UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): April 13, 2010

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-11331

 

43-1698480

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000, Overland Park, Kansas

 

66210

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 913-661-1500

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

333-06693

 

43-1742520

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000, Overland Park, Kansas

 

66210

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  913-661-1500

 

Ferrellgas, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

000-50182

 

43-1698481

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000, Overland Park, Kansas

 

66210

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  913-661-1500

 

Ferrellgas Finance Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

000-50183

 

14-1866671

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000, Overland Park, Kansas

 

66210

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  913-661-1500

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On April 13, 2010, Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. (together, the “Issuers”) completed their public offering of $280 million in aggregate principal amount of 8 5 / 8 % senior unsecured notes due 2020 (the “Senior Notes”).  The Issuers will receive net proceeds from the offering of approximately $273.4 million, after deducting underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of the offering.  The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to purchase their 8.75% senior notes due 2012 and to pay related costs and expenses, and to redeem any such notes that remain outstanding.  Pending such use, the Company will temporarily invest the proceeds.

 

The terms of the Senior Notes are governed by an Indenture dated as of April 13, 2010 (the “Indenture”), by and among the Issuers and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 13, 2010 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), by and among the Issuers and the Trustee.

 

The descriptions set forth above are qualified in their entirety by the Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture, including the form of the Senior Notes, which are filed herewith as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, and are incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

On April 13, 2010, the Issuers closed their public offering of $280 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes under their Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-157760). Legal opinions related to the Senior Notes are filed herewith as Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1 and are incorporated by reference herein.

 

On April 13, 2010, the Issuers issued a press release related to the closing of the Senior Notes offering.  A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

 

On April 13, 2010, the Company issued a press release related to the expiration of the early tender date for the Issuers’ outstanding 8.75% senior notes due 2012 and the Company’s purchase of tendered notes.  A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.2.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number     Description

 

4.1  Indenture dated April 13, 2010 by and among Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

 

4.2  First Supplemental Indenture dated April 13, 2010 with form of Note attached, by and among Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

 

5.1  Opinion of Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

 

8.1  Opinion of Greenberg Traurig, LLP as to tax matters.

 

23.1  Consent of Greenberg Traurig, LLP (contained in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1 herewith).

 

99.1  Press Release of the Issuers dated April 13, 2010.

 

99.2  Press Release of the Company dated April 13, 2010.

 

2



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

 

April 13, 2010

By:

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

 

 

 

Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of Ferrellgas, Inc., the general partner

 

 

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

 

 

April 13, 2010

By:

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

 

 

 

Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director

 

 

 

Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

 

April 13, 2010

By:

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

 

 

 

Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of Ferrellgas, Inc., the general partner

 

 

 

Ferrellgas Finance Corp.

 

 

April 13, 2010

By:

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

 

 

 

Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director

 

3


Exhibit 4.1

 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

Issuers

 

and

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

Trustee

 


 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of April 13, 2010

 


 

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

 


 

 



 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO

SECTION S 310 THROUGH 318, INCLUSIVE, OF THE

TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:

 

Trust Indenture

 

 

Act Section

 

Indenture Section

§310(a)(1)

 

609

(a)(2)

 

609

(a)(3)

 

Not Applicable

(a)(4)

 

Not Applicable

(a)(5)

 

608; 609

(b)

 

608; 610

(c)

 

Not Applicable

§311(a)

 

613

(b)

 

613

§312(a)

 

701; 702

(b)

 

702

(c)

 

702

§313(a)

 

703

(b)(1)

 

Not Applicable

(b)(2)

 

703

(c)

 

703

(d)

 

703

§314(a)

 

704

(b)

 

Not Applicable

(c)(1)

 

102

(c)(2)

 

102

(c)(3)

 

Not Applicable

(d)

 

Not Applicable

(e)

 

102

(f)

 

Not Applicable

§315(a)

 

601, 603

(b)

 

602

(c)

 

601

(d)

 

601

(e)

 

514

§316(a)

 

101

(a)(1)(A)

 

502; 512

(a)(1)(B)

 

513

(a)(2)

 

Not Applicable

(b)

 

508

(c)

 

104

§317(a)(1)

 

503

(a)(2)

 

504

(b)

 

1003

§318(a)

 

107

 


NOTE:                         This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

i



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

1

 

 

 

 

Section 101.

Definitions

 

1

Section 102.

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

 

8

Section 103.

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

 

9

Section 104.

Acts of Holders; Record Dates

 

9

Section 105.

Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Issuers

 

10

Section 106.

Notice to Holders; Waiver

 

11

Section 107.

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

 

11

Section 108.

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

 

11

Section 109.

Successors and Assigns

 

11

Section 110.

Separateability Clause

 

12

Section 111.

Benefits of Indenture

 

12

Section 112.

Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial

 

12

Section 113.

Legal Holidays

 

12

Section 114.

Language of Notices, Etc.

 

12

Section 115.

Interest Limitation

 

12

Section 116.

Non-Recourse; No Personal Liability of Officers, Directors, Employees, Limited Partners or Shareholders

 

13

Section 117.

U.S.A. Patriot Act

 

14

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

 

14

 

 

 

 

Section 201.

Forms Generally

 

14

Section 202.

Form of Face of Security

 

14

Section 203.

Form of Reverse of Security

 

17

Section 204.

Global Securities

 

22

Section 205.

Form of Trustee’s Certificate and Authorization

 

23

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

 

23

 

 

 

 

Section 301.

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

 

23

Section 302.

Denominations

 

26

Section 303.

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

 

26

Section 304.

Temporary Securities

 

29

 

ii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

Section 305.

Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

 

29

Section 306.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

 

31

Section 307.

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

 

31

Section 308.

Persons Deemed Owners

 

33

Section 309.

Cancellation

 

33

Section 310.

Computation of Interest

 

33

Section 311.

CUSIP Numbers

 

34

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

34

 

 

 

 

Section 401.

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

 

34

Section 402.

Application of Trust Money

 

35

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

 

35

 

 

 

 

Section 501.

Events of Default

 

35

Section 502.

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

 

36

Section 503.

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

 

37

Section 504.

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

 

37

Section 505.

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

 

38

Section 506.

Application of Money Collected

 

38

Section 507.

Limitation on Suits

 

38

Section 508.

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest

 

39

Section 509.

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

 

39

Section 510.

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

 

39

Section 511.

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

 

40

Section 512.

Control by Holders

 

40

Section 513.

Waiver of Past Defaults

 

40

Section 514.

Undertaking for Costs

 

40

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

 

41

 

 

 

 

Section 601.

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

 

41

Section 602.

Notice of Defaults

 

42

Section 603.

Certain Rights of Trustee

 

42

 

iii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

Section 604.

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

 

43

Section 605.

May Hold Securities

 

44

Section 606.

Money Held in Trust

 

44

Section 607.

Compensation and Reimbursement

 

44

Section 608.

Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

 

45

Section 609.

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

 

45

Section 610.

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

 

45

Section 611.

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

 

46

Section 612.

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

 

47

Section 613.

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers

 

48

Section 614.

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

 

48

Section 615.

Force Majeure

 

49

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND ISSUERS

 

50

 

 

 

 

Section 701.

Issuers to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

 

50

Section 702.

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holder

 

50

Section 703.

Reports by Trustee

 

50

Section 704.

Reports by Issuers

 

51

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

51

 

 

 

 

Section 801.

Issuers May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

 

51

Section 802.

Successor Substituted

 

52

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

52

 

 

 

 

Section 901.

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

 

52

Section 902.

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

 

53

Section 903.

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

 

54

Section 904.

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

 

54

Section 905.

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

 

54

Section 906.

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

 

55

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

 

55

 

 

 

 

Section 1001.

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

 

55

 

iv



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

Section 1002.

Maintenance of Office or Agency

 

55

Section 1003.

Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

 

56

Section 1004.

Statement by Officers as to Default

 

56

Section 1005.

Existence

 

57

Section 1006.

Waiver of Certain Covenants

 

57

Section 1007.

Limitation on Finance Corp.

 

57

Section 1008.

Calculation of Original Issue Discount

 

58

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

58

 

 

 

 

Section 1101.

Applicability of Article

 

58

Section 1102.

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

 

58

Section 1103.

Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed

 

58

Section 1104.

Notice of Redemption

 

59

Section 1105.

Deposit of Redemption Price

 

59

Section 1106.

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

 

60

Section 1107.

Securities Redeemed in Part

 

60

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

 

60

 

 

 

 

Section 1201.

Applicability of Article

 

60

Section 1202.

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

 

61

Section 1203.

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

 

61

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE

 

61

 

 

 

 

Section 1301.

Applicability of Article

 

61

Section 1302.

Legal Defeasance

 

61

Section 1303.

Covenant Defeasance

 

63

Section 1304.

Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of Securities

 

65

Section 1305.

Repayment to Issuers

 

65

Section 1306.

Reinstatement

 

65

 

v



 

INDENTURE dated as of April 13, 2010, among FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP., a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Corp. ” and, together with the Partnership, the “ Issuers ”), having their principal office at One Liberty Plaza, Liberty, Missouri, 64068, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

 

RECITALS

 

The Issuers have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of their debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the “ Securities ”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

 

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Issuers, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as defined below) thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 101.            Definitions

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1)            the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

(2)            the following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

“indenture securities” means the Securities;

 

“indenture security Holder” means a Holder of a Security;

 

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

 

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

 

“obligor” on the Securities means the Issuers and any successor obligor upon the Securities;

 



 

(3)            all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act or by Commission rule under the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(4)            all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “ generally accepted accounting principles ” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the date of such computation;

 

(5)            the words “ herein ”, “ hereof ” and “ hereunder ” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and

 

(6)            the words “ Article ” and “ Section ” refer to an Article and Section, respectively, of this Indenture.

 

Act ”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person.  For the purposes of this definition, “ control ” when used with respect to any specified Person means the 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 securities of a person shall be deemed to be control.  For purposes of this definition, the terms “ controlling, ” “ controlled by ” and “under common control with” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Authenticating Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

Board of Directors ” means:

 

(1)            with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation;

 

(2)            with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership; and

 

(3)            with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

2



 

Board Resolution ” means resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of each Issuer and in full force and effect on the date certified and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 201.

 

Business Day ”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or other location, means, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

 

Capital Interests ” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, including, without limitation, with respect to partnerships, partnership interests (whether general or limited) and any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, such partnership.

 

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

Corporate Trust Office ” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which at the date hereof is 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Corporate Trust Services, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor trustee or as such successor trustee may designate from time to time.

 

c ovenant defeasance ” has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

 

Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

Default ” means, with respect to a series of Securities, any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

 

d efeasance ” has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

 

Definitive Security ” means a Security other than a Global Security or a temporary Security.

 

Depositary ” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301, until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter shall mean or include each Person which is then a Depositary

 

3



 

hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, shall be a collective reference to such Persons.

 

Dollar ” or “ $ ” means the coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any statute successor thereto.

 

Finance Corp. ” means the Person named as “Finance Corp.” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “ Finance Corp. ” shall mean such successor Person.

 

General Partner ” means Ferrellgas, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

Global Security ” means a Security in global form that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and is registered in the name of the Depositary for such Securities or a nominee thereof.

 

Holder ” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

Indebtedness ” means any obligation created or assumed by any Person for the repayment of money borrowed, any purchase money obligation created or assumed by such Person and any guarantee of the foregoing, except that, for purposes of Section 801, “ Indebtedness ” has the meaning specified in such Section.

 

Indenture ” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument, and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively.  The term “ Indenture ” also shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

Interest ”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

Interest Payment Date ”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

Issuer Request ” or “ Issuer Order ” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuers by two Officers of the Issuers, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer.

 

Issuers ” means the Partnership and Finance Corp.

 

4



 

Maturity ”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

Notice of Default ” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(3).

 

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, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice President of such Person or, if such Person is a partnership, of the general partner of such Person.

 

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuers by two Officers of the Issuers, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer, that meets the requirements of Sections 102 and 103 hereof.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Sections 102 and 103 hereof.  The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuers, any Subsidiary of the Issuers or the Trustee.

 

Operating Partnership ” means Ferrellgas, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

Original Issue Discount Security ” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

 

Outstanding ”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(i)             Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(ii)            Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than an Issuer) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by an Issuer (if such Issuer shall act as Paying Agent for the Issuers) for the Holders of such Securities; provided, however , that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor has been made;

 

(iii)           Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Issuers; and

 

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(iv)           Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 1302 and 1303, with respect to which the Issuers have effected defeasance or covenant defeasance as provided in Article XIII;

 

provided, however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof on such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more currencies or currency units other than U.S. dollars shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent of such currencies or currency units, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301 on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent (as so determined) on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the amount determined as provided in Clause (A) above) of such Security, and (C) Securities owned by an Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of an Issuer or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.  Securities so owned as described in Clause (C) above which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not an Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of an Issuer or of such other obligor.

 

Par tnership means the Person named as the “Partnership” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “ Partnership ” shall mean such successor Person.

 

Paying Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Issuers to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Issuers.

 

Periodic Offering ” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities thereof, the original issue date or dates thereof, the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, and any other terms specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Issuers upon the issuance of such Securities.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, other entity, unincorporated organization or government, or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Place of Payment ”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means, unless otherwise specifically provided for with respect to such series as contemplated by Section 301, the office or agency of the Issuers in The City of New York and such other place or places

 

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where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301.

 

Predecessor Security ” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same Indebtedness as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

Redemption Date ”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Redemption Price ”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Regular Record Date ” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

 

Responsible Officer ” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

Securities ” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

Security Register ” and “ Security Registrar ” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

 

Special Record Date ” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

 

Stated Maturity ”, when used with respect to the principal of any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the Capital Interests of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the partners’ Capital Interests (considering all partners’ Capital Interests as a single class), is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof.

 

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Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, except as provided in Section 905.

 

Trustee ” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “ Trustee ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Trustee ” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean each Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

U.S. Government Obligations ” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, each of which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

Section 102.            Compliance Certificates and Opinions

 

Upon any application or request by the Issuers to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee 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 complied with, and an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with.  Each such certificate shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

Every Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall include:

 

(1)            a statement that each individual signing 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 each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(4)            a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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Section 103.            Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

 

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

Any certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Issuers may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such Officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous.  Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers of the Issuers stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Issuers unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

Section 104.            Acts of Holders; Record Dates

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuers.  Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “ Act ” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments.  Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuers, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security.

