Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may
pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if
any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision
of
the Notes or this Indenture.
The
Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes
or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the
Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing
upon
an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver
of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to
the
extent permitted by law.
SECTION
6.04. Waiver
of Existing Defaults.
Holders
of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of
all
of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences
hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of
the
principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes (provided,
however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of
the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences,
including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration).
Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose
of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION
6.05. Control
by Majority. Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising
any
trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any
direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines
may be prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve
the Trustee in personal liability. The Trustee may take any other action which
it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any such directive.
SECTION
6.06. Limitation
on Suits. A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this
Indenture or the Notes only if:
(a) the
Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event
of
Default;
(b) the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make
a
written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) such
Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the
Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or
expense;
63
(d) the
Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the
request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity;
and
(e) during
such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the
request.
A
Holder
of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder
of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a
Note.
SECTION
6.07. Rights
of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder
of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on
the
Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including
in
connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement
of
any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or
affected without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION
6.08. Collection
Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or
(2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment
in
its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers for the
whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid
on
the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest
and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses
of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements
and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
SECTION
6.09. Trustee
May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of
claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order
to
have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents
and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings
relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes), their creditors
or their property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and
distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims
and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each
Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee
shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay
to
the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any
other
amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07. To the extent that the payment
of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for
any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be
paid
out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other
properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding
whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or
otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee
to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan
of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes
or
the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of
the
claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
64
SECTION
6.10. Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall pay out
the
money in the following order:
First:
to
the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07,
including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and
all
advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of
collection;
Second:
to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for interest,
ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts
due and payable on the Notes for interest;
Third:
to
Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal and
premium, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to
the
amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and premium, respectively;
and
Fourth:
to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall
direct.
The
Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of
Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.
SECTION
6.11. Undertaking
for Costs.
In any
suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in
any
suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee,
a
court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the
suit
of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion
may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses,
against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and
good
faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does
not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to
Section 6.07, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
SECTION
7.01. Duties
of Trustee.
(1) If
an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise
such
of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree
of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own
affairs.
(2) Except
during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(a) the
duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions
of
this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are
specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants
or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;
and
65
(b) in
the
absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to
the
truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein,
upon certificates or opinions required to be furnished to the Trustee hereunder
and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee
shall
examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform
to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate
the
accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated
therein).
(3) The
Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own gross negligent action,
its own gross negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
that:
(a) this
paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (2) of this
Section;
(b) the
Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by
a
Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent
in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(c) the
Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to
take
in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to
Section 6.05.
(4) Whether
or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that
in
any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)
of this Section 7.01.
(5) No
provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its
own
funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of
any
Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and
indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability, claim, damage or
expense.
(6) The
Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except
as
the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuers. Money held in trust by the
Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required
by
law.
(7) The
Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters
stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper
or
documents.
SECTION
7.02. Rights
of Trustee.
(1) The
Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document (whether in its original or
facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or
matter stated in the document.
66
(2) Before
the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’
Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable
for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such
Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with
counsel of its own selection and the written advice or opinion of such counsel
or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
by
it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(3) The
Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible
for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.
(4) The
Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good
faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred
upon it by this Indenture.
(5) Unless
otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request,
direction or notice from either of the Issuers shall be sufficient if signed
by
an Officer of such Issuer.
(6) The
Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers
vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders
unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that
might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or
direction.
(7) The
Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default
unless either (a) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual
knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (b) written notice of such
Default or Event of Default shall have been given to and received by a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee by the Issuers or any Holder.
(8) In
no
event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect or
consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including loss of profit)
irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such
loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(9) The
rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee,
including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable
by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian
and other Person employed by the Trustee to act hereunder.
SECTION
7.03. Individual
Rights of Trustee.
The
Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee
of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or any Affiliate of the Issuers
with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the
event
that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such
conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee
or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee
is
also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
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SECTION
7.04. Trustee’s
Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no
representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes,
it
shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Notes or
any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers’ direction under any provision
of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of
any
money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not
be
responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes
or
any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to
this
Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.
SECTION
7.05. Notice
of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and
if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail
to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days
after the Trustee acquires knowledge thereof. Except in the case of a Default
or
Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
any
Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of
its
Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is
in
the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION
7.06. Reports
by Trustee to Holders of the Notes. By May 15th of each year, and for so
long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of
the
Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA
Section 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred
within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be
transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b)(2). The
Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA Section
313(c).
A
copy of
each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes shall be mailed
to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the
Notes
are listed in accordance with TIA Section 313(d). The Issuers shall promptly
notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.
SECTION
7.07. Compensation
and Indemnity.
The
Issuers, jointly and severally, shall pay to the Trustee from time to time
reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture, any Registration
Rights Agreement and any other document delivered in connection with any of
such
agreements and its services under any of such agreements or other documents,
as
separately agreed in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by
any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuers shall
reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements,
advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation
for
its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation,
disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The
Issuers shall, jointly and severally, indemnify the Trustee against any and
all
losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (including reasonable legal
fees and expenses) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including
the
costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture, any Registration Rights
Agreement and any other document delivered in connection therewith (including
this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted
by the Issuers or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection
with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder,
except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense is
68
determined
to have been caused by its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
Trustee shall notify the Issuers promptly of any claim for which it may seek
indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers shall not relieve
the
Issuers of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim
and
the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate
counsel and the Issuers shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such
counsel. The Issuers need not pay for any settlement made without their consent,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The
obligations of the Issuers under this Section 7.07 shall survive
resignation or removal of the Trustee and the satisfaction and discharge of
this
Indenture.
To
secure
the Issuers’ payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a Lien
prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee,
except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes.
Such Lien shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
When
the
Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified
in Section 6.01(7) or (8) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the
services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are
intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy
Law.
The
Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 313(b)(2) to the extent
applicable.
SECTION
7.08. Replacement
of Trustee.
A
resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee
shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of
appointment as provided in this Section.