 

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The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof.  Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority.  The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of commencement of such Person’s holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Issuers in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any different part of such principal amount.

 

The Issuers may set any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, but the Issuers shall have no obligation to do so.  With regard to any record date set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to give or take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date.

 

Section 105.            Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Issuers

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

(1)            the Trustee by any Holder or by the Issuers shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made in writing and actually received by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office or at any other address previously furnished in writing by the Trustee, or

 

(2)            the Issuers by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Partnership addressed to it at One Liberty Plaza, Liberty, Missouri

 

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64068, to the attention of the Chief Financial Officer, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Issuers.

 

Section 106.            Notice to Holders; Waiver

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid (if international mail, by air mail), to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.  In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.  Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice.  Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

Section 107.            Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control.  If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.

 

Section 108.            Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

 

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 109.            Successors and Assigns

 

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Issuers shall bind their successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

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Section 110.            Separateability Clause

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 111.            Benefits of Indenture

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, their successors hereunder and Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 112.            Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial

 

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 113.            Legal Holidays

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

Section 114.            Language of Notices, Etc.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

 

Section 115.            Interest Limitation

 

It is the intention of the Issuers to conform strictly to all applicable usury laws and any subsequent revisions, repeals or judicial interpretations thereof.  Accordingly, if the transactions contemplated hereby would be usurious under any applicable law then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Securities or this Indenture, it is agreed as follows:  (i) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest under applicable law with respect to a Security shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by applicable law, and any excess shall be credited to the principal amount of such Security (or, if

 

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the principal amount of such Security shall have been paid in full, refunded to the Issuers), to the extent permitted by applicable law; and (ii) in the event that the maturity of any Security is accelerated or in the event of any redemption of such Security, then such consideration that constitutes interest under applicable law may never include more than the maximum amount allowed by applicable law, and any excess shall be credited to the principal amount of such Security (or, if the principal amount of such Security shall be paid in full, refunded to the Issuers), to the extent permitted by applicable law.  All calculations made to compute the rate of interest with respect to a Security for the purpose of determining whether such rate exceeds the maximum amount allowed by applicable law shall be made, to the extent permitted by such applicable law, by allocating and spreading during the period of the full stated term of such Security all interest any time contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by such Holder or by the Trustee on behalf of any such Holder in connection therewith so that the amount or rate of interest charged for any and all periods of time during the term of the Security does not exceed the maximum amount or rate of interest allowed to be charged by law during the relevant period of time.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, if at any time applicable laws shall be changed so as to permit a higher rate or amount of interest to be charged than that permitted prior to such change, then unless prohibited by law, references in this Indenture or any Security to “applicable law” when used in the context of determining the maximum interest or rate of interest that can be charged shall be deemed to refer to such applicable law as so amended to allow the greater amount or rate of interest.

 

The right to accelerate maturity of any Security does not include the right to accelerate any interest which has not otherwise accrued to the date of such acceleration, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the continuing accrual after acceleration of interest in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Security.

 

Section 116.                                 Non-Recourse; No Personal Liability of Officers, Directors, Employees, Limited Partners or Shareholders

 

Obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture and the Securities hereunder are non-recourse to the Operating Partnership and its Affiliates (other than the Issuers and the General Partner), and are payable only out of the cash flow and assets of the Issuers and the General Partner.  The Trustee agrees, and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance thereof will be deemed to have agreed, in this Indenture that the Operating Partnership and its Affiliates (other than the Issuers and the General Partner) shall not be liable for any of the obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture or such Securities.

 

No limited partner of the Partnership or director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the General Partner or Finance Corp., as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture or the Securities or any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations.  Each Holder of a Security, by its acceptance thereof, waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the Commission that such waiver is against public policy.

 

The agreements set forth in this Section are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.

 

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Section 117.                                 U.S.A. Patriot Act

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee.  The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

 

Section 201.            Forms Generally

 

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable laws or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of such series may be listed or traded or of any Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities.  If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized Officer or other authorized Person on behalf of each Issuer and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Issuer Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.  Any form of Security approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution must be acceptable as to form by the Trustee, such acceptance to be evidenced by the Trustee’s authentication of Securities in that form.

 

The Definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

Section 202.            Form of Face of Security .

 

[Insert any legend required by the United States Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.]

 

[ If a Global Security,—insert legend required by Section 204 of the Indenture] [If applicable, insert— UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS

 

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REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT 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 IN AS MUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

[TITLE OF SECURITY]

 

NO.
U.S.$ 
 

[CUSIP No.                   ]

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (herein called the “Partnership”, which term includes any successor person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), and FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP., a Delaware corporation (herein called “Finance Corp.”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture, and, together with the Partnership, herein called the “Issuers”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                        ,  or registered assigns, the principal sum of                           United States Dollars [state other currency] on                        [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—, and to pay interest thereon from                , or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on                  and                     in each year, commencing               , at the rate of       % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert—, and at the rate of       % per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue installment of interest].  [If applicable, insert — The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the days elapsed in any partial month.  In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then a payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable.  A “Business Day” shall mean, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.]  The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the                        or                      (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.  Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the

 

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Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice of which shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in the Indenture].

 

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear interest at the rate of         % per annum, which shall accrue from the date of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made or duly provided for.  Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand.  Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of          % per annum, which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]

 

[If a Global Security, insert—Payment of the principal of [(and premium, if any)] and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in                              designated by the Holder 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 [state other currency].]

 

[If a Definitive Security, insert—Payment of the principal of [(and premium, if any)] and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for that purpose in                                        , [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] [state other currency] [or subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Issuers (as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such Paying Agent, at the [main] offices of                      in                    and                 in                  , or at such other offices or agencies as the Issuers may designate, by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check drawn on, or transfer to a [United States Dollar] account maintained by the payee with, a bank in The City of New York [                ] (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing at least [        ] days prior to the payment date)] [if applicable, insert—; provided, however , that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Issuers by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check mailed to the addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the Security Register] [or by transfer to a [United States Dollar] [state other currency] account maintained by the payee with a bank in The City of New York [state other Place of Payment] (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing by the Record Date prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date)].]

 

16



 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuers have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated:

 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.,

 

 

 

By:

Ferrellgas, Inc.,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

Section 203.            Form of Reverse of Security

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Issuers (the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture dated as of                            (the “Indenture”), among the Issuers and                                         , as Trustee (the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Issuers, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  As provided in the Indenture, the Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest, if any, at different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions, if any, may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds, if any, may be subject to different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted.  This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert—, limited in aggregate principal amount to U.S.$     ].

 

17



 

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail, [if applicable, insert—(1) on          in any year commencing with the year         and ending with the year          through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [if applicable, insert—on or after            ,        ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Issuers, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert—on or before               ,          %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning                        of the years indicated,

 

Year

 

Redemption Price

 

Year

 

Redemption Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to           % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert—(whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail, (1) on                     in any year commencing with the year        and ending with the year         through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable, insert—on or after                 ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Issuers, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning                  of the years indicated,

 

Year

 

Redemption Price for
Redemption Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund

 

Redemption Price for
Redemption Otherwise
Than Through Operation
of the Sinking Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to              % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

18



 

[If applicable, insert—The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on                  in each year beginning with the year        and ending with the year         of [if applicable,—not less than $               (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $        aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series.  Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Issuers otherwise than through [if applicable,—mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [if applicable,—mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [if applicable,—in the inverse order in which they become due].]

 

[If the Security is subject to redemption in part of any kind, insert—In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

 

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are not redeemable prior to Stated Maturity.]

 

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert—If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

 

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert—If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.  Such amount shall be equal to—insert formula for determining the amount.  Upon payment (1) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable, and (2) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest, all of the Issuers’ obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Issuers and the Trustee with the consent of not less than the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series to be affected (voting as one class).  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected series (voting as one class), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Issuers with certain provisions of the Indenture.  The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of any series then Outstanding to waive past defaults under the Indenture with respect to such series and their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

19



 

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity.  The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or [any premium or] interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder, alter or impair the obligation of the Issuers, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and [any premium and] interest on this Security at the times, place(s) and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed, except for Section 115 of the Indenture (which limits interest to the maximum amount permissible by law), the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

[If a Global Security, insert—This Global Security or portion hereof may not be exchanged for Definitive Securities of this series except in the limited circumstances provided in the Indenture.

 

The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities except as described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.]

 

[If a Definitive Security, insert—As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Issuers in [if applicable, insert — any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable] [if applicable, insert— The City of New York [, or, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Issuers (limited as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such transfer agent, at the [main] offices of                             in                     and in                             or at such other offices or agencies as the Issuers may designate]], duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuers and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.]

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of U.S.$  [state other currency] and any integral multiple thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are

 

20



 

exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Issuers, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security is overdue, and neither the Issuers, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture and the Securities hereunder are non-recourse to the Operating Partnership and its Affiliates (other than the Issuers and the General Partner), and are payable only out of the cash flow and assets of the Issuers and the General Partner.  The Trustee has agreed, and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance hereof will be deemed to have agreed, in the Indenture that the Operating Partnership and its Affiliates (other than the Issuers and the General Partner) shall not be liable for any of the obligations of the Issuers under the Indenture or such Securities, including this Security.  No limited partner of the Partnership or director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the General Partner or Finance Corp., as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers under the Indenture or such Securities, including this Security or any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations.  Each Holder of a Security, including this Security, by its acceptance thereof, waives and releases all such liability.

 

The Indenture contains provisions that relieve the Issuers from the obligation to comply with certain restrictive covenants in the Indenture and for satisfaction and discharge at any time of the entire indebtedness upon compliance by the Issuers with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

 

This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

[If a Definitive Security, insert as a separate page—

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto                                                                            (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address of Assignee) the within instrument of FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.  and FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP. and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                                                  Attorney to transfer said instrument on the books of the within-named Issuers, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Please Insert Social Security or

Other Identifying Number of Assignee:

 

21



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

(Par ticipant in a Recognized Signature

Guaranty Medallion Program)

 

NOTICE:  The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.]

 

Section 204.            Global Securities

 

Every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF.  THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.  EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding Clause (9) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any Global Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as the case may be, to reflect exchanges.  Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any reduction or increase in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in an Issuer Order.  Subject to the provisions of Sections 303, 304 and 305, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Global Security in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Issuer Order.  Any instructions by the Issuers with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Global Security shall be in an Issuer Order (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel).

 

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Global Security if such Security was never issued and sold by the Issuers and the Issuers

 

22



 

deliver to the Trustee the Global Security together with an Issuer Order (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction or increase, as the case may be, in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

 

Section 205.            Form of Trustee’s Certificate and Authorization

 

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

As Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 301.            Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series.  There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution (and, subject to Section 303, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officers’ Certificate or Issuer Order setting forth, or determining the manner of, such establishment) or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

(1)            the form and title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

 

(2)            any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

23



 

(3)            the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

 

(4)            the date or dates on which the Securities will be issued and on which the principal of, and premium, if any, on the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

 

(5)            the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determination thereof, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method of determination thereof, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

 

(6)            the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange and notices, and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

 

(7)            the period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Issuers or otherwise, if the Issuers are to have that option;

 

(8)            the obligation, if any, and the option, if any, of the Issuers to redeem, purchase or repay, or make an offer to the same, Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or upon the happening of a specified event, including any change of control event, or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(9)            if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(10)          whether payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be without deduction for taxes, assessments or governmental charges paid by Holders of the series;

 

(11)          the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be denominated, payable, redeemable or purchasable if other than the currency of the United States of America and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

 

(12)          if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

24



 

(13)          if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Issuers or a Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;

 

(14)          the right, if any, of the Issuers to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment periods and specify the duration of such extension, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and whether and under what circumstances additional interest on amounts deferred shall be payable;

 

(15)          if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504 or the method of determination thereof;

 

(16)          if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities (and whether in temporary or permanent global form) and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;

 

(17)          any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 501 or the covenants of the Issuers set forth in Article X pertaining to the Securities of the series;

 

(18)          if and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be converted into or exchanged for securities, which may include, without limitation, capital stock, of any class or series of the Issuers or any other issuer;

 

(19)          if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, including, but not limited to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the Securities of that series are payable, or any other type of index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(20)          if other than as provided in Sections 1302 and 1303, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such series of Securities may be defeased or discharged;

 

(21)          if other than the Trustee, the identity of any other trustee, the Security Registrar and any Paying Agent;

 

(22)          whether the Securities will be guaranteed by any Person;

 

25



 

(23)          any terms relating to the pledge or mortgage of any assets as security for the payment of obligations under the Securities;

 

(24)          any restrictions or other provisions with respect to the transfer or exchange of the Securities; and

 

(25)          any other terms of the Securities of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(4)).

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

Any such Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate referred to above with respect to Securities of any series filed with the Trustee on or before the initial issuance of the Securities of such series shall be incorporated herein by reference with respect to Securities of such series and shall thereafter be deemed to be a part of the Indenture for all purposes relating to Securities of such series as fully as if such Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate were set forth herein in full.

 

All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for increases in the aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities and issuances of additional Securities of such series or for the establishment of additional terms with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of such Board Resolution shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized person of the Issuers and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth, or providing the manner for determining, the terms of the series.

 

With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, such Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate may provide general terms for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Securities of such series shall be specified in an Issuer Order, or that such terms shall be determined by the Issuers, or one or more of the Issuers’ agents designated in an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with an Issuer Order.

 

Section 302.            Denominations

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301.  In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

Section 303.            Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of each Issuer by an Officer thereof who is the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,

 

26



 

President or any Vice President and need not be attested.  The signature of any of these Officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

 

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper Officers of the Issuers shall bind the Issuers, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Issuers may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Issuers to the Trustee for authentication, together with an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Issuer Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however , that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with such other procedures (including, without limitation, the receipt by the Trustee of oral or electronic instructions from the Issuers or its duly authorized agents, thereafter promptly confirmed in writing) acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to an Issuer Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series.  If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, in addition to any Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required to be furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 102, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

(1)            The form and terms (or the manner of determining the terms) of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form or forms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2)            if the terms of such Securities have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering will be, established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering will be, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject, in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel (which conditions are reasonably acceptable to the Trustee); and

 

(3)            that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Issuers in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, which conditions are reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuers enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles and entitled to the benefits of this Indenture, equally and ratably with all other Securities, if any, of such series Outstanding; and

 

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(4)            such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request;

 

and, if the authentication and delivery relates to a new series of Securities created by an indenture supplemental hereto, also stating that all conditions precedent to the execution of the supplemental indenture with respect to that series of Securities have been complied with, the Issuers have the power to execute and deliver any such supplemental indenture and have taken all necessary action for those purposes and any such supplemental indenture has been executed and delivered and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuers enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws and legal principles affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general equitable principles, whether applied in an action at law or in equity).

 

If such form or forms or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Issuers Order and Opinion of Counsel or Board Resolution or supplemental indenture otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

With respect to Securities of a series not to be originally issued at one time, the Trustee may rely upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other documents delivered pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 and this Section, as applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series and any subsequent request by the Issuers to the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Issuers that as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate shall be true and correct as if made on such date.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Issuers, and the Issuers shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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Section 304.            Temporary Securities

 

Pending the preparation of Definitive Securities of any series, the Issuers may execute, and upon receipt of the documents required by Section 303, together with an Issuer Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Securities of like series in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Issuers will cause Definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay.  After the preparation of Definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained pursuant to Section 1002 for the purpose of exchanges of Securities of such series, without charge to the Holder.  Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more Definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor.  Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Securities of such series and tenor.

 

Section 305.            Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

 

The Issuers shall cause to be kept at an office or agency of the Security Registrar in The City of New York a register (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency of the Issuers in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes referred to as the “ Security Register ”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Issuers shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities.  The Issuers shall, prior to the issuance of any Securities hereunder, appoint the Trustee as the initial “ Security Registrar ” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided and its Corporate Trust Office as the initial office or agency in The City of New York where the Security Register will be maintained.  The Issuers may at any time replace such Security Registrar, change such office or agency or act as its own Security Registrar.  The Issuers will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change of the Security Registrar or of the location of such office or agency.  At all reasonable times the Security Register shall be available for inspection by the Trustee.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained pursuant to Section 1002 for such purpose, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor.

 

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (except a Global Security) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such

 

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office or agency.  Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Issuers, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Issuers or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuers, the Security Registrar and the Trustee duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

Neither the Trustee nor the Issuers shall be required (1) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (2) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture and except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, no Global Security may be transferred to, or registered or exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or any nominee thereof, and no such transfer may be registered, except as provided in this paragraph.  Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security shall be a Global Security, except as provided in this paragraph.  If (1) (A) the Depositary for a Global Security notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and (B) a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuers within 120 days, (2) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities of such series and the Security Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue certificated securities in lieu of all or a portion of the Global Securities of such series (in which case the Issuers shall deliver certificated securities within 30 days of such request) or (3) the Issuers determines in its sole discretion that Securities of a series issued in global form shall no longer be represented by a Global Security, then such Global Security may be exchanged by such Depositary for Definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, registered in the names of, and the transfer of such Global Security or portion thereof may be registered to, such Persons as such Depositary shall direct.

 

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Section 306.            Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Issuers or the Trustee to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, the Issuers shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Issuers and the Trustee (1) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (2) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Issuers or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Issuers shall execute and upon the receipt of an Issuer Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding.  If, after the delivery of such new Security, a bona fide purchaser of the original Security in lieu of which such new Security was issued presents for payment or registration such original Security, the Trustee shall be entitled to recover such new Security from the party to whom it was delivered or any party taking therefrom, except a bona fide purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Issuers and the Trustee in connection therewith.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuers in their discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Issuers may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.  Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in exchange for any mutilated Security or in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Issuers, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

Section 307.            Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

 

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one

 

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or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “ Defaulted Interest ”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Issuers, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1)            The Issuers may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner.  The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided.  Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Issuers, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or in the case of Global Securities, provide notice in accordance with DTC’s procedures, to each Holder of Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

(2)            The Issuers may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which such Securities may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Issuers to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security, shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

For each series of Securities, the Issuers shall, prior to 10:30 a.m. (New York City time) on each payment date for principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, deposit with the

 

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Trustee money in immediately available funds sufficient to make cash payments due on the applicable payment date.

 

Section 308.            Persons Deemed Owners

 

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Issuers, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and neither the Issuers, the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Issuers, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.  None of the Issuers, the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

Section 309.            Cancellation

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it.  The Issuers may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Issuers may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Issuers have not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee.  No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture.  All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures.

 

Section 310.            Computation of Interest

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and interest on the Securities of each series for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the number of days elapsed in any partial month.

 

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Section 311.            CUSIP Numbers

 

The Issuers in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (in addition to the other identification numbers printed on the Securities), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders.  The Issuers will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

 

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 401.            Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

 

This Indenture shall upon an Issuer Request cease to be of further effect with respect to Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities, when

 

(1)            either

 

(A)           all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) such Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) such Securities 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, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B)            all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

(i)             have become due and payable,

 

(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 irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for this purpose an amount of money in the currency or currency units in which such Securities are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

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(2)            the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuers with respect to such Securities; and

 

(3)            the Issuers have 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 with respect to such Securities have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, (i) the obligations of the Issuers to the Trustee under Section 607 and the right of the Trustee to resign under Section 610 shall survive, and (ii) if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Issuers and/or the Trustee under Sections 402, 606, 701 and 1002 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

 

Section 402.            Application of Trust Money

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

 

Section 501.            Events of Default

 

Event of Default ”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(1)            default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(2)            default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

(3)            default in the performance, or breach, of any term, covenant or warranty of the Issuers in this Indenture (other than a term, covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 45 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuers by the Trustee or to the Issuers and the

 

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Trustee by Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “ Notice of Default ” hereunder; or

 

(4)            either of the Issuers pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (A) commences a voluntary case, (B) consents to the entry of any 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, or (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

 

(5)            a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (A) is for relief against either of the Issuers in an involuntary case, (B) appoints a Custodian of either of the Issuers or for all or substantially all of its property, or (C) orders the liquidation of either of the Issuers; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

 

(6)            any other Event of Default provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to Securities of that series.

 

Section 502.            Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

 

If an Event of Default specified in Clause (4) or (5) of Section 501 occurs, the principal amount of all outstanding Securities shall become due an payable immediately without further action or notice.  If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Clause (4) or (5) of Section 501) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of (or, if any of the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Issuers (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium of Securities of that series that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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Section 503.            Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

 

The Issuers covenant that if

 

(1)            default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

(2)            default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

 

the Issuers will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, 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.

 

If the Issuers fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Issuers, or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuers, or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

Section 504.            Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

 

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Issuers, or any other obligor upon the Securities, their property or their creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding.  In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

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No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 505.            Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 506.            Application of Money Collected

 

Any money or property collected or to be applied by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST :  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;

 

SECOND :  To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively; and

 

THIRD :  The balance, if any, to the Issuers.

 

Section 507.            Limitation on Suits

 

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or a Security, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

(1)            such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

 

(2)            Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

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(3)            such Holder or Holders have offered and, if requested, provided to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(4)            the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer and, if requested, provision of security or indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(5)            no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

Section 508.            Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 509.            Restoration of Rights and Remedies

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Issuers, the Trustee and Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 510.            Rights and Remedies Cumulative

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

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Section 511.            Delay or Omission Not Waiver

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein.  Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

Section 512.            Control by Holders

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 603, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided, however , that the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Securities or that may subject the Trustee to personal liability.

 

Section 513.            Waiver of Past Defaults

 

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except

 

(1)            a continuing default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

 

(2)            a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 514.            Undertaking for Costs

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however , that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Trustee, in any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series to which the suit relates, or in any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the

 

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respective Stated Maturity expressed by such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date).

 

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 601.            Certain Duties and Responsibilities

 

(a)            Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities,

 

(1)            the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2)            in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall  be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(b)            In case an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to the Securities of such series such rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(c)            No provisions of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(1)            this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

 

(2)            the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(3)            the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders or a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

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(4)            no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d)            Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

Section 602.            Notice of Defaults

 

If a Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall, within 90 days after it occurs, transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, notice of all uncured or unwaived Defaults known to it; provided, however , that, except in the case of a Default in payment on the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding the notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or responsible officers of the Trustee determine in good faith that withholding such notice is in the interests of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, further, however , that, in the case of any default or breach of the character specified in Section 501(3) with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof.

 

Section 603.            Certain Rights of Trustee

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

 

(1)            the Trustee may conclusively rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(2)            any request, direction, order or demand of the Issuers mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Issuer Request or Issuer Order (or in the case of a Periodic Offering, as agreed in procedures set forth in an Issuer Order pursuant to Section 303) and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(3)            whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

 

(4)            the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

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(5)            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 pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(6)            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, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may, without obligation to do so, make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit; and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuers, personally or by agent or attorney;

 

(7)            the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

 

(8)            the Trustee may request that the Issuers deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;

 

(9)            in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, 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;

 

(10)          the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

 

(11)          the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder; and

 

(12)          the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

Section 604.            Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Issuers, and the Trustee or any

 

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Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness.  Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent makes any representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.  Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Issuers of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

Section 605.            May Hold Securities

 

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Issuers, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

Section 606.            Money Held in Trust

 

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Issuers.

 

Section 607.            Compensation and Reimbursement

 

The Issuers agree:

 

(1)            to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as agreed to among the parties in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2)            to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct; and

 

(3)            to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

The obligations of the Issuers under this Section to compensate the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

 

Without limiting any rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(4) or Section 501(5), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses

 

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of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Bankruptcy Law.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the defeasance of the Securities.

 

Section 608.            Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

 

Section 609.            Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

 

There shall at all times be one or more Trustees hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, at least one of which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus required by the Trust Indenture Act.  If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of a supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 610.            Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

 

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

 

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Issuers.  If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee, at the expense of the Issuers, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Issuers.  If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the removed Trustee, at the expense of the Issuers, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

The Issuers may remove the Trustee if:

 

(1)            the Trustee fails to comply with Section 608 or 609 hereof;

 

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(2)            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;

 

(3)            a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(4)            the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Issuers, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611.  If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Issuers and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers.

 

If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Issuers or Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611 within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series 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 bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 608 or 609, such Holder may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Issuers shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106.  Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 611.            Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

 

(1)            In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Issuers and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Issuers or the

 

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successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

(2)            In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Issuers, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (A) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (B) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (C) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees as co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, but, on request of the Issuers, or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

(3)            Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Issuers shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section, as the case may be.

 

(4)            No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

Section 612.            Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

 

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.  In case any Securities shall have

 

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been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

Section 613.            Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of an Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against such Issuer or any such other obligor.

 

Section 614.            Appointment of Authenticating Agent

 

The Trustee (upon notice to the Issuers) may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue (in accordance with procedures acceptable to the Trustee) and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder.  Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent.  Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Issuers and shall at all times be a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority.  If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any Person into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of such Authenticating  Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such Person shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or such Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Issuers.  The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the

 

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Issuers .  Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Issuers. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.  No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Issuers agree to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.

 

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

As Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

Section 615.            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 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.

 

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ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND ISSUERS

 

Section 701.            Issuers to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

 

The Issuers will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

(1)            semi-annually, not later than each Interest Payment Date in each year, a list for each series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of the preceding Regular Record Date, and

 

(2)            at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Issuers of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

 

provided, however , that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar for Securities of a series, no such list need be furnished with respect to such series of Securities.

 

Section 702.            Preservation of Information; Communications to Holder.

 

The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

The rights of the Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Issuers and the Trustee that neither the Issuers nor the Trustee nor any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 703.            Reports by Trustee

 

As promptly as practicable after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event prior to July 15 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of May 15 that complies with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b).  Prior to delivery to the Holders, the Trustee shall deliver to the Issuers a copy of any report it delivers to Holders pursuant to this Section 703.

 

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Issuers.  The Issuers will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

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Section 704.            Reports by Issuers

 

The Issuers shall:

 

(1)            file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Issuers is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Issuers may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

 

(2)            file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Issuers with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

 

(3)            transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Issuers pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including each Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).  The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for the accuracy, timeliness of filing of any report with the Commission, or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

Section 801.            Issuers May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

 

The Partnership shall not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person, unless:

 

(1)            the Partnership is the surviving entity or the entity formed by or surviving the transaction, if other than the Partnership, or the entity to which the sale was made is a corporation or partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(2)            the entity formed by or surviving the transaction, if other than the Partnership, or the entity to which the sale was made assumes all the obligations of the Partnership in accordance with a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under the Securities and this Indenture;

 

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(3)            immediately after the transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(4)            with respect to any series of Securities then Outstanding, at the time of the transaction and after giving pro forma effect to it as if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Partnership or such other entity or survivor is permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (as such term may be defined with respect to such series of Securities) under each covenant, if any, applicable to any series of Outstanding Securities that restricts the ability of the Partnership to incur Indebtedness.

 

Finance Corp. shall not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person, except under conditions similar to those described in the paragraph above.

 

Section 802.            Successor Substituted

 

Upon any consolidation of an Issuer with, or merger of an Issuer into, any other Person or any sale, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of an Issuer as, or substantially as, an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which such Issuer is merged or to which such sale, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and 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 originally as such Issuer herein or therein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 901.            Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

 

Without the consent of any Holders of Securities, the Issuers and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1)            to secure any of such Securities or to allow any guarantor to guarantee Securities of any series;

 

(2)            to evidence the succession of another Person to the Issuers under this Indenture and the Securities and the assumption by such successor Person of the obligations of the Issuers hereunder;

 

(3)            to add covenants and Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of such Securities or to surrender any right or power conferred by this Indenture upon the Issuers or to make any change that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder in any material respect;

 

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(4)            to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such addition, change or elimination shall become effective only after there are no such Securities of any series entitled to the benefit of such provision outstanding;

 

(5)            to establish the forms or terms of the Securities of any series issued hereunder;

 

(6)            to cure any ambiguity or correct any defect or inconsistency in this Indenture;

 

(7)            to evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee with respect to one or more series of Securities or otherwise;

 

(8)            to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(9)            to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to certificated securities;

 

(10)          to supplement any provisions of this Indenture necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series;  and

 

(11)          to comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the Securities may be listed or traded.