The
Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust
hereby created by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so
notifying the Trustee and the Issuers in writing. The Issuers may remove the
Trustee if:
(a) the
Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(b) the
Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered
with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a
custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property;
or
(d) the
Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If
the
Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee
for any reason, the Issuers 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 Issuers.
69
If
a
successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee
resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Issuers, or the Holders of
at
least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition at
the
expense of the Issuers any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a successor Trustee.
If
the
Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least
six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder may petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the
appointment of a successor Trustee.
A
successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to
the
retiring Trustee and to the Issuers. Thereupon, the resignation or removal
of
the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall
have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture.
The
successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring
Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the
successor Trustee; provided
all sums
owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided
for in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to
this Section 7.08, the Issuers’ obligations under Section 7.07 shall
continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
SECTION
7.09. Successor
Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the
Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially
all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor
corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
SECTION
7.10. Eligibility;
Disqualification. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States
of
America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by
federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of
at
least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report
of
condition.
This
Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA
Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA Section
310(b).
SECTION
7.11. Preferential
Collection of Claims Against the Issuers.
The
Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship
listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall
be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE
VIII
LEGAL
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION
8.01. Option
to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The
Issuers and the Parent Guarantor may, at any time, elect to have either
Section 8.02 or 8.03 be applied to all outstanding Notes and the Note
Guarantee upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this
Article 8.
70
SECTION
8.02. Legal
Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the exercise by the Issuers and the Parent
Guarantor under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this
Section 8.02, the Issuers and the Parent Guarantor shall, subject to the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be deemed to have
been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes
and
the Note Guarantee on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied
(hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance
means that the Issuers and the Parent Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid
and
discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which
shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of
Section 8.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a)
and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such
Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantee and any Registration Rights Agreement
(and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute
proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions
which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged
hereunder:
(a) the
rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments
are
due from the trust referred to below;
(b) the
Issuers’ obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary
Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and
the
maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments
held in trust;
(c) the
rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Issuers’
obligations in connection therewith; and
(d) the
Legal
Defeasance provisions of this Indenture.
Subject
to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuers may exercise their option
under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of their option
under Section 8.03.
SECTION
8.03. Covenant
Defeasance.
Upon
the exercise by the Issuers and the Parent Guarantor under Section 8.01 of
the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers and the Parent
Guarantor shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section 8.04, be released from their obligations under the covenants
contained in Article 5 and Sections 4.03, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10,
4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.16, 4.17 and 4.19 with respect to the outstanding
Notes and the Note Guarantee on and after the date the conditions set forth
in
Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and
the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any
direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the
consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall
continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being
understood that such Notes may not be deemed outstanding for accounting
purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to
the
outstanding Notes and the Note Guarantee, the Issuers may omit to comply with
and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation
set
forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any
reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference
in
any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and
such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default
under Section 6.01, but, except as specified
71
above,
the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby.
In
addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 of the option
applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Section 8.04, Sections 6.01(3) through 6.01(6)
shall not constitute Events of Default. In addition, upon Covenant Defeasance,
the Note Guarantee will be released.
SECTION
8.04. Conditions
to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to
the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 to the outstanding
Notes:
In
order
to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(1) the
Issuers or the Parent Guarantor must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee,
in
trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars,
non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts
as
will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the outstanding Notes on the stated maturity or on the applicable
redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuers and the Parent Guarantor
must specify whether the Notes shall be defeased to maturity or to a particular
redemption date;
(2) in
the
case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming
that
(a) the
Issuers and the Parent Guarantor have received from, or there has been published
by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or
(b) since
the
Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax
law,
in
either
case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm
that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain
or
loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and
will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner
and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance
had
not occurred;
(3) in
the
case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers or the Parent Guarantor shall have
delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that the Holders
of
the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income
tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to
federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same
times
as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not
occurred;
(4) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
either:
(a) on
the
date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from
the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any Lien
securing such borrowing); or
72
(b) insofar
as Events of Default from bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned, at
any
time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of
deposit;
(5) such
Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation
of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument (other
than this Indenture) to which the Issuers or any of their Restricted
Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuers or any of their Restricted
Subsidiaries is bound;
(6) the
Issuers must have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that after the 91st day, assuming no intervening bankruptcy, that no Holder
is
an insider of either of the Issuers following the deposit and that such deposit
would not be deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction a transfer for the
benefit of the Issuers in their capacities as such, the trust funds will not
be
subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally;
(7) the
Issuers or the Parent Guarantor must have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent
of preferring the Holders of the Notes over the other creditors of the Issuers
or the Parent Guarantor with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or
defrauding creditors of the Issuers, the Parent Guarantor or others;
and
(8) the
Issuers or the Parent Guarantor must have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have
been
complied with.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by clause (2) above with
respect to a Legal Defeasance need not be delivered and the conditions set
forth
in clauses 4(b) and (6) shall not apply if all Notes not theretofore
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(a) have
become due and payable or
(b) will
become due and payable on the maturity date or a redemption date 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
Issuers.
SECTION
8.05. Deposited
Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous
Provisions.
Subject
to Section 8.06, all money and non-callable Government Securities
(including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying
trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”)
pursuant to Section 8.04 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held
in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such
Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying
Agent (including the Issuers acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due
thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money
need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by
law.
The
Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge
imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities
deposited
73
pursuant
to Section 8.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof
other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account
of
the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Anything
in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall
deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the request of the Issuers
any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in
Section 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof
delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under
Section 8.04(1)), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be
required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance.
SECTION
8.06. Repayment
to Issuers.
Any
money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the
Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal,
and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to
the
Issuers on their request or (if then held by the Issuers) shall be discharged
from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to
the
Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying
Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers 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 Issuers cause to be published once, in
The New York Times and TheWall Street Journal
(national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after
a
date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date
of
such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then
remaining shall be repaid to the Issuers.