 

Section 902.            Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one class), the Issuers and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture, or modifying in any manner the rights of Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities); provided that the Issuers and the Trustee may not, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

(1)            change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest, if any, on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or premium, if any, on or the rate of interest thereon or alter the method of computation of interest;

 

(2)            reduce the percentage in principal amount of Securities required for any such supplemental indenture or for any waiver provided for in this Indenture;

 

(3)            change the Issuers’ obligation to maintain an office or agency for payment of Securities and the other matters specified herein;

 

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(4)            impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Security;

 

(5)            modify any of the provisions of this Indenture relating to the execution of supplemental indentures with the consent of Holders of Securities which are discussed in this Section or modify any provisions relating to the waiver by Holders of Securities of past defaults and covenants, except to increase any required percentage or to provide that other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; or

 

(6)            make any Security payable in money other than that stated in the Security.

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

Section 903.            Execution of Supplemental Indentures

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.  The Trustee shall enter into any supplemental indenture which does not adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.  The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which adversely affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 904.            Effect of Supplemental Indentures

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

Section 905.            Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

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Section 906.            Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Issuers shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Issuers, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Issuers and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.  Failure to make a notation or issue a new Security shall not affect the validity and effect of any amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

 

Section 1001.          Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

 

The Issuers covenant and agree for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

 

Section 1002.          Maintenance of Office or Agency

 

The Issuers will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served.  The Issuers will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency.  If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Issuers hereby appoint the Trustee as their agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuers of their obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes.  The Issuers will 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.

 

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities as contemplated by Section 301, the Issuers hereby initially designate as the Place of Payment for each series of Securities The City of New York, and initially appoint the Trustee as Paying Agent at its Corporate Trust Office as the Issuers’ office or agency for each such purpose in such city.

 

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Section 1003.          Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

 

If an Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

Whenever the Issuers shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Issuers will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Issuers will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided; (2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of that series; and (3) during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

The Issuers may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Issuer Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Issuers or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Issuers or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

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 or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on their request or (if then held by the Issuers) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter be permitted to 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.

 

Section 1004.          Statement by Officers as to Default

 

The Issuers will deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuers ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best

 

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knowledge of the signer or signers thereof the Issuers are in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Issuers shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

 

Section 1005.          Existence

 

Subject to Article VIII, the Issuers will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect their existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however , that the Issuers shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors of the applicable Issuer shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of its business.

 

Section 1006.          Waiver of Certain Covenants

 

The Issuers may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 1005 with respect to the Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected series (voting as one class) shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Issuers and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

A waiver which changes or eliminates any term, provision or condition of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such term, provision or condition, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

Section 1007.          Limitation on Finance Corp.

 

Finance Corp. will not incur any Indebtedness unless:

 

(1)            the Partnership is a co-obligor or guarantor of the Indebtedness; or

 

(2)            the net proceeds of the Indebtedness are either lent to the Partnership, used to acquire outstanding debt securities issued by the Partnership, or used, directly or indirectly, to refinance or discharge Indebtedness permitted under the limitation of this Section 1007.

 

Finance Corp. will not engage in any business not related, directly or indirectly, to obtaining money or arranging financing for the Partnership.

 

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Section 1008.          Calculation of Original Issue Discount

 

The Issuers shall, with respect to each series of Outstanding Securities that is issued with greater than de minimis original issue discount (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time), file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on such Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 1101.          Applicability of Article

 

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

 

Section 1102.          Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

 

The election of the Issuers to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution.  In case of any redemption at the election of the Issuers of less than all the Securities of any series, the Issuers shall, not less than 45 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Issuers (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed.  In the case of any redemption of Securities (1) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (2) pursuant to an election of the Issuers which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities, the Issuers shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

Section 1103.          Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed

 

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, on a pro rata basis or by any other method which the Trustee deems fair and appropriate and which complies with any securities exchange or other applicable requirements for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.

 

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The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Section 1104.          Notice of Redemption

 

Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail (if international mail, by air mail), postage prepaid, mailed not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.

 

All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP number(s)) and shall state:

 

(1)            the Redemption Date,

 

(2)            the Redemption Price,

 

(3)            if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed,

 

(4)            that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(5)            the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

 

(6)            that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; and

 

(7)          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 Securities and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities (and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such CUSIP numbers).

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the Issuers or, at the Issuers’ written request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers.

 

Section 1105.          Deposit of Redemption Price

 

On or prior to 10:30 a.m. New York City Time on any Redemption Date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Issuers are acting as their own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to

 

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pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 1106.          Securities Payable on Redemption Date

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Issuers shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest.  Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Issuers at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however , that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

Section 1107.          Securities Redeemed in Part

 

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Issuers or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuers and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Request, shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 1201.          Applicability of Article

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “ mandatory sinking fund payment ,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “ optional sinking fund payment .”  If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to

 

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reduction as provided in Section 1202.  Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

 

Section 1202.          Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

 

The Issuers (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption), and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Issuers pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited.  Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

Section 1203.          Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

 

Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Issuers will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and stating the basis for such credit and that such Securities have not been previously so credited, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered.  Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Issuers in the manner provided in Section 1104.  Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE

 

Section 1301.          Applicability of Article

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to each series of Securities except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.

 

Section 1302.          Legal Defeasance

 

In addition to discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Section 401, the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Securities of such a series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in Clause (1) below, and the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series shall no longer be in effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series and the Issuers’

 

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right of optional redemption, if any, (ii) substitution of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, (iii) rights of Holders of Securities to receive payments of principal thereof and interest thereon, upon the original stated due dates therefor or on the specified redemption dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith (including, but not limited to, Section 607), (v) the rights, if any, to convert or exchange the Securities of such series, (vi) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them, (vii) the obligations of the Issuers under Section 1002 and (viii) the legal defeasance provisions of this Article XIII), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuers, shall, upon a Issuers Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same, if the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ defeasance ”):

 

(1)            The Issuers have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, for the purposes of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of Holders of the Securities of such series (A) cash in an amount, or (B) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in legal coin or currency of the United States, U.S. Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash, or (C) a combination thereof, certified to be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (i) the principal and interest and premium, if any, on all Securities of such series on each date that such principal, interest or premium, if any, is due and payable or on any Redemption Date established pursuant to Clause (3) below, and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the dates on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series;

 

(2)            The Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel:

 

(A)           based on the fact that (A) the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and such opinion shall confirm that, Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred; and

 

(B)            stating that after the 91 st  day following the deposit the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the defeasance have been complied with and confirming other matters;

 

(3)            If the Securities are to be redeemed prior to Stated Maturity (other than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of such redemption shall

 

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have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made;

 

(4)            No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or insofar as Events of Default described in Section 501(4) or 501(5) hereof are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91 st  day after the date of such deposit;

 

(5)            Such defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act);

 

(6)            Such defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which either of the Issuers is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(7)            Such defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder; and

 

(8)            The Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this provision have been complied with.

 

For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Issuers, and any other obligor upon the Securities of such series shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire debt represented by the Securities of such series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1304 and the rights and obligations referred to in Clauses (i) through (vii), inclusive, of the first paragraph of this Section, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture insofar as the Securities of such series are concerned.

 

Section 1303.          Covenant Defeasance

 

The Issuers and any other obligor shall be released on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in Clause (1) below from its obligations under Sections 704, 801 and 1005 with respect to the Securities of any series on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ covenant defeasance ”), and the Securities of such series shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, waiver, consent or declaration or other action 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.  For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Securities of such series, 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 Section, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to such Section or by reason of any reference in such Section 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 

 

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501, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be unaffected thereby.  The following shall be the conditions to application of this Section 1303:

 

(1)            The Issuers have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of Holders of the Securities of such series, (A) cash in an amount, or (B) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in legal coin or currency of the United States, U.S. Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (i) the principal and interest and premium, if any, on all Securities of such series on each date that such principal, interest or premium, if any, is due and payable or on any Redemption Date established pursuant to Clause (2) below, and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series;

 

(2)            If the Securities are to be redeemed prior to Stated Maturity (other than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made;

 

(3)            No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or insofar as Events of Default described in Section 501(4) or 501(5) hereof are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91 st  day after the date of such deposit;

 

(4)            The Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel which shall:

 

(A)           confirm that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

 

(B)            state that that after the 91 st  day following the deposit the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the covenant defeasance have been complied with and confirm other matters;

 

(5)            Such covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act);

 

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(6)            Such covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which either of the Issuers is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(7)            Such covenant defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder; and

 

(8)            The Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this provision have been complied with.

 

Section 1304.          Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of Securities

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all moneys or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303 (and all funds earned on such moneys or U.S. Government Obligations) shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers acting as their own Paying Agent), to Holders of the particular Securities of such series for the payment or redemption of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  Subject to Sections 1302 and 1303, the Trustee shall promptly pay to the Issuers upon Issuer Order any moneys held by it at any time, which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amounts required to effect the defeasance with respect to the Outstanding Securities in question.

 

Section 1305.          Repayment to Issuers

 

The Trustee and any Paying Agent promptly shall pay or return to the Issuers upon Issuer Request any money and U.S. Government Obligations held by them at any time that are not required for the payment of the principal of and any interest on the Securities of any series for which money or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303, which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amounts required to effect the defeasance with respect to the Outstanding Securities in question.

 

The provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall apply to any money held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent under this Article that remains unclaimed for two years after the Maturity of any series of Securities for which money or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303.

 

Section 1306.          Reinstatement

 

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U. S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise

 

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prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture and the Securities of the applicable series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Indenture until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U. S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article; provided, however , that if the Issuers have made any payment of principal of or interest on any Securities of such series because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed in multiple counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall together constitute but one and the same instrument, all as of the day and year first above written.  The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture for all purposes.  Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.

 

 

 

By:

Ferrellgas, Inc.,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. RYAN VAN WINKLE

 

Name:

J. Ryan Van Winkle

 

Title:

Senior Vice President & Chie Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. RYAN VAN WINKLE

 

Name:

J. Ryan Van Winkle

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer & Sole Director

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ THOMAS E. TABOR

 

Name:

Thomas E. Tabor

 

Title:

Vice President

 


Exhibit 4.2

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.,

 

as Issuers

 

and

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as Trustee

 


 

$280,000,000

8 5 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2020

 


 

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of April 13, 2010

 

 

to Indenture dated as of April 13, 2010

 



 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of April 13, 2010 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), among Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Partnership, the “Issuers”) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee under the Base Indenture referred to below (hereinafter called the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE ISSUERS

 

WHEREAS, the Issuers entered into an Indenture dated as of April 13, 2010 (the “Base Indenture” and, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”) with the Trustee, for the purposes of providing for the issuance from time to time of senior unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Issuers, unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such time or times, to be issued in one or more series and to have such other provisions as authorized by or pursuant to the authority granted in one or more resolutions of the Boards of Directors of the Issuers;

 

WHEREAS, the Issuers propose to issue $280,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 8 5 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2020 (such Securities being referred to herein as the “Initial Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 901 of the Base Indenture provides that without the consent of the Holders of the Securities of any series issued under the Base Indenture, the Issuers, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into one or more indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture to, among other things (a) add covenants and Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities, (b) add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture, provided that any such addition, change or elimination shall become effective only after there are no such Securities of any series entitled to the benefit of such provision outstanding, (c) establish the forms or terms of Securities of any series issued under the Indenture, and (d) cure any ambiguity or correct any defect or inconsistency in the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 201 of the Base Indenture, the Issuers desire to execute this First Supplemental Indenture to establish the form, and pursuant to Section 301 of the Base Indenture, to provide for the issuance, of the Notes;

 

WHEREAS, this First Supplemental Indenture shall be subject to and governed by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

WHEREAS, the entry into this First Supplemental Indenture by the parties hereto is in all respects authorized by the provisions of the Base Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make this First Supplemental Indenture, when executed and delivered by the Issuers, the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Issuers, in accordance with its terms;

 

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NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:

 

SECTION 1.            Application of this First Supplemental Indenture

 

(A)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this First Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture are expressly and solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes and any such provisions shall not be deemed to apply to any other Securities issued under the Indenture and shall not be deemed to amend, modify or supplement the Base Indenture for any purpose other than with respect to the Notes.

 

(B)            All Initial Notes and Additional Notes, if any, will be treated as a single class for all purposes of the Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

 

(C)            To the extent that the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture conflict with any provision of the Base Indenture, the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

(D)           All capitalized terms used in this First Supplemental Indenture not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Base Indenture shall have the meanings set forth therein.

 

SECTION 2.            Terms and Form of the Notes

 

(A)           The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:

 

(1)            The aggregate principal amount of the Initial Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture on the Issue Date shall be $280,000,000.  The Issuers may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Notes, issue Additional Notes having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Initial Notes.  Any Additional Notes and the existing Notes will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the Notes shall include the Additional Notes unless the context otherwise requires.

 

(2)            The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on June 15, 2020.

 

(3)            The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 8.625% per annum; the date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be April 13, 2010 or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning June 15, 2010, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if the Notes are authenticated between a record date referred to on the face thereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date,

 

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interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; the interest so payable will be paid, in immediately available funds, to the Persons who are registered Holders of the Notes (or one or more Predecessor Securities) at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be June 1 and December 1, as the case may be, next preceding such 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 307 with respect to defaulted interest. The Issuers will 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 a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; they will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose within the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium on, all Global Securities the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers or the Paying Agent.  Such payment will 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.

 

(4)            The Notes shall be issuable in whole in the registered form of one or more Global Securities (without coupons), and the Depository for such Global Securities shall be The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York.

 

(5)            The Notes shall be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

(B)            The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

(1)            Global Securities .  Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Security Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Security” attached thereto).  Each Global Security will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.  Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 305 of the Indenture.

 

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(2)            Definitive Securities .  Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (but without the Global Security Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Security” attached thereto).

 

(3)            Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Securities .  The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and the Applicable Procedures.

 

(4)            Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Securities .  If any one of the events listed in the eighth paragraph of Section 305 of the Indenture has occurred regarding an exchange for Definitive Securities or the Issuers have elected pursuant to Section 305 of the Indenture to cause the issuance of Definitive Securities, transfers or exchanges of beneficial interests in a Global Security for a Definitive Security shall be effected.  If any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Security or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Security, then the Trustee will, upon written instruction, cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Security to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 309 of the Indenture, and the Issuers will execute and, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instruction to the Trustee a Definitive Security in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Securities issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this paragraph (4) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the applicable Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

(5)            Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities for Beneficial Interests .  A Holder of a Definitive Security may exchange such Definitive Security for a beneficial interest in a Global Security or transfer such Definitive Security to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Security at any time. Upon receipt of a written request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Definitive Security and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the relevant Global Security.

 

(6)            Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities for Definitive Securities .  Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Securities, the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Securities. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Securities duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar and duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing.

 

(C)            In accordance with Section 303 of the Indenture, upon delivery of an Issuer Order on the Issue Date, the Trustee shall authenticate the Initial Notes for original issue up to

 

5



 

$280,000,000 in aggregate principal amount and, upon delivery of any Issuer Order at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate Additional Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in such Issuer Order.

 

SECTION 3.            Definitions

 

The definitions contained in Section 101 of Article I, as amended, shall apply to the Securities.

 

(A)           Section 101 of Article I of the Base Indenture shall be amended to add new definitions thereto in appropriate alphabetical sequences, as follows:

 

Accounts Receivable Securitization ” means a financing arrangement involving the transfer or sale of accounts receivable of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business through one or more SPEs, the terms of which arrangement do not impose (a) any recourse or repurchase obligations upon the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Affiliate of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any such SPE) except to the extent of the breach of a representation or warranty by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith or (b) any negative pledge or Lien on any accounts receivable not actually transferred to any such SPE in connection with such arrangement.

 

“Additional Notes means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 303 and 1009 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes.

 

“Agent” means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.

 

Applicable Procedures ” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of, or for beneficial interests in, any Global Security, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

 

“Asset Acquisition” means the following (in all cases, including assets acquired through a Flow-Through Acquisition):

 

(1)            an Investment by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership in any other Person pursuant to which the Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership, or shall be merged with or into the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership;

 

(2)            the acquisition by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership of the assets of any Person, other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership, which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person; or

 

(3)            the acquisition by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership of any division or line of business of any Person, other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership.

 

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“Asset Sale” means either of the following, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions:

 

(1)            the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets other than (a) sales, leases or transfers of assets in the ordinary course of business (including but not limited to the sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business), and (b) sales of accounts receivable under any Accounts Receivable Securitization; or

 

(2)            the issuance or sale of Capital Stock of any direct Subsidiary.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:

 

(1)            any sale, lease or transfer of assets or Capital Stock by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Issuers, the Operating Partnership, or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)            any sale or transfer of assets or Capital Stock by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any entity in exchange for other assets used in a related business and/or cash ( provided , that such cash portion is at least 75% of the difference between the value of the assets being transferred and the value of the assets being received) and having a fair market value, as determined in good faith by an authorized financial officer of the General Partner, reasonably equivalent to the fair market value of the assets so transferred;

 

(3)            any sale, lease or transfer of assets in accordance with Permitted Investments;

 

(4)            the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership; provided , that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership will be governed by Section 1015 hereof and/or Section 801 hereof and not Section 1010 hereof;

 

(5)            the transfer or disposition of assets that are permitted Restricted Payments;

 

(6)            any sale, lease or transfer of assets pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction, provided that the fair market value of all assets so sold, leased or transferred shall not exceed $25 million from and after the Issue Date;

 

(7)            sales or transfers of assets not otherwise covered which do not generate proceeds in excess of $2.5 million; and

 

(8)            sales or transfers of accounts receivable under an Accounts Receivable Securitization.

 

“Available Cash” as to any quarter means:

 

(1)            the sum of:

 

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(a)            all cash receipts of the Partnership during such quarter from all sources (including, without limitation, distributions of cash received from the Operating Partnership, cash proceeds from Interim Capital Transactions, but excluding cash proceeds from Termination Capital Transactions, and borrowings made under the Credit Facilities); and

 

(b)            any reduction with respect to such quarter in a cash reserve previously established pursuant to clause (2)(b) below (either by reversal or utilization) from the level of such reserve at the end of the prior quarter;

 

(2)            less the sum of:

 

(a)            all cash disbursements of the Partnership during such quarter, including, without limitation, disbursements for operating expenses, taxes, if any, debt service (including, without limitation, the payment of principal, premium and interest), redemption of Capital Stock of the Partnership, capital expenditures, contributions, if any, to the Operating Partnership and cash distributions to partners of the Partnership (but only to the extent that such cash distributions to partners exceed Available Cash for the immediately preceding quarter); and

 

(b)            any cash reserves established with respect to such quarter, and any increase with respect to such quarter in a cash reserve previously established pursuant to this clause (2)(b) from the level of such reserve at the end of the prior quarter, in such amounts as the General Partner determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate (i) to provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership or the Operating Partnership (including, without limitation, reserves for future capital expenditures), (ii) to provide funds for distributions with respect to Capital Stock of the Partnership in respect of any one or more of the next four quarters or (iii) because the distribution of such amounts would be prohibited by applicable law or by any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which the Partnership or the Operating Partnership is a party or by which any of them is bound or its assets are subject;

 

(3)            plus the lesser of (a) an amount as calculated in accordance with clauses (1) and (2) above for the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiaries for the first 45 days of the quarter during which such Restricted Payment is made (rather than the quarter for which clauses (1) and (2) were calculated) and (b) an amount of working capital Indebtedness that the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiaries could have incurred on or before the 45th day after the last day of the quarter used to calculate clauses (1) and (2) above;

 

provided, however , that Available Cash attributable to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership will be excluded to the extent dividends or distributions of Available Cash by the Restricted Subsidiary are not at the date of determination permitted by the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or other regulation.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) disbursements (including, without limitation, contributions to the Operating Partnership or disbursements on behalf of the Operating Partnership) made or reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of any quarter but on or before the date on which any Restricted Payment requiring a determination of Available Cash for such quarter is made shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, with respect to such quarter if the General Partner so determines, and (y) “Available Cash” shall not include any cash receipts or reductions in reserves or take into account any disbursements made or reserves established in each case after the date of liquidation of the Partnership. Taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the partners shall not be considered cash disbursements of the Partnership that reduce Available Cash, but the payment or withholding thereof shall be deemed to be a distribution of Available Cash to the partners. Alternatively, in the discretion of the General Partner, such taxes (if pertaining to all partners) may be considered to be cash disbursements of the Partnership which reduce Available Cash, but the payment or withholding thereof shall not be deemed to be a distribution of Available Cash to such partners.

 

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 that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “Person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “Person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition.  The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

 

Borrowing Base ” means, as of any date, an amount equal to:

 

(1)            80% of the face amount of all accounts receivable owned by the Partnership and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent month preceding such date that were not more than 90 days past due; plus

 

(2)            70% of the value of all inventory owned by the Partnership and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent month preceding such date,

 

in each case, calculated on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

 

“Capital Lease” means, generally, any lease of any property which would be required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance sheet of the lessor.

 

“Capital Stock” means of any Person any capital stock, partnership interest, membership interest, or equity interest of any kind.

 

Change of Control” means

 

(1)            the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership  or the Operating Partnership to any entity other than to a Related Party;

 

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(2)            the liquidation or dissolution of the Partnership or the General Partner, or a successor to the General Partner; or

 

(3)            any transaction or series of transactions that results in a Person other than a Related Party beneficially owning in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the voting stock of the General Partner or a successor to the General Partner and such percentage is more than the percentage of voting stock that is owned by the Related Party or a successor to the Related Party.

 

Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges” means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, for any period, the sum of, without duplication, the amounts for the period, taken as single accounting, of:

 

(1)            Consolidated Net Income;

 

(2)            Consolidated Non-cash Charges;

 

(3)            Consolidated Interest Expense; and

 

(4)            Consolidated Income Tax Expense.

 

“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, the ratio of (y) the aggregate amount of Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges of the Person for the four full fiscal quarters immediately preceding the date of the transaction (the “Transaction Date”) giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (the “Four Quarter Period”), to (z) the aggregate amount of Consolidated Fixed Charges of the Person for the Four Quarter Period.  In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, “Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges” and “Consolidated Fixed Charges” shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of the calculation to, without duplication:

 

(1)            the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness, excluding the incurrence of revolving credit borrowings and repayments of revolving credit borrowings (other than the incurrence and repayment of any revolving credit borrowings the proceeds of which are used for Asset Acquisitions or Growth Related Capital Expenditures of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and, in the case of any incurrence or revolving credit borrowings, the application of the net proceeds thereof) during the period commencing on the first day of the Four Quarter Period to and including the Transaction Date (the “Reference Period”), including, without limitation, the incurrence of the Indebtedness giving rise to the need to make the calculation (and the application of the net proceeds thereof), as if the incurrence (and application) occurred on the first day of the Reference Period; and

 

(2)            any Asset Sales or Asset Acquisitions (including, without limitation, any Asset Acquisition giving rise to the need to make the calculation as a result of the Partnership or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including any Person who becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the Asset Acquisition, incurring, assuming or otherwise being liable for Acquired Indebtedness) occurring during the Reference Period,

 

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as if the Asset Sale or Asset Acquisition occurred on the first day of the Reference Period; provided, however , that:

 

(a)            Consolidated Fixed Charges will be reduced by amounts attributable to businesses or assets that are so disposed of only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Consolidated Fixed Charges would no longer be obligations contributing to the Consolidated Fixed Charges subsequent to the date of determination of the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio;

 

(b)            Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges generated by an acquired business or asset shall be determined by the actual gross profit, which is equal to revenues minus cost of goods sold, of the acquired business or asset during the immediately available preceding four full fiscal quarters occurring in the Reference Period, minus the pro forma expenses that would have been incurred by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the operation of the acquired business or asset during the period computed on the basis of personnel expenses for employees retained or to be retained by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the operation of the acquired business or asset and non-personnel costs and expenses incurred by or to be incurred by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries based upon the operation of the Partnership’s business, all as determined in good faith by an authorized financial officer of the General Partner; and

 

(c)            Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges shall not include the impact of any nonrecurring cash charges incurred in connection with a restructuring, reorganization or other similar transaction, as determined in good faith by an authorized financial officer of the General Partner.

 

Furthermore, subject to the following paragraph, in calculating “Consolidated Fixed Charges” for purposes of determining the “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”:

 

(1)            interest on outstanding Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness referred to in the point below, determined on a fluctuating basis as of the last day of the Four Quarter Period and which will continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest on such Indebtedness in effect on that date;

 

(2)            only actual interest payments associated with Indebtedness incurred in accordance with clause (4) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness and all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, during the Four Quarter Period shall be included in the calculation; and

 

(3)            if interest on any Indebtedness actually incurred on the date may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rates, then the interest rate in effect on the last day of the Four Quarter Period will be deemed to have been in effect during the period.

 

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Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of, without duplication:

 

(1)            the amounts for such period of Consolidated Interest Expense; and

 

(2)            the product of:

 

(a)            the aggregate amount of dividends and other distributions paid or accrued during the period in respect of Preferred Stock and Redeemable Capital Stock of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; and

 

(b)            a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one less the then applicable current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate, expressed as a percentage.

 

Consolidated Income Tax Expense ” means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, for any period, without duplication, the sum of:

 

(1)            the interest expense of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, including, without limitation:

 

(2)            any amortization of debt discount;

 

(3)            the net cost under interest rate agreements;

 

(4)            the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation;

 

(5)            all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing;

 

(6)            all accrued interest for all instruments evidencing Indebtedness; and

 

(7)            the interest component of Capital Leases paid or accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means the net income of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and as adjusted to exclude:

 

(1)            net after-tax extraordinary gains or losses;

 

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(2)            net after-tax gains or losses attributable to Asset Sales or sales of receivables under any Accounts Receivable Securitization;

 

(3)            the net income or loss of any Person which is not a Restricted Subsidiary and which is accounted for by the equity method of accounting; provided , that Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of dividends or distributions actually paid to the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)            the net income or loss prior to the date of acquisition of any Person combined with the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary in a pooling of interest;

 

(5)            the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that dividends or distributions of that net income are not at the date of determination permitted by the terms of its charter or any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or other regulation; and

 

(6)            the cumulative effect of any changes in accounting principles.

 

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means as of any date of determination, the Total Assets of the Partnership and the Restricted Subsidiaries as would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Partnership and the Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP as of that date less applicable reserves reflected in such balance sheet, after deducting the following amounts: (a) all current liabilities reflected in such balance sheet, and (b) all goodwill, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discounts and expenses and other like intangibles reflected in such balance sheet.

 

Consolidated Non-Cash Charges ” means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the aggregate (1) depreciation, (2) amortization,  (3) non-cash employee compensation expenses of the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, and (4) any non-cash charges resulting from writedowns of non-current assets, in each case which reduces the Consolidated Net Income of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the period, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Credit Agreement” means that Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2005, among the Operating Partnership, the General Partner, Bank of America, N.A., as agent, and the other financial institutions party thereto as heretofore amended (as amended, the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”), as the Existing Credit Agreement may be amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time.

 

“Credit Facilities” means, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the facilities evidenced by the Credit Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, or indentures, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

 

“Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

 

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“Definitive Security means a certificated Security registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 305 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the First Supplemental Indenture except that such Security shall not bear the Global Security Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Security” attached thereto.

 

Designation Amount ” means, with respect to the designation of a Restricted Subsidiary or a newly acquired or formed Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, an amount equal to the sum of:

 

(1)            the net book value of all assets of the Subsidiary at the time of the designation in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(2)            the cost of acquisition or formation in the case of a newly acquired or formed Subsidiary.

 

“Equity Offering” means a public offering or private placement of partnership interests (other than interests that are mandatorily redeemable) of:

 

(1)            any entity that directly or indirectly owns equity interests in the Partnership, to the extent the net proceeds are contributed to the Partnership;

 

(2)            any Subsidiary of the Partnership to the extent the net proceeds are distributed, paid, lent or otherwise transferred to the Partnership that results in the net proceeds to the Partnership of at least $20 million; or

 

(3)            the Partnership.

 

A private placement of partnership interests will not be deemed an Equity Offering unless net proceeds of at least $20 million are received.

 

Existing Notes ” means the Operating Partnership’s (1) $450,000,000 principal amount of 6.75% Senior Notes due 2014 and (2) $300,000,000 principal amount of 9.125% Senior Notes due 2017.

 

“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.

 

“Flow-Through Acquisition” means an acquisition by the General Partner or its parent from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the General Partner, its parent or the Partnership, of property (real or personal), assets or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of the Person owning such assets) in a permitted line of business, which is promptly sold, transferred or contributed by the General Partner or its parent to the Partnership or one of its Subsidiaries.