SECTION
8.07. Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars
or
non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03,
as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or
governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such
application, then the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes,
shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant
to
Section 8.02 or 8.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03,
as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Issuers make any payment
of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the
reinstatement of their obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the
rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money
held
by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE
IX
AMENDMENT,
SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION
9.01. Without
Consent of Holders of Notes.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Issuers, the Parent
Guarantor and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes
or
the Note Guarantee without the consent of any Holder of a Note:
(1) to
cure
any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
74
(2) to
provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated
Notes;
(3) to
provide for or confirm the issuance of Additional Notes;
(4) to
provide for the assumption of the Issuers’ or the Parent Guarantor’s obligations
to Holders of Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all
or
substantially all of the assets of the Issuers pursuant to
Article 5;
(5) to
release any Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture;
(6) to
make
any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders
of Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture
of any Holder; or
(7) to
comply
with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification
of
this Indenture under the TIA or otherwise as necessary to comply with applicable
law.
Upon
the
request of the Issuers and the Parent Guarantor accompanied by a resolution
of
their respective boards of directors or the Board of Directors of CCI
authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, Notes
or Note Guarantee (or an amendment or supplement of any of the foregoing),
and
upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02, the
Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Parent Guarantor in the execution
of
any amended or supplemental Indenture, Notes or Note Guarantee authorized or
permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate
agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee
shall
not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture, Notes
or
Note Guarantee that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this
Indenture, Notes, or Note Guarantee or otherwise.
SECTION
9.02. With
Consent of Holders of Notes.
Except
as provided below in this Section 9.02, this Indenture, the Notes or the
Note Guarantee may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders
of
at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.
This includes consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or a tender
offer or exchange offer for, Notes. Any existing Default or compliance with
any
provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantee (other than any
provision relating to the right of any Holder to bring suit for the enforcement
of any payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s
Notes, on or after the scheduled due dates expressed in the Notes) may be waived
with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of
the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with
a
purchase of, or a tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes). Section 2.08
shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for purposes of
this Section 9.02.
Upon
the
request of the Issuers and the Parent Guarantor accompanied by a resolution
of
their respective boards of directors or the Board of Directors of CCI
authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, Notes
or Note Guarantee (or an amendment or supplement of any of the foregoing),
and
upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of
the
consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the
75
Trustee
of the documents (if any) described in Section 7.02, the Trustee shall join
with the Issuers and the Parent Guarantor in the execution of such amended
or
supplemental Indenture, Notes or Note Guarantee (or such amendment or
supplement) unless such amended or supplemental Indenture, Notes or Note
Guarantee (or such amendment or supplement) directly affects the Trustee’s own
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture, Notes or Note Guarantee
or
otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not
be
obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture, Notes or
Note
Guarantee (or such amendment or supplement).
It
shall
not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this
Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment,
supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the
substance thereof.
After
an
amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective,
the Issuers shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly
describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuers
to
mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair
or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, Notes
or
Note Guarantee (or such amendment) or waiver. Without the consent of each Holder
affected thereby, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this
Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by such
Holder):
(1) reduce
the principal amount of such Notes;
(2) change
the fixed maturity of such Notes or reduce the premium payable upon redemption
of such Notes;
(3) reduce
the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on such
Notes;
(4) waive
a
Default or an Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or premium,
if
any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes
by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Notes
and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such
acceleration);
(5) make
such
Notes payable in money other than that stated in such Notes;
(6) make
any
change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults
applicable to any Notes or the rights of Holders thereof to receive payments
of
principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on such Notes;
(7) waive
a
redemption payment with respect to such Notes (other than a payment required
by
Section 4.11 or 4.16); or
(8) make
any
change in this Section 9.02.
SECTION
9.03. Compliance
with Trust Indenture Act.
Every
amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in
an
amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in
effect.
76
SECTION
9.04. Revocation
and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes
effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by
the
Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note
that
evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the
consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or
subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee
receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement
or
amendment becomes effective. After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes
effective, it shall bind every Holder. An amendment, supplement or waiver
becomes effective once both (i) the requisite number of consents have been
received by the Issuers or the Trustee and (ii) such amendment, supplement
or
waiver has been executed by the Company and the Trustee.
The
Issuers may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose
of
determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action
described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture.
If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding
paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly
designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such
consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action,
whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record
date.
SECTION
9.05. Notation
on or Exchange of Notes.
The
Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or
waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers in exchange for all
Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order,
authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or
waiver.
Failure
to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the
validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
SECTION
9.06. Trustee
to Sign Amendments, etc.
The
Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental Indenture, Notes or Note
Guarantee (or an amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) authorized
pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not
adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee
under this Indenture or otherwise. The Issuers and the Parent Guarantor may
not
sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until their respective boards of
directors or the Board of Directors of CCI approves it. In executing any amended
or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with and (subject
to
Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the
documents required by Section 11.04, an Officer’s Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, in each case from each of the Issuers, stating that the
execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted
by this Indenture.
ARTICLE X
GUARANTEE
SECTION
10.01. Unconditional
Guarantee.
The
Parent Guarantor unconditionally guarantees, on a senior unsecured basis, to
the
Holders of all Notes authenticated and delivered
77
by
the
Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns that: (i) the
principal of and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when
due,
subject to any applicable grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration
or
otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal, if any, and interest on
any
interest, to the extent lawful, of the Notes and all other Obligations of
the
Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly
paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof;
and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any
Notes or of any such other Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in
full
when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal,
subject to any applicable grace period, whether at stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise. The Parent Guarantor agrees that its obligations
hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity
or
enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action
to
enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any
provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuers,
and action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. The
Parent
Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims
with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of any Issuer, any
right
to require a proceeding first against an Issuer, protest, notice and all
demands
whatsoever and covenants that this Note Guarantee will not be discharged
except
by complete performance of the Obligations contained in the Notes, this
Indenture and this Note Guarantee, and waives any and all defenses available
to
a surety (other than payment in full). If any Holder or the Trustee is required
by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuers or the Parent Guarantor,
or
any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation
to the Issuers or the Parent Guarantor, any amount paid by the Issuers or
the
Parent Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the
extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.