 

“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

 

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or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, in each case, which are in effect on the Issue Date.

 

“Global Security Legend” means the following legend, which is required to be placed on all Global Securities issued under this Indenture:

 

“THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SECURITY) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 309 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUERS.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.  UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

 

“Growth Related Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person, all capital expenditures by such Person made to improve or enhance the existing capital assets or to increase the customer base of such Person or to acquire or construct new capital assets (but excluding capital expenditures made to maintain, up to the level thereof that existed at the time of such expenditure, the operating capacity of the capital assets of such Person as such assets existed at the time of such expenditure).

 

“Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Security through a Participant.

 

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“Initial Notes” means the first $280,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date.

 

“Interim Capital Transactions” means (1) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of Indebtedness and sales of debt securities (other than for working capital purposes and other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary course of business) by the Partnership or the Operating Partnership, (2) sales of Capital Stock of the Partnership by the Partnership or the Operating Partnership and (3) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of the Partnership or the Operating Partnership (other than (x) sales or other dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business, (y) sales or other dispositions of other current assets including, without limitation, receivables and accounts and (z) sales or other dispositions of assets as a part of normal retirements or replacements), in each case prior to the commencement of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership.

 

“Investment” means as applied to any Person:

 

(1)            any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by the Person of stock or other securities of any other Person; or

 

(2)            any direct or indirect loan, advance or capital contribution by the Person to any other Person and any other item which would be classified as an “investment” on a balance sheet of the Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, including without limitation any direct or indirect contribution by the Person of property or assets to a joint venture, partnership or other business entity in which the Person retains an interest, it being understood that a direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by the Person of assets of any other Person, other than stock or other securities, shall not constitute an “Investment” for purposes of this Indenture.

 

The amount classified as Investments made during any period shall be the aggregate cost to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries of all the Investments made during the period, determined in accordance with GAAP, but without regard to unrealized increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs, of the Investments and without regard to the existence of any undistributed earnings or accrued interest with respect thereto accrued after the respective dates on which the Investments were made, less any net return of capital realized during the period upon the sale, repayment or other liquidation of the Investments, determined in accordance with GAAP, but without regard to any amounts received during the period as earnings (in the form of dividends not constituting a return of capital, interest or otherwise) on the Investments or as loans from any Person in whom the Investments have been made.

 

Issue Date ” means April 13, 2010.

 

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.

 

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“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, charge, security interest, hypothecation, assignment for security or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset.  A Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which such Person has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement.

 

“Net Amount of Unrestricted Investment” means, without duplication, the sum of:

 

(1)            the aggregate amount of all Investments made after the Issue Date pursuant to clause (3) of the definition of Permitted Investment hereto, computed as provided in the last sentence of the definition of Investment herein; and

 

(2)            the aggregate of all Designation Amounts in connection with the designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries, less all Designation Amounts in respect of Unrestricted Subsidiaries which have been designated as Restricted Subsidiaries and otherwise reduced in a manner consistent with the provisions of the last sentence of the definition of Investment herein.

 

Net Proceeds ” means, with respect to any Asset Sale, the proceeds therefrom in the form of cash or cash equivalents including payments in respect of deferred payment obligations when received in the form of cash or cash equivalents, except to the extent that the deferred payment obligations are financed or sold with recourse to the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, net of:

 

(1)            brokerage commissions and other fees and expenses related to the Asset Sale, including, without limitation, fees and expenses of legal counsel and accountants and fees, expenses, discounts or commissions of underwriters, placement agents and investment bankers;

 

(2)            provisions for all taxes payable as a result of the Asset Sale;

 

(3)            amounts required to be paid to any Person, other than the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership, owning a beneficial interest in the assets subject to the Asset Sale;

 

(4)            appropriate amounts to be provided by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership, as the case may be, as a reserve required in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the Asset Sale and retained by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership, as the case may be, after the Asset Sale, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental matters and liabilities under any indemnification obligations associated with the Asset Sale; and

 

(5)            amounts applied to the repayment of Indebtedness in connection with the asset or assets acquired in the Asset Sale, including any transaction costs and expenses associated therewith and any make-whole or other premium owed in connection with such repayment.

 

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“Notes” means the Issuers’ 8 5 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2020, which shall constitute a series of Securities under this Indenture.  The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

 

“Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.

 

“Permitted Investments” means any of the following:

 

(1)            Investments made or owned by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary in:

 

(a)            marketable obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States, or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing one year or less from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(b)            marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and having as at such date the highest rating obtainable from either Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”) and its successors or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and its successors;

 

(c)            commercial paper maturing no more than 270 days from the date of creation thereof and having as at the date of acquisition thereof one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s;

 

(d)            certificates of deposit maturing one year or less from the date of acquisition thereof issued by commercial banks incorporated under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or Canada;

 

(e)            the commercial paper or other short term unsecured debt obligations of which are as at such date rated either “A-2” or better (or comparably if the rating system is changed) by S&P or “Prime-2” or better (or comparably if the rating system is changed) by Moody’s;

 

(f)             the long-term debt obligations of which are, as at such date, rated either “A” or better (or comparably if the rating system is changed) by either S&P or Moody’s (“Permitted Banks”);

 

(g)            eurodollar time deposits having a maturity of less than 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof purchased directly from any Permitted Bank;

 

(h)            bankers’ acceptances eligible for rediscount under requirements of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and accepted by Permitted Banks; and

 

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(i)             obligations of the type described in clauses (a) through (e) above purchased from a securities dealer designated as a “primary dealer” by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or from a Permitted Bank as counterparty to a written repurchase agreement obligating such counterparty to repurchase such obligations not later than 14 days after the purchase thereof and which provides that the obligations which are the subject thereof are held for the benefit of the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary by a custodian which is a Permitted Bank and which is not a counterparty to the repurchase agreement in question;

 

(2)            the acquisition by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of Capital Stock or other ownership interests, whether in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of a Person located in the United States, Mexico or Canada and engaged in substantially the same business as the Partnership such that, upon the completion of such transaction or series of transactions, the Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(3)            any Investment by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:

 

(a)            such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(b)            such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its properties or assets to, or is liquidated into, the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)            the making or ownership by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of Investments (in addition to any other Permitted Investments) in any Person incorporated or otherwise formed pursuant to the laws of the United States, Mexico or Canada or any state thereof which is engaged in the United States, Mexico or Canada; provided , that the aggregate amount of all such Investments made by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Issue Date and outstanding pursuant to this third clause shall not at any date of determination exceed 7.5% of Total Assets;

 

(5)            the making or ownership by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of Investments:

 

(a)            arising out of loans and advances to employees incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)            arising out of extensions of trade credit or advances to third parties in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(c)            acquired by reason of the exercise of customary creditors’ rights upon default or pursuant to the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of a debtor;

 

(6)            the creation or incurrence of liability by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary, with respect to any guarantee constituting an obligation, warranty or indemnity, not guaranteeing Indebtedness of any Person, which is undertaken or made in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(7)            the creation or incurrence of liability by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any hedging agreements or arrangements, including of the types described in clause (y) of the definition of “Indebtedness”;

 

(8)            the making by any Restricted Subsidiary of Investments in the Partnership or another Restricted Subsidiary and the making by the Partnership of Investments in any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(9)            the making or ownership by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of Investments in the Operating Partnership;

 

(10)          the present value, determined on the basis of the implicit interest rate, of all basic rental obligations under all synthetic leases of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(11)          the creation or incurrence of liability by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary or the making or ownership by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of Investments in any Person with respect to any Accounts Receivable Securitization.

 

“Permitted Liens” means any of the following:

 

(1)            Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, the payment of which is not yet due or the payment of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly initiated and diligently conducted and as to which reserves or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP, shall have been made therefor and be adequate in the good faith judgment of the obligor;

 

(2)            Liens of carriers, vendors, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen and other like Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or the payment of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly initiated and diligently conducted and as to which reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP, shall have been made therefor and be adequate in the good faith judgment of the obligor, in each case:

 

(a)            not incurred or made in connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of property; or

 

(b)            incurred in the ordinary course of business securing the unpaid purchase price of property or services constituting current accounts payable;

 

(3)            Liens, other than any Lien imposed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as may be amended from time to time, incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business:

 

(a)            in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security; or

 

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(b)            to secure or to obtain letters of credit that secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, performance bonds, purchase, construction or sales contracts and other similar obligations, in each case not incurred or made in connection with the borrowing of money;

 

(4)            other deposits made to secure liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements;

 

(5)            Liens securing reimbursement obligations under letters of credit, provided in each case that such Liens cover only the title documents and related goods and any proceeds thereof covered by the related letter of credit;

 

(6)            any attachment or judgment Lien, unless the judgment it secures shall not, within 60 days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal or review, or shall not have been discharged within 60 days after expiration of any such stay;

 

(7)            leases or subleases granted to others, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances, which, in each case either are granted, entered into or created in the ordinary course of the business of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary or do not materially impair the value or intended use of the property covered thereby;

 

(8)            Liens on property or assets of any Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of the Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(9)            Liens on assets of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Issue Date;

 

(10)          Liens on personal property leased under leases entered into by the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiaries which are accounted for as operating leases in accordance with GAAP;

 

(11)          Liens securing Indebtedness arising under an Accounts Receivable Securitization (including the filing of any related financing statements naming the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary as the debtor thereunder in connection with the sale of accounts receivable by the Partnership, the Operating Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary to an SPE in connection with any such permitted Accounts Receivable Securitization);

 

(12)          Liens securing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with:

 

(a)            clauses (3) and (6) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness; and

 

(b)            Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under Section 1009 hereof to the extent incurred:

 

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(i)             to finance the making of expenditures for the improvement or repair (to the extent the improvements and repairs may be capitalized on the books of the Partnership and the Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP) of, or additions including additions by way of acquisitions of businesses and related assets to, the assets and property of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries; or
 
(ii)            by assumption in connection with additions including additions by way of acquisition or capital contributions of businesses and related assets to the property and assets of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
 

provided , that, in the case of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) above, the principal amount of the Indebtedness does not exceed the lesser of the cost to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the additional property or assets and the fair market value of the additional property or assets at the time of the acquisition thereof, as determined in good faith by an authorized financial officer of the General Partner;

 

(13)          Liens existing on any property of any Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary of the Partnership, or existing at the time of acquisition upon any property acquired by the Partnership or any Subsidiary through purchase, merger or consolidation or otherwise, whether or not assumed by the Partnership or the Subsidiary, or created to secure Indebtedness incurred to pay all or any part of the purchase price (a “Purchase Money Lien”) of property including, without limitation, Capital Stock and other securities acquired by the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , that:

 

(a)            the Lien shall be confined solely to the item or items of property and, if required by the terms of the instrument originally creating the Lien, other property which is an improvement to or is acquired for use specifically in connection with the acquired property;

 

(b)            in the case of a Purchase Money Lien, the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by the Purchase Money Lien shall at no time exceed an amount equal to the lesser of:

 

(A)           the cost to the Partnership and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the property; and
 
(B)           the fair market value of the property at the time of the acquisition thereof as determined in good faith by an authorized financial officer of the General Partner;
 

(c)            the Purchase Money Lien shall be created not later than 360 days after the acquisition of the property; and

 

(d)            the Lien, other than a Purchase Money Lien, shall not have been created or assumed in contemplation of the Person’s becoming a Subsidiary of the Partnership or the acquisition of property by the Partnership or any Subsidiary;

 

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(14)          easements, exceptions or reservations in any property of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary granted or reserved for the purpose of pipelines, roads, the removal of oil, gas, coal or other minerals, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real property, facilities and equipment, which are incidental to, and do not materially interfere with, the ordinary conduct of the business of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(15)          Liens arising from or constituting permitted encumbrances under the agreements and instruments securing obligations under the Operating Partnership’s Existing Notes and the Credit Agreement;

 

(16)          Liens securing an Indebtedness of the Operating Partnership;

 

(17)          Liens of landlords or mortgages of landlords on fixtures and movable property located on premises leased by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(18)          Liens such as banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies and burdening only deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository institution in the ordinary course of business; and

 

any Lien renewing or extending any Lien permitted by clauses (9) through (13) and (15) and (16) above; provided , that, the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness outstanding immediately prior to the renewal or extension of the Lien, and no assets encumbered by the Lien other than the assets encumbered immediately prior to the renewal or extension shall be encumbered thereby.

 

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness incurred by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary to substantially and concurrently (excluding any notice period on redemptions) repay, refund, renew, replace, extend or refinance, in whole or in part, any Permitted Indebtedness of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary or any other Indebtedness incurred by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 1009, to the extent:

 

(1)            the principal amount of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal or accreted amount plus the amount of accrued and unpaid interest of the Indebtedness so repaid, refunded, renewed, replaced, extended or refinanced (plus the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);

 

(2)            with respect to the repayment, refunding, renewal, replacement, extension or refinancing of the Issuers’ Indebtedness, the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ranks no more favorably in right of payment with respect to the Notes than the Indebtedness so repaid, refunded, renewed, replaced, extended or refinanced; and

 

(3)            with respect to the repayment, refunding, renewal, replacement, extension or refinancing of the Issuers’ Indebtedness, the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Stated Maturity and stated maturity equal to, or greater than, and has no fixed mandatory redemption or sinking fund requirement in an amount greater

 

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than or at a time prior to the amounts set forth in, the Indebtedness so repaid, refunded, renewed, replaced, extended or refinanced;

 

provided, however , that Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary to repay, refund, renew, replace, extend or refinance Indebtedness of the Partnership.

 

Preferred Stock ,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated), which is preferred as to the payment of distributions, dividends, or upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over shares or units of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person; provided , that any limited partnership interest of the Partnership will not be considered Preferred Stock.

 

“Principal” means James E. Ferrell.

 

“Redeemable Capital Stock” means any shares of any class or series of Capital Stock, that, either by the terms thereof, by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or exchangeable or by contract or otherwise, is or upon the happening of an event or passage of time would be, required to be redeemed prior to the stated maturity of the principal of the Notes or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof at any time prior to the stated maturity of the principal of the Notes , or is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities at any time prior to the stated maturity of the principal of the Notes .

 

“Related Party” means any of the following:

 

(1)            any immediate family member or lineal descendant of the Principal;

 

(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 any one or more Principals and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (1);

 

(3)            the Ferrell Companies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust (“FCI ESOT”);

 

(4)            any participant in the FCI ESOT whose account has been allocated shares of Ferrell Companies, Inc.;

 

(5)            Ferrell Companies, Inc.; or

 

(6)            any Subsidiary of Ferrell Companies, Inc.

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Partnership, which, as of the date of determination, is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Partnership.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1—02 of Regulation S—X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.

 

“SPE” means any special purpose Unrestricted Subsidiary established in connection with any Accounts Receivable Securitization.

 

“Termination Capital Transactions” means any sale, transfer or other disposition of property of the Partnership or the Operating Partnership occurring upon or incident to the liquidation and winding up of the Partnership and the Operating Partnership.

 

“Total Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the consolidated total assets of the Partnership and the Restricted Subsidiaries as would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Partnership and the Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP as of that date.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (a) Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, (b) Uni-Asia, Ltd., (c) Ferrellgas Real Estate, Inc., (d) Blue Rhino Canada, Inc., and (e) any other Person (other than Operating Partnership or Finance Corp.) that is designated as such by the General Partner; provided , that no portion of the Indebtedness of such Person:

 

(1)            is guaranteed by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)            is recourse to or obligates the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary in any way; or

 

(3)            subjects any property or assets of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary may guarantee or agree to provide funds for the payment or maintenance of, or otherwise become liable with respect to Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only to the extent that the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary would be permitted to:

 

(4)            make an Investment in the Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to the third clause of the definition of Permitted Investments; and

 

(5)            incur the Indebtedness represented by the guarantee or agreement pursuant to Section 1009(a) hereto. The Board of Directors of the Partnership may designate an Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that immediately after giving effect to the designation there exists no Event of Default or event which after notice or lapse or time or both would become an Event of Default, and if the Unrestricted Subsidiary has, as of the date of the designation, outstanding Indebtedness other than Permitted Indebtedness, the Partnership could incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness other than Permitted Indebtedness.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary may be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary if the Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, holds Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

“Weighted Average Life to Stated 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;

 

provided, however , that with respect to any revolving Indebtedness, the foregoing calculation of Weighted Average Life to Stated Maturity shall be determined based upon the total available commitments and the required reductions of commitments in lieu of the outstanding principal amount and the required payments of principal, respectively.

 

(B)           Section 101 of Article I shall be amended to replace in whole the following definitions thereto with the corresponding existing definitions, so that in the event of a conflict with the definition of terms in this Indenture, the following definitions shall control:

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 305 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Securities, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

 

“Global Security” means a global Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the First Supplemental Indenture that bears the Global Security Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Security” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary.

 

“Indebtedness” means, as applied to any Person, without duplication:

 

(1)            (a) any indebtedness for borrowed money and (b) all obligations evidenced by any (i) bond, note, debenture or other similar instrument or (ii) letter of credit, or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, but only for any drawings that are not reimbursed within five Business Days after the date of such drawings, which in each case the Person has, directly or indirectly, created, incurred or assumed;

 

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(2)            any indebtedness for borrowed money and all obligations evidenced by any bond, note, debenture or other similar instrument secured by any Lien in respect of property owned by the Person, whether or not the Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of the indebtedness; provided , that the amount of the indebtedness, if the Person has not assumed the same or become liable therefor, shall in no event be deemed to be greater than the fair market value from time to time, as determined in good faith by the Person of the property subject to the Lien;

 

(3)            any indebtedness, whether or not for borrowed money (excluding trade payables and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business) with respect to which the Person has become directly or indirectly liable and which represents the deferred purchase price, or a portion thereof, or has been incurred to finance the purchase price, or a portion thereof, of any property or business acquired by, or service performed on behalf of, the Person, whether by purchase, consolidation, merger or otherwise;

 

(4)            the principal component of any obligations under Capital Leases to the extent the obligations would, in accordance with GAAP, appear on the balance sheet of the Person;

 

(5)            any indebtedness of any other Person of the character referred to in the foregoing clauses (1)-(4) of this definition with respect to which the Person whose indebtedness is being determined has become liable by way of a guarantee; and

 

(6)            all Redeemable Capital Stock of the Person valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price plus accrued dividends.

 

For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Redeemable Capital Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of the Redeemable Capital Stock as if it were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture and if the price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of the Redeemable Capital Stock, the fair market value shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the issuer of the Redeemable Capital Stock.  For purposes hereof, the term “Indebtedness” shall not include (x) accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest or any other similar incurrence by the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiaries related to Indebtedness otherwise permitted in this Indenture, (y) Indebtedness under any hedging arrangement which provides for the right or obligation to purchase, sell or deliver any currency, commodity or security at a future date for a specified price entered into to protect such Person from fluctuations in prices or rates, including currencies, interest rates, commodity prices, and securities prices, including without limitation indebtedness under any interest rate or commodity price swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement or any forward sales arrangements, calls, options, swaps, or other similar transactions or any combination thereof, or (z) any Accounts Receivable Securitization.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, other entity, unincorporated organization or government, or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)            any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

(2)            any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

 

SECTION 4.          General Provisions

 

(A)           Article I of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following Sections:

 

Section 117. 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 in accordance with GAAP;

 

(3)            “or” is not exclusive;

 

(4)            words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(5)            “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;

 

(6)            provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

 

(7)            references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time.

 

Section 118. 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.

 

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SECTION 5.          Satisfaction and Discharge

 

(A)           The provisions of Article IV of the Base Indenture, as amended hereby, shall apply to the Notes.

 

(B)           Article IV of the Base Indenture shall be amended by amending Section 401 by adding the following text at the end of the last paragraph of such Section:

 

“As a result of the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, the Issuers will, subject to this Article IV, cease to be primary obligors with respect to the obligations under the Securities of such series and such Securities shall cease to be “outstanding” for accounting purposes.”

 

(C)           Article IV of the Base Indenture shall be amended by amending Section 402 by deleting the last period in the Section and adding the following text:

 

“; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 401 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 401; provided that if the Issuers have made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of such series because of the reinstatement of their obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.”

 

SECTION 6.          Remedies

 

(A)           Article V of the Base Indenture shall be amended by deleting the following Sections in their entirety and replacing them as follows:

 

Section 501. Events of Default .

 

Each of the following is an “Event of Default” with respect to the Notes:

 

(1)            default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, upon stated maturity, acceleration, optional redemption, required purchase, scheduled principal payment or otherwise;

 

(2)            default in the payment of an installment of interest on any of the Notes, when the same becomes due and payable, which default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

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(3)            failure to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in the Notes or this Indenture, other than a default specified in either Section 501(1) or (2) above, and the default continues for a period of 45 days after written notice of the default requiring the Issuers to remedy the same will have been given to the Partnership by the Trustee or to the Issuers and the Trustee by Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding;

 

(4)            default or defaults under one or more agreements, instruments, mortgages, bonds, debentures or other evidences of Indebtedness under which the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership then has outstanding Indebtedness in excess of $25 million, if the default:

 

(a)            is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on to such Indebtedness within the applicable grace period, if any, provided with respect to such Indebtedness; or

 

(b)            results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its stated maturity;

 

(5)            a final judgment or judgments, which is or are non-appealable and non-reviewable or which has or have not been stayed pending appeal or review or as to which all rights to appeal or review have expired or been exhausted, shall be rendered against the Partnership, any Restricted Subsidiary, or the General Partner provided such judgment or judgments requires or require the payment of money in excess of $25 million in the aggregate and is not covered by insurance or discharged or stayed pending appeal or review within 60 days after entry of such judgment; in the event of a stay, the judgment shall not be discharged within 30 days after the stay expires;

 

(6)            either Issuer or any of their Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

 

(A)           commences a voluntary case,
 
(B)           consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
 
(C)           consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
 
(D)           makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
 
(E)            generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or
 

(7)            a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(A)           is for relief against the Issuers or any of their Significant Subsidiaries in an involuntary case;

 

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(B)           appoints a custodian of the Issuers or any of their Significant Subsidiaries or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuers or any of their Significant Subsidiaries; or
 
(C)           orders the liquidation of the Issuers or any of their Significant Subsidiaries;
 

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

 

Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

In the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (6) or (7) of Section 501 hereof, with respect to the Partnership, Finance Corp. or any Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice.  If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.

 

Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture and then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders of Notes 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.

 

If an Event of Default by reason of any action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Issuers with the willful intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the Issuers would have had to pay if the Issuers then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 1108 hereof, then, upon acceleration of the Notes, an equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately due and payable, to the extent permitted by law, anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

SECTION 7.          Reports

 

(A)           Article VII of the Base Indenture shall be amended by deleting Section 704 in its entirety and replacing it as follows:

 

Section 704. Reports.

 

(a)            Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuers will furnish to the Holders of Notes, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations:

 

(1)            all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission 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” and, with respect to the annual financial information only, a report thereon by the Issuers’ certified independent accountants; and

 

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(2)            all current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Issuers were required to file such reports.

 

(b)            In addition, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, the Issuers will file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the Commission for public availability within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations (unless the Commission will not accept such a filing) and make such information available to investors who request it in writing.  The Issuers will promptly furnish to Holders of Notes notices of (a) any payment default under any instrument evidencing Indebtedness for borrowed money, and (b) any acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity. The Issuers will at all times comply with Trust Indenture Act § 314(a).

 

(B)           Article VII of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding Section 705 as follows:

 

Section 705. Communication by Holders of Securities with Other Holders of Securities.

 

Holders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes.  The Issuers, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act § 312(c).

 

SECTION 8.          Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets

 

(A)           Article VIII of the Base Indenture shall be amended by deleting the following Sections in their entirety and replacing them as follows:

 

Section 801. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.

 

The Partnership shall not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to another entity unless:

 

(1)            the Partnership is the surviving entity or the entity formed by or surviving the transaction, if other than the Partnership, or the entity to which the sale was made is a corporation or partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(2)            the entity formed by or surviving the transaction, if other than the Partnership, or the entity to which the sale was made assumes all the obligations of the Partnership in accordance with a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under the Notes and this Indenture;

 

(3)            immediately after the transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(4)            at the time of the transaction and after giving pro forma effect to it as if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, either (a) 

 

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the Partnership or such other entity or survivor is permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness in accordance with the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio described in Section 1009(a) hereof, or (b) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Partnership or such other entity or survivor is equal to or greater than the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Partnership immediately before such transaction.

 

This Section 801 will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Partnership and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.  Finance Corp. will not consolidate or merge with or into, whether or not it is the surviving entity, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, another entity except under conditions similar to those described in the paragraph above.

 

Section 802. Successor Company Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or Finance Corp. in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 801 hereof, the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable, is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Partnership” or “Finance Corp.,” as applicable, shall refer instead to the successor entity and not to Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable), and may exercise every right and power of the Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable, herein; provided, however , that Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable, shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of assets of the Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable, in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 801 hereof.

 

SECTION 9.          Supplemental Indentures

 

(A)           Article IX of the Base Indenture shall be amended by amending Section 902 as follows:

 

(i)             By deleting the text “for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture,” and replacing with the following text: “for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture, waiving any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded)”
 
(ii)            By deleting the word “or” after clause (5); replacing the “.” after clause (6) with “;”; and adding the following clause (7):

 

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“(7) waive a Default in the payment of principal or interest on the Securities.”
 
(iii)           By adding to the end of Section 902, in a separate paragraph, as follows:
 

“After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 902 becomes effective, the Issuers will 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, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture or waiver.  Subject to Sections 508 and 513 hereof, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes (including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes) may waive any existing default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes.”

 

(B)           Article IX of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following Sections:

 

Section 907. Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note.  However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective.  An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

 

SECTION 10.        Covenants

 

(A)           Article X of the Base Indenture shall be amended by deleting the following Sections in their entirety and replacing them as follows:

 

Section 1001. Payment of Notes.

 

The Issuers will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes.  Principal, premium, if any, and interest will 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. Eastern 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 will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; they will 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.

 

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Section 1004. 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 has 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) and that, to the best of his or her knowledge, no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

 

(b)            So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 704(a) of the Indenture shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Issuers’ independent public accountants (who shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Issuers have violated any provisions of Article VIII or Article X hereof or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.

 

(c)            So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Issuers will 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 1005. Legal Existence.

 

Subject to Article VIII hereof, the Partnership shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:

 

(1)            its partnership existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Partnership or any such Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(2)            the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be

 

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required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Securities.

 

(B)           Article X of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following Sections:

 

Section 1009. Incurrence of Indebtedness.

 

(a)            The Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or in any manner become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, for the payment, in each case, to “ incur ,” any Indebtedness, unless at the time of the incurrence and after giving pro forma effect to the receipt and application of the proceeds of the Indebtedness, the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Partnership is greater than 2.00 to 1.00.