The
Parent Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Parent Guarantor, on
the
one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the
maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided
in
Article 6 for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any
stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect
of
the Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any acceleration
of such obligations as provided in Article 6, such Obligations (whether or
not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Parent
Guarantor for the purpose of this Note Guarantee.
SECTION
10.02. Severability.
In case any provision of this Note Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION
10.03. Waiver
of Subrogation. Until all Obligations under the Notes are paid in full, the
Parent Guarantor irrevocably waives any claims or other rights which it may
now
or hereafter acquire against the Issuer that arise from the existence, payment,
performance or enforcement of the Parent Guarantor’s Obligations under its Note
Guarantee and this Indenture, including any right of subrogation, reimbursement,
exoneration, indemnification, and any right to participate in any claim or
remedy of any Holder against the Issuers, whether or not such claim, remedy
or
right arises in equity, or under contract, statute or common law, including
the
right to take or receive from the Issuers, directly or indirectly, in cash
or
other property or by setoff or in any other manner, payment or security on
account of such claim or other rights. If any amount shall be paid to the Parent
Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence and the
78
Notes
shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall have been deemed to have
been paid to the Parent Guarantor for the benefit of, and held in trust for
the
benefit of, the Holders, and shall forthwith be paid to the Trustee for the
benefit of the Holders to be credited and applied upon the Notes, whether
matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. The
Parent
Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits
from
the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the waiver
set forth in this Section 10.03 is knowingly made in contemplation of such
benefits.
SECTION
10.04. Execution
of Note Guarantee. To evidence its Note Guarantee to the Holders set forth
in this Article 10, the Parent Guarantor agrees to execute the Note
Guarantee endorsed on each Note ordered to be authenticated and delivered by
the
Trustee. The Parent Guarantor agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in this
Article 10 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any
failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee. Each such
Note Guarantee shall be signed on behalf of the Parent Guarantor by one of
its
authorized Officers prior to the authentication of the Note on which it is
endorsed, and the delivery of such Note by the Trustee, after the authentication
thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of such Note Guarantee on
behalf of the Parent Guarantor. Such signatures upon the Note Guarantee may
be
by manual or facsimile signature of such Officer and may be imprinted or
otherwise reproduced on the Note Guarantee, and in case any such Officer who
shall have signed the Note Guarantee shall cease to be such Officer before
the
Note on which such Note Guarantee is endorsed shall have been authenticated
and
delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Issuers, such Note nevertheless
may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who
signed the Note Guarantee had not ceased to be such Officer of the Parent
Guarantor.
SECTION
10.05. Waiver
of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws. The Parent Guarantor covenants (to the
extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon,
plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of,
any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit
or
forgive it from performing its Note Guarantee as contemplated herein, wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the
covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it
may
lawfully do so) the Parent Guarantor hereby expressly waives all benefit or
advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or
impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer
and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been
enacted.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
11.01. Trust
Indenture Act Controls.
If any
provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties
imposed by TIA Section 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.
SECTION
11.02. Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Issuers or the Trustee to the others is
duly
given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first class mail
79
(registered
or certified, return receipt requested),
telex, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery,
to
the others’ address:
If
to the
Issuers or the Parent Guarantor:
CCH
II,
LLC
CCH
II
Capital Corp.
Charter
Communications Holdings, LLC
c/o
Charter Communications, Inc.
00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xx.
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier
No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention:
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxx,
Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Telecopier
No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
If
to the
Trustee:
The
Bank
of New York Trust Company, NA
0
Xxxxx
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier
No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention:
Corporate Trust Department
The
Issuers, the Parent Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
All
notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed
to
have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered;
five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if
mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if
telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier,
if
sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any
notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail,
certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by
the
Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person
described in TIA Section 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure
to
mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect
its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If
a
notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time
prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives
it.
80
If
the
Issuers mail a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to
the
Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
SECTION
11.03. Communication
by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.
Holders
may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect
to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuers, the Parent
Guarantor, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection
of TIA Section 312(c).
SECTION
11.04. Certificate
and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by
the Issuers to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuers
shall furnish to the Trustee:
(1) an
Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05)
stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and
covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been satisfied; and
(2) an
Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee
(which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05) stating
that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and
covenants have been satisfied.
SECTION
11.05. Statements
Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each
certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant
to
TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e)
and shall include:
(1) a
statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such
covenant or condition;
(2) a
brief
statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon
which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are
based;
(3) a
statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such
examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
satisfied; and
(4) a
statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition
or
covenant has been satisfied.
SECTION
11.06. Rules
by Trustee and Agents.
The
Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders.
The
Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable
requirements for its functions.
SECTION
11.07. No
Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators, Members
and
Stockholders. No director, officer, employee or incorporator of the Issuers
or the Parent Guarantor, as such, and no member or stockholder of the Issuers
or
the Parent Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations
of
the Issuers or the Parent Guarantor under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note
Guarantee or any Registration Rights Agreement, or for any
81
claim
based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note and a Note Guarantee waives and
releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for issuance of the Notes and the Note
Guarantee.
SECTION
11.08. Governing
Law. THE
INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE
THIS
INDENTURE AND THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE
APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION
OF
THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY. EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE
OR
THE NOTES OR ANY NOTE GUARANTEE.
SECTION
11.09. No
Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used
to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuers, their
Parents or their Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan
or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
SECTION
11.10. Successors.
All agreements of the Issuers and the Parent Guarantor in this Indenture and
the
Notes, as the case may be, shall bind their respective successors. All
agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its
successors.
SECTION
11.11. Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be, shall
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability
of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
SECTION
11.12. Counterpart
Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each
signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same
agreement.
SECTION
11.13. Table
of Contents, Headings, etc. The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and
Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted
for
convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture
and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or
provisions.