 

(b)            The provisions of Section 1009(a) will not prohibit the incurrence by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “ Permitted Indebtedness ”):

 

(1)            Indebtedness outstanding as of the Issue Date;

 

(2)            Indebtedness of the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred for the making of expenditures for the improvement or repair, to the extent the improvements or repairs may be capitalized in accordance with GAAP, or additions, including by way of acquisitions of businesses and related assets, to the property and assets of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the acquisition of assets subject to operating leases, Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Facilities, or incurred by assumption in connection with additions, including additions by way of acquisitions or capital contributions of businesses and related assets, to the property and assets of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , that the aggregate principal amount of this Indebtedness outstanding at any time may not exceed $75 million;

 

(3)            Indebtedness of the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary (a) incurred for any purpose permitted under the Credit Facilities, or (b) owing in respect of any Accounts Receivable Securitization, operating lease, or other off-balance sheet obligation existing on the Issue Date that arises because, after the Issue Date, such off-balance sheet obligations are refinanced with Indebtedness, provided , that the aggregate principal amount of this Indebtedness outstanding under this clause at any time may not exceed an amount equal to the sum of (x) $500 million plus (y) the amount, if any, by which the Borrowing Base as of the date of calculation exceeds the amount of the Borrowing Base as of December 31, 2003;

 

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(4)            Indebtedness of the Partnership owed to the General Partner or an Affiliate of the General Partner that is unsecured and that is subordinated in right of payment to the Securities; provided , that the aggregate principal amount of this Indebtedness outstanding at any time under this clause may not exceed $50 million and this Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of the Securities;

 

(5)            Indebtedness (a) owed by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Operating Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) owed by the Operating Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Partnership or to any other Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(6)            Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness incurred as permitted under the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio set forth in Section 1009(a) above);

 

(7)            the incurrence by the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness owing directly to its insurance carriers, without duplication, in connection with the Partnership’s, its Subsidiaries’ or its Affiliates’ self-insurance programs or other similar forms of retained insurable risks for their respective businesses, consisting of reinsurance agreements and indemnification agreements, and guarantees of the foregoing, secured by letters of credit; provided , that any Consolidated Fixed Charges associated with the Indebtedness evidenced by the reinsurance agreements, indemnification agreements, guarantees and letters of credit will be included, without duplication, in any determination of the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 1009(a) above;

 

(8)            Indebtedness of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Capital Leases; provided , that the aggregate amount of this Indebtedness outstanding at any time may not exceed $30 million;

 

(9)            Indebtedness of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries represented by letters of credit supporting (a) obligations under workmen’s compensation laws, (b) obligations to suppliers of propane or energy commodity derivative providers in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices not to exceed $15 million at any one time outstanding and (c) the repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

 

(10)          surety bonds and appeal bonds required in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the enforcement of rights or claims of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or in connection with judgments that do not result in a Default or Event of Default;

 

(11)          Indebtedness of the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in connection with acquisitions of retail propane businesses in favor of the sellers of such businesses in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20

 

37



 

million in any fiscal year and not to exceed $70 million at any one time outstanding; provided , that the principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred in connection with any such acquisition shall not exceed the fair market value of the assets so acquired and, to the extent issued by the Partnership, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the Securities;

 

(12)          unsecured Indebtedness of the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiaries which is not otherwise a Permitted Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $50 million and (b) 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

 

(13)          the Notes (other than Additional Notes).

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 1009, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (1) through (13) above or is entitled to be incurred in compliance with the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio pursuant to Section 1009(a) above, the Partnership, may, in its sole discretion, classify (or later reclassify) in whole or in part such items of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 1009, and such item of Indebtedness or a portion thereof may be classified (or later reclassified) in whole or in part as having been incurred under more than one of the applicable clauses of Permitted Indebtedness or in compliance with the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio set forth in Section 1009(a) above.

 

Section 1010. Asset Sales.

 

The Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, complete an Asset Sale unless:

 

(1)            the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value, as determined in good faith by an authorized financial officer of the General Partner, of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

 

(2)            if such Asset Sale involves assets with a fair market value in excess of $10 million, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash.

 

For purposes of determining the amount of cash received in an Asset Sale, each of the following shall be deemed to be cash:

 

(1)            the amount of any liabilities on the Partnership’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s balance sheet that are assumed by the transferee of the assets; and

 

(2)            the amount of any notes or other obligations received by the Partnership or the Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that is converted within 180 days by the Partnership or the Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received.

 

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Furthermore, the 75% limitation will not apply to any Asset Sale in which the cash portion of the consideration received is equal to or greater than the after-tax proceeds would have been had the Asset Sale complied with the 75% limitation.

 

If the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries receives Net Proceeds exceeding $20 million from one or more Asset Sales in any fiscal year, then within 410 days after the date the aggregate amount of Net Proceeds exceeds $20 million, the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries must apply the amount of such Net Proceeds either:

 

(1)            to reduce Indebtedness of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, with a permanent reduction of availability in the case of revolving Indebtedness; or

 

(2)            to make an investment in assets or capital expenditures useful to the Partnership’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ business as in effect on the Issue Date or business related or ancillary thereto.

 

Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary may temporarily reduce borrowings under the Credit Facilities or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided above will be considered “ Excess Proceeds .”  When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20 million, within 15 days thereof, the Issuers will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness outstanding that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets in accordance with Section 1110 hereof to purchase for cash the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.  To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes tendered in response to the Issuers’ purchase offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary may use such deficiency for general business purposes.  If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on pro rata basis in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness tendered.  Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

 

The Issuers will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Section 1110 or this Section 1010 of this Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached their obligations under those provisions of this Indenture by virtue of such conflict.

 

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Section 1011. Restricted Payments.

 

(a)            The Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) below being collectively referred to as a “ Restricted Payment ”):

 

(1)            declare or pay any dividend or any other distribution or payment on or with respect to Capital Stock of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any payment made to the direct or indirect holders, in their capacities as such, of Capital Stock of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than (a) dividends or distributions payable solely in Capital Stock of the Partnership (excluding Redeemable Capital Stock), or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase Capital Stock of the Partnership (excluding Redeemable Capital Stock); (b) dividends or other distributions to the extent declared or paid to the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership; or (c) dividends or other distributions by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership to all holders of Capital Stock of that Restricted Subsidiary on a pro rata basis, including, in the case of the Operating Partnership, to the General Partner;

 

(2)            purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Capital Stock of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than any Capital Stock owned the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership;

 

(3)            make any principal payment on, or purchase, defease, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to any scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment, scheduled sinking fund payment or other stated maturity, any subordinated Indebtedness, other than any such Indebtedness owned by the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership; or

 

(4)            make any Investment, other than a Permitted Investment, in any entity,

 

unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

 

(1)            no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

 

(2)            the Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate of all other Restricted Payments made by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the fiscal quarter during which the Restricted Payment is made will not exceed:

 

(A)  if the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Partnership is greater than 1.75 to 1.00, an amount equal to Available Cash for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter; or
 
(B)  if the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Partnership is equal to or less than 1.75 to 1.00, an amount equal to the sum of $50 million, less the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with this clause during the period ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Partnership immediately preceding the date of the Restricted Payment and beginning on the first day of the sixteenth full

 

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fiscal quarter immediately preceding the date of the Restricted Payment plus the aggregate net cash proceeds of capital contributions to the Partnership from any Person other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership, or issuance and sale of shares of Capital Stock, other than Redeemable Capital Stock, of the Partnership to any entity other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership, in any case made during the period ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Partnership immediately preceding the date of the Restricted Payment and beginning on the first day of the sixteenth full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the date of the Restricted Payment.
 

(b)            The provisions of Section 1011(a) will not prohibit:

 

(1)            the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of its declaration if, at the date of declaration, the payment would be permitted as stated above;

 

(2)            the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of, a substantially concurrent capital contribution to the Partnership from any entity other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership; or issuance and sale of other Capital Stock, other than Redeemable Capital Stock, of the Partnership to any entity other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership; provided, however , that the amount of any net cash proceeds that are utilized for any redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement will be excluded from the calculation of Available Cash; or

 

(3)            any redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of subordinated Indebtedness in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of, a substantially concurrent capital contribution to the Partnership from any entity other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership; or issuance and sale of Indebtedness of the Partnership issued to any entity other than a Restricted Subsidiary or the Partnership, so long as the Indebtedness is Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however , that the amount of any net cash proceeds that are utilized for any redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement will be excluded from the calculation of Available Cash.

 

In computing the amount of Restricted Payments in Section 1011(a) above, the Restricted Payments permitted by clause (1) of this paragraph (b) will be included and the Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2) and (3) of this paragraph (b) will not be included.

 

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the assets proposed to be transferred by the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.  The fair market value of any assets that are required to be valued by this Section 1011 will be determined in good faith by an authorized financial officer of the General Partner on the date of the Restricted Payment of the assets proposed to be transferred.

 

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Section 1012. Liens.

 

The Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur any Liens or other encumbrance, unless the Lien is a Permitted Lien or the Notes are directly secured equally and ratably with the obligation or liability secured by such Lien.

 

Section 1013. Transactions with Affiliates.

 

(a)            The Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or suffer to exist any transaction or series of related transactions, including the sale, transfer, disposition, purchase, exchange or lease of assets, property or services, other than as provided for in the partnership agreement or other organizational documents of the Issuers or the Operating Partnership, as applicable, and the other agreements entered into between the Partnership or the Operating Partnership and any of their Affiliates, with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliates of the Partnership (each an “ Affiliate Transaction ”), unless:

 

(1)            the transaction or series of related transactions are between the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries or between two Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

(2)            the transaction or series of related transactions are on terms that are no less favorable to the Partnership or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those which would have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time from an entity that is not an Affiliate of the Partnership or Restricted Subsidiary, and, with respect to transaction(s) involving aggregate payments or value equal to or greater than $20 million, the Partnership delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee certifying that the transaction(s) is on terms that are no less favorable to the Partnership or the Restricted Subsidiary than those which would have been obtained from an entity that is not an Affiliate of the Partnership or Restricted Subsidiary and has been approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the General Partner, including a majority of the disinterested directors.

 

(b)            The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of Section 1013(a) or otherwise be restricted by this Indenture or the Notes:

 

(1)            any employment agreement, stock option agreement, restricted stock agreement, employee stock ownership plan related agreements, or similar agreement and arrangements, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(2)            transactions permitted by Section 1011 hereof and the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

 

(3)            transactions in the ordinary course of business in connection with reinsuring the self-insurance programs or other similar forms of retained insurable risks of the retail propane business operated by the Partnership, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates;

 

(4)            any Accounts Receivable Securitization;

 

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(5)            any affiliate trading transactions done in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(6)            any transaction that is a Flow-Through Acquisition.

 

Section 1014. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.

 

(a)            The Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(1)            pay dividends, in cash or otherwise, or make any other distributions on or with respect to its Capital Stock or any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits;

 

(2)            pay any Indebtedness owed to the Partnership or any other Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(3)            make loans or advances to, or any investment in, the Partnership or any other Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)            transfer any of its properties or assets to the Partnership or any other Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(5)            guarantee any Indebtedness of the Partnership or any other Restricted Subsidiary.

 

All such restrictions and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (5) above being collectively referred to as “ Payment Restrictions .”

 

(b)            The provisions of Section 1014(a) will not apply to (and therefore the following are permitted) encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(1)            applicable law;

 

(2)            any agreement in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date or any agreement relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, or with respect to any Credit Facility (including agreements or instruments evidencing Indebtedness incurred after the Issue Date); provided, however , that the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the agreements governing such permitted Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive with respect to the Payment Restrictions than those set forth in the agreements governing the Operating Partnership’s Credit Facilities or existing Indebtedness as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

(3)            customary non-assignment provisions of any contract or any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(4)            specific purchase money obligations or Capital Leases for property subject to such obligations;

 

(5)            any agreement of an entity (or any it its Restricted Subsidiaries) acquired by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary, in existence at the time of the acquisition but not created in contemplation of the acquisition, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any third party other than the entity; or

 

(6)            provisions contained in instruments relating to Indebtedness which prohibit the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the obligor of the Indebtedness unless the transferee shall assume the obligations of the obligor under the agreement or instrument.

 

Section 1015. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

 

(a)            Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuers will make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer” ) to each Holder to repurchase, in cash, all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes or portion of Notes validly tendered for payment thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased, if any, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment” ). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuers will mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating:

 

(1)            that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 1015 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment;

 

(2)            the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no later than 30 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date” );

 

(3)            that any Notes not tendered will continue to accrue interest;

 

(4)            that, unless the Issuers defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(5)            that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(6)            that Holders will be entitled to withdraw any election to have their Notes purchased 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 facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for

 

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purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and

 

(7)            that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

The Issuers will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change in Control.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 1015, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached their obligations under this Section 1015 by virtue of such conflict.

 

(b)            On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuers will, to the extent lawful:

 

(1)            accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered in accordance with the Change of Control Offer;

 

(2)            deposit an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment for the Notes with the Paying Agent in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly 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 of Notes being tendered to the Issuers.

 

The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.  The Issuers will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1015, the Issuers will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 1015 and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer.

 

Section 1016. Taxes.

 

The Issuers will pay, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

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Section 1017. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

The Issuers covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuers (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that they will not, by resort to any such law, 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 has been enacted.

 

SECTION 11.          Redemption

 

(A)           Article XI of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following Sections:

 

Section 1108. Optional Redemption

 

(a)            On and after June 15, 2015, the Issuers may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice (provided that more than 60 days’ notice may be given if the redemption is being made in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture), at the Redemption Prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount) listed in the table below, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to the applicable Redemption Date, if redeemed during the twelve months beginning on June 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

 

Percentage

 

2015

 

104.313

%

2016

 

102.875

%

2017

 

101.438

%

2018 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

(b)            In addition, at any time on or prior to June 15, 2013, the Issuers, at their option, may use the net proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to redeem up to an aggregate of 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under this Indenture at a Redemption Price equal to 108.625% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided that at least 65% of the initial aggregate principal amount of the Notes must remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and the Issuers must complete such redemption within 90 days of the closing of the Equity Offering.

 

(c)            Any redemption pursuant to this Section 1108 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 1101 through 1107 hereof.

 

46



 

Section 1109. Mandatory Redemption.

 

The Issuers are not required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.  The Issuers may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise.

 

Section 1110. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

 

In the event that, pursuant to Section 1010 hereof, the Issuers are required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”), they will follow the procedures specified below.

 

The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets.  The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “ Offer Period ”).  No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “ Purchase Date ”), the Issuers will apply all Excess Proceeds (the “ Offer Amount” ) to the purchase of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer.  Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

 

If the Purchase Date is on or after a Regular Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name a Security is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

 

Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuers will send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee.  The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.  The notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state:

 

(1)            that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 1110 and Section 1010 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer will remain open;

 

(2)            the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

 

(3)            that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment will continue to accrue interest;

 

(4)            that, unless the Issuers default in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

 

(5)            that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

47



 

(6)            that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer will 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 days before the Purchase Date;

 

(7)            that Holders will 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 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;

 

(8)            that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Issuers will select the Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Issuers so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, will be purchased); and

 

(9)            that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Securities 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 will, 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 will 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 1110.  The Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will 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 will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Issuers will 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 will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.

 

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 1110, any purchase pursuant to this Section 1110 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1101 through 1107 hereof.

 

(B)            Article XI of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following text to the end of Section 1102:

 

48



 

“Notwithstanding the foregoing, more than 60 days’ notice of redemption may be given if the redemption is being made in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.”

 

(C)            Article XI of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following text to the end of Section 1104:

 

“Notwithstanding the foregoing, more than 60 days’ notice of redemption may be given if the redemption is being made in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.  Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with this Section 1104, Securities called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the Redemption Price.  A notice of redemption may not be conditional.”

 

SECTION 12.          Application