SECTION
11.14. Waiver
of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE ISSUERS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT
TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
SECTION
11.15. Force
Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any
failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out
of
or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including,
without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or
terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes
or
acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities,
communications
82
or
computer (software and hardware) services; it
being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are
consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance
as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
ARTICLE
XII
SATISFACTION
AND DISCHARGE
SECTION
12.01. Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture.
This
Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantee and any Registration Rights Agreement
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 Issuers, shall execute
proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture,
the Notes, the Note Guarantee and any Registration Rights Agreement,
when
(1) either:
(a) all
Notes
theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Notes which have
been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided
in Section 2.07 and (ii) Notes for whose payment money has theretofore
been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuers and
thereafter repaid to the Issuers or discharged from such trust,) have been
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(b) all
such
Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:
(i) have
become due and payable, or
(ii) will
become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(iii) 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 Issuers,
and
the
Issuers, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, have deposited or caused
to be
deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount
sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Notes not
theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and
premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Notes
which have become due and payable) or to the maturity or redemption thereof,
as
the case may be;
(2) the
Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by
the
Issuers; and
(3) each
of
the Issuers 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.
83
Notwithstanding
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to this
Article 12, the obligations of the Issuers to the Trustee under
Section 7.07, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee
pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section, the
obligations of the Trustee under Section 12.02 shall survive such
satisfaction and discharge.
SECTION
12.02. Application
of Trust Money.
All
money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 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.
[Signatures
on following page]
84
Dated
as
of September 14, 2006
CCH
II,
LLC, as an Issuer
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title:
Senior Vice-President, Strategic Planning
CCH
II
CAPITAL CORP., as an Issuer
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title:
Senior Vice-President, Strategic Planning
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC, as Parent Guarantor
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title:
Senior Vice-President, Strategic Planning
The
Bank
of New York Trust Company, NA, as Trustee
By:
/s/ M Xxxxxxxx
Name:
X.
Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Vice President
SIGNATURE
PAGE FOR INDENTURE
EXHIBIT
A
[Face
of
Note]
THE
HOLDER OF THIS NOTE BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS
THAT IF IT IS A PURCHASER IN A SALE THAT OCCURS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN
THE MEANING OF REGULATION S OF THE SECURITIES ACT, IT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, UNTIL
EXPIRATION OF THE “40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD” WITHIN THE MEANING OF
RULE 903 OF REGULATION S, ANY OFFER OR SALE OF THIS NOTE SHALL NOT BE MADE
BY IT
TO A U.S. PERSON TO OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF A U.S. PERSON WITHIN THE
MEANING OF RULE 902(k) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.1
UNLESS
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OR TRANSFER,
EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF
CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR SUCH OTHER REPRESENTATIVE
OF
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE
TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER
USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE
REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.2
TRANSFERS
OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN
PART,
TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO. OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S
NOMINEE.3
THIS
SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF
1933,
AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAW. THE HOLDER
HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY
THAT
NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED,
RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED (X) PRIOR TO THE SECOND
——————
1This
paragraph should be included only for Regulation S Global
Notes.
2This
paragraph should be included only if the Notes are issued in global
form.
3This
paragraph should be included only if the Notes are issued in global
form.
A-1
ANNIVERSARY
OF THE ISSUANCE HEREOF OR (Y) AT ANY TIME BY ANY TRANSFEROR THAT WAS AN
AFFILIATE OF EITHER ISSUER DURING THE THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE OF
SUCH
OFFER, RESALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER, IN EITHER CASE, OTHER THAN (1) TO
AN
ISSUER, (2) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, (3) SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE
144A
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON WHOM THE TRANSFEROR
REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING
OF
RULE 144A PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER, IN EACH CASE, TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE OFFER,
RESALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A,
(4) TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH
RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (5) IN
ANY
OTHER TRANSACTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT,
IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE
OF
THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND SUBJECT TO THE
TRUSTEE OR THE ISSUERS RECEIVING SUCH CERTIFICATES, LEGAL OPINIONS AND OTHER
INSTRUMENTS, IN THE CASE OF TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (3), (4) OR (5),
AS
MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE.4
————————
4This
paragraph should be removed upon the exchange of Notes for Exchange Notes in
a
Registered Exchange Offer or upon the registration of the Notes pursuant to
the
terms of a Registration Rights Agreement.
A-2
CUSIP
NO.
[_________]
10.25%
Senior Notes due 2013
No.
___
$[__________________]
CCH
II,
LLC and CCH II CAPITAL CORP. promise to pay to
_________________________________________________________ or its registered
assigns, the principal amount of _____________________________________________
Dollars ($______________________________) on October 1, 2013.
Interest
Payment Dates: April 1 and October 1
Record
Dates: September 15 and March 15
Subject
to Restrictions set forth in this Note.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of CCH II, LLC and CCH II Capital Corp. has caused this
instrument to be duly executed.
Dated:
CCH
II,
LLC
By:
________________________________
Name:
Title:
CCH
II
CAPITAL CORP.
By:
________________________________
Name:
Title:
A-3
This
is
one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
THE
BANK
OF NEW YORK TRUST
COMPANY,
NA, as Trustee
By:
/s/ M
Xxxxxxxx
Authorized
Signatory
A-4
[Back
of
Note]
10.25%
Senior Notes due 2013
Capitalized
terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture
referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1.
|
Interest
|
CCH
II,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”),
and
CCH II Capital Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Capital
Corp”
and,
together with the Company, the “Issuers”),
promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate of
10.25% per annum from the Issue Date until maturity. The interest rate on the
Notes is subject to increase pursuant to the provisions of the Registration
Rights Agreement entered into on the Issue Date. The Issuers will pay interest
semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year commencing on
April 1, 2007 (each an “Interest
Payment Date”),
or if
any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day.
Interest on the Notes will accrue from and including the most recent date to
which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date
of
issuance; provided
that if
there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is
authenticated between a record date referred to on the face and the next
succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from and including
such
next succeeding Interest Payment Date. The Issuers shall pay interest (including
post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue
principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate then
in
effect; they shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest
(without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand
at
the same rate. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months.
2.
|
Method
of Payment
|
The
Issuers shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the
Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the
March 15 or September 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if
such
Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment
Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to
defaulted interest. Payments in respect of the Notes represented by the Global
Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by
wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Global
Note holder. With respect to Notes in certificated form, the Issuer will make
all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, by wire transfer
of
immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders thereof
or,
if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such holder’s
registered address. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United
States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public and private debts.
3.
|
Paying
Agent and Registrar
|
Initially,
The Bank of New York Trust Company, NA, the Trustee under the Indenture, will
act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent
or
Registrar
A-5
without
notice to any Holder. The Company or any of
its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.
4.
|
Indenture
|
The
Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of September 14, 2006
(the
“Indenture”)
among
the Issuers, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee. Capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Indenture. The terms
of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the
Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.
Code Section 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders
are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To
the
extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of
the
Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be
controlling.
5.
|
Optional
Redemption
|
(a) Except
as
set forth in clause (b) of this paragraph 5, the Issuers shall not
have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this paragraph 5 prior to
October 1, 2010. On October 1, 2010 and thereafter, the Issuers shall have
the
option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at the applicable redemption
prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth below plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the applicable redemption date,
if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on October 1 of the years
indicated below:
Year
|
Percentage
|
2010
|
105.125%
|
2011
|
102.563%
|
2012
and thereafter
|
100.000%
|
(b) Notwithstanding
the provisions of clause (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to
October 1, 2009, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to
35%
of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including the principal
amount of any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture on a pro rata basis
(or as nearly pro rata as practicable), at a redemption price of 110.25% of
the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption
date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided
that:
(1) at
least
65% of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes (including the principal
amount of any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture must remain
outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding
Notes
held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and
(2) the
redemption must occur within 60 days of the date of the closing of such Equity
Offering.
A-6
6.
|
Mandatory
Redemption and
Repurchase
|
Except
as
otherwise provided in Paragraph 7 below, the Issuers shall not be required
to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes or be required
to repurchase any of the Notes.
7.
|
Repurchase
at Option of Holder
|
(a) If
there
is a Change of Control, the Issuers shall make an offer (a “Change
of Control Offer”)
to
repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 in principal amount or an integral
multiple thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of
the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon,
if any, to the date of purchase (the “Change
of Control Payment”).
Within 10 days following any Change of Control, the Issuers shall mail a notice
to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the
Change of Control and offering to repurchase Notes on the Change of Control
Payment Date specified in such notice, pursuant to the procedures required
by
the Indenture and described in such notice.
(b) If
the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof consummates any Asset Sale, the
Issuers may be required to offer to purchase the Notes.
8.
|
Denominations,
Transfer, Exchange
|
The
Notes
are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may
be
exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may
require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and
transfer documents, and the Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes and
fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuers need not
exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected
for
redemption or repurchase, except for the unredeemed or unrepurchased portion
of
any Note being redeemed or repurchased in part. Also, the Issuers need not
exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before
a
selection of Notes to be redeemed or repurchased or during the period between
a
record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
9.
|
Persons
Deemed Owners
|
The
registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all
purposes.
10.
|
Amendment,
Supplement and Waiver
|
Subject
to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantee may be
amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents
obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer
for, Notes), and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the
Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantee may be waived with the consent of
the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of,
or
tender offer or exchange offer
A-7
for,
Notes). Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Issuers, the Parent
Guarantor and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Notes
or
the Note Guarantee to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide
for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes,
to
provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s or Parent Guarantor’s obligations to
Holders of Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all
or
substantially all of the Issuers’ assets, to release any Subsidiary Guarantee in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, to make any change that
would
provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Notes or that
does
not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder,
to
comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of the Indenture under the TIA or otherwise as necessary to
comply
with applicable law.
11.
|
Defaults
and Remedies
|
Each
of
the following is an Event of Default: (i) default for 30 consecutive days
in the payment when due of interest on the Notes, (ii) default in payment
when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes,
(iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to
comply with Sections 4.16 and 5.01 of the Indenture, (iv) failure by
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 30 consecutive days after
written notice thereof has been given to the Issuers by the Trustee or to the
Issuers and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% of the principal amount
of the Notes outstanding to comply with any of their other covenants or
agreements in the Indenture, (v) default under any mortgage, indenture or
instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured
or
evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company
or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee
now
exists or is created after the date of the Indenture, if that default:
(a) is caused by a failure to pay at final stated maturity the principal
amount of such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided
in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment
Default”);
or
(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express
maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness,
together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which
there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so
accelerated, aggregates $100 million or more, (vi) failure by the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments which are
non-appealable aggregating in excess of $100 million (net of applicable
insurance which has not been denied in writing by the insurer), which judgments
are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days or (vii) certain
events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries. In the case of an Event of Default arising from
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, all
outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice.
If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice
to
the Issuers or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee may declare all
the
Notes to be due and payable. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes
except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders
of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may
direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may
withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event
of
Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of
principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their
interest. The
A-8
Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding
by
notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive
any
existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture
except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest
on,
or the principal of, the Notes. The Issuers are required to deliver to the
Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture. Upon
becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, the Issuers are required
to
deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of
Default.
12.
|
Trustee
Dealings with Issuers
|
The
Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept
deposits from, and perform services for the Issuers or their Affiliates, and
may
otherwise deal with the Issuers or their Affiliates, as if it were not the
Trustee.
13.
|
No
Recourse Against
Others
|
A
director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of either
of
the Issuers or the Parent Guarantor, as such, shall not have any liability
for
any obligations of the Issuers or the Parent Guarantor under the Notes, the
Indenture, the Note Guarantee or any Registration Rights Agreement or for any
claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their
creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note and a Note Guarantee waives and
releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the issuance of the Notes and the Note
Guarantees.
14.
|
Governing
Law
|
THE
INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE
THIS
NOTE AND THE INDENTURE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICTS OF LAWS TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER
JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THE
HOLDERS AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
NOTE.
15.
|
Authentication
|
This
Note
shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee
or
an authenticating agent.
16.
|
Abbreviations
|
Customary
abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as:
TEN
COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=
joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST
(=
Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
A-9
17.
|
Additional
Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive
Notes
|
In
addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders
of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes shall have all the
rights set forth in the applicable Registration Rights Agreement.
18.
|
CUSIP
Numbers
|
Pursuant
to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security
Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers to be printed
on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption
as a
convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such
numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of
redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers
placed thereon.
The
Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge
a
copy of the Indenture and/or any Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may
be
made to:
CCH
II, LLC
CCH
II Capital Corp.
c/o
Charter Communications, Inc.
00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx 000
Xx.
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Secretary
Telecopier
No.: (000) 000-0000
A-10
ASSIGNMENT
FORM
To
assign
this Note, fill in the form below:
(I)
or
(we) assign and transfer this Note to:
(Insert
assignee’s legal name)
(Insert
assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
(Print
or
type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
and
irrevocably appoint ________________________________________________ to transfer
this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to
act
for him.
Date:
__________________ Your Signature:
(Sign
exactly as your name appears
on
the
face of this Note)
Signature
Guarantee*:
* Participant
in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature
guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A-11
OPTION
OF
HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If
you
want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to
Section 4.11 or 4.16 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box
below:
o
Section 4.11
o
Section 4.16
If
you
want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant
to
Section 4.11 or Section 4.16 of the Indenture, state the amount you
elect to have purchased: $_______________.
Date:
__________________ Your Signature:
(Sign
exactly as your name appears
on
the
face of this Note)
Tax
Identification No.:
Signature
Guarantee*:
* Participant
in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature
guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A-12
CERTIFICATE
TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION
OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES
CCH
II,
LLC
CCH
II
Capital Corp.
c/o
Charter Communications, Inc.
00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xx.
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
The
Bank
of New York Trust Company, NA
0
Xxxxx
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Corporate Trust Department
Re:
CUSIP
# _________________
Reference
is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of September 14, 2006 (the
“Indenture”),
among
CCH II, LLC (the “Company”),
CCH
II Capital Corp. (“Capital
Corp”
and,
together with the Company, the “Issuers”),
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, as Parent Guarantor, and The Bank of
New
York Trust Company, NA, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture.
This
certificate relates to $_________ principal amount of Notes held in (check
applicable space) ____ book-entry or _____ definitive form by the
undersigned.
The
undersigned __________________ (transferor) (check one box below):
o
|
hereby
requests the Registrar to deliver in exchange for its beneficial
interest
in the Global Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive,
registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal
amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the
portion thereof indicated above), in accordance with Section 2.06
of the
Indenture;
|
o
|
hereby
requests the Trustee to exchange or register the transfer of a Note
or
Notes to _____________
(transferee).
|
In
connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate
occurring prior to the expiration of the periods referred to in Rule 144(k)
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned confirms that
such
Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
A-13
CHECK
ONE
BOX BELOW:
(1)
|
o
|
to
the Issuers or any of their subsidiaries;
or
|
(2)
|
o
|
pursuant
to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933,
as amended; or
|
(3)
|
o
|
inside
the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in
Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) that
purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified
institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is
being
made in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A
thereunder; or
|
(4)
|
o
|
outside
the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of
Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in
compliance with Rule 904 thereunder;
or
|
(5)
|
o
|
in
another transaction that does not require registration under the
Securities Act.
|
Unless
one of the boxes is checked, the Registrar will refuse to register any of the
Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the
registered holder thereof.
__________________________________________
Signature
Signature
Guarantee: __________________________________________________________________________
(Signature
must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program)
TO
BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The
undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its
own
account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment
discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer”
within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (“Rule 144A”), and is aware that the sale to it is being made in
reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such
information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant
to
Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is
aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing
representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided
by
Rule 144A.
——————————————
[Name
of
Transferee]
A-14
Dated:
______________________________
NOTICE:
To be executed by an executive officer
A-15
SCHEDULE
OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE5
The
following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another
Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global
Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been
made:
Date
of Exchange
|
Amount
of decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note
|
Amount
of increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note
|
Principal
Amount of this Global Note following such decrease (or
increase)
|
Signature
of authorized officer of Trustee or Note Custodian
|
———————
5Should
be
included only in Notes issued in global form.
A-16
NOTE
GUARANTEE
For
value
received, the undersigned hereby unconditionally guarantees, on a senior
unsecured basis, to the Holder of this Note the cash payments in United States
dollars of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Note in the
amounts and at the times when due and interest on the overdue principal,
premium, if any, and interest, if any, of this Note, if lawful, and the payment
or performance of all other Obligations of the Issuers under the Indenture
or
this Note, to the Holder of this Note and the Trustee, in accordance with the
Note, Article 10 of the Indenture and this Note Guarantee, including the
terms stated in the Note, the Indenture and this Note Guarantee. The validity
and enforceability of this Note Guarantee shall not be affected by the fact
that
it is not affixed to any particular Note. Capitalized terms used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture dated as of
September 14, 2006 among CCH II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
CCH
II Capital Corp., a Delaware corporation, the undersigned, and The Bank of
New
York Trust Company, NA, as trustee (as amended or supplemented, the
“Indenture”).
THIS
NOTE GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE
LAWS
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES
OF
CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER
JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY. The
undersigned hereby agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the
State of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
this
Note Guarantee.
This
Note
Guarantee is subject to release upon the terms set forth in the
Indenture.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
By:____________________________________
Name:
Title:
A-17
EXHIBIT
B
[FORM
OF
CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED
IN
CONNECTION WITH TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO RULE 144A]
CCH
II,
LLC
CCH
II
Capital Corp.
c/o
Charter Communications, Inc.
00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xx.
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
The
Bank
of New York Trust Company, NA
0
Xxxxx
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Corporate Trust Department
Re:
|
CCH
II, LLC and CCH II Capital Corp. (the
“Issuers”)
|
10.25%
Senior Notes due 2013 (the “Notes”)
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
In
connection with our proposed sale of $________ aggregate principal amount at
maturity of the Notes, we hereby certify that such transfer is being effected
pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) under the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and,
accordingly, we hereby further certify that the Notes are being transferred
to a
person that we reasonably believe is purchasing the Notes for its own account,
or for one or more accounts with respect to which such person exercises sole
investment discretion, and such person and each such account is a “qualified
institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction
meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Notes are being transferred
in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of
the
United States.
You
and
the Issuers are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized
to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any
administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the
matters covered hereby.
Very
truly yours,
________________________
[Name of Transferor]
By:
________________________
Authorized
Signature
B-1
EXHIBIT
C
[FORM
OF
CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED
IN
CONNECTION WITH TRANSFERS
PURSUANT
TO REGULATION S]
CCH
II,
LLC
CCH
II
Capital Corp.
c/o
Charter Communications, Inc.
00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xx.
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
The
Bank
of New York Trust Company, NA
0
Xxxxx
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Corporate Trust Department
Re:
|
CCH
II, LLC and CCH II Capital Corp. (the
“Issuers”)
|
10.25%
Senior Notes due 2013 (the “Notes”)
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
In
connection with our proposed sale of $________ aggregate principal amount of
the
Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance
with Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent
that:
(1) the
offer
of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;
(2) either
(a) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside
the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed
that the transferee was outside the United States or (b) the transaction
was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated off-shore
securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows
that
the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United
States;
(3) no
directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of
the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S,
as applicable;
(4) the
transaction is being made in compliance with any applicable securities laws
of
any state of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction;
and
C-1
(5) the
transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and not the result of offers or sales
specifically targeted to an identifiable group of U.S. citizens
abroad.
If
the
transfer of the beneficial interest occurs prior to the expiration of the 40-day
distribution compliance period set forth in Regulation S, the transferred
beneficial interest will be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or
Clearstream.
In
addition, if the sale is made during a restricted period and the provisions
of
Rule 903(c)(3) or Rule 904(c)(1) of Regulation S are applicable
thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the
applicable provisions of Rule 903(c)(3) or Rule 904(c)(1), as the case
may be.
The
Issuers and you are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably
authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party
in
any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to
the
matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set
forth in Regulation S.
Very
truly yours,
________________________
[Name
of
Transferor]
By:
________________________
Authorized
Signature
C-2
EXHIBIT
D
[COMPLETE
FORM I OR FORM II AS APPLICABLE.]
[FORM
I - To be used by
the
owner of a beneficial interest in a Temporary Regulation S Global
Note]
CERTIFICATE
OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP IN CONNECTION WITH EXCHANGES OF TEMPORARY REGULATION
S
GLOBAL NOTES
CCH
II,
LLC
CCH
II
Capital Corp.
c/o
Charter Communications, Inc.
00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xx.
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
The
Bank
of New York Trust Company, NA
0
Xxxxx
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Corporate Trust Department
Re: 10.25%
Senior Notes due 2013 (CUSIP [_______])
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference
is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of September 14, 2006 (the
“Indenture”),
among
CCH II, LLC (the “Company”),
CCH
II Capital Corp. (“Capital
Corp”
and,
together with the Company, the “Issuers”),
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, as Parent Guarantor, and The Bank of
New
York Trust Company, NA, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
We
are
the beneficial owner of $____ principal amount of Notes issued under the
Indenture and represented by a Temporary Regulation S Global Note.
We
hereby
certify as follows:
[CHECK
A OR B AS APPLICABLE.]
A.
|
We
are a non-U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the
Securities Act).
|
B.
|
We
are a U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities
Act) that purchased the Notes in a transaction that did not require
registration under the Securities
Act.
|
D-1
You
are
entitled to rely upon this Certificate and are irrevocably authorized to produce
this Certificate or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative
or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered
hereby.
Very
truly yours,
[NAME
OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER]
By:__________________________
Name:
Title:
Address:
Date:
_________________
D-2
[FORM
II - To be used by a Person acting on behalf of an owner of a beneficial
interest in a Temporary Regulation Global Note]
CERTIFICATE
OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP IN CONNECTION WITH EXCHANGES OF TEMPORARY REGULATION
S
GLOBAL NOTES
CCH
II,
LLC
CCH
II
Capital Corp.
c/o
Charter Communications, Inc.
00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xx.
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
The
Bank
of New York Trust Company, NA
0
Xxxxx
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Corporate Trust Department
Re: 10.25%
Senior Notes due 2013 (CUSIP [_______])
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference
is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of September 14, 2006 (the
“Indenture”),
among
CCH II, LLC (the “Company”),
CCH
II Capital Corp. (“Capital
Corp.”
and,
together with the Company, the “Issuers”),
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, as Parent Guarantor, and The Bank of
New
York Trust Company, NA, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
This
is
to certify that based solely on certifications we have received in writing,
by
tested telex or by electronic transmission from institutions appearing in our
records as persons being entitled to a portion of the principal amount of Notes
represented by a Temporary Regulation S Global Note issued under the
above-referenced Indenture, that as of the date hereof, $____ principal amount
of Notes represented by the Temporary Regulation S Global Note being submitted
herewith for exchange is beneficially owned by persons that are either (i)
non-U.S. persons (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act)
or (ii) U.S. persons that purchased the Notes in a transaction that did not
require registration under the Securities Act.
We
further certify that (i) we are not submitting herewith for exchange any portion
of such Temporary Regulation S Global Note excepted in such certifications
and
(ii) as of the date hereof we have not received any notification from any
institution to the effect that the statements made by such institution with
respect to any portion of such Temporary Regulation S Global Note submitted
herewith for exchange are no longer true and cannot be relied upon as of the
date hereof.
D-3
You
are
entitled to rely upon this Certificate and are irrevocably authorized to produce
this Certificate or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative
or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered
hereby.
Yours
faithfully,
[Name
of
DTC Participant]
By:_________________________
Name:
Title:
Address:
Date:
_________________
X-0
X-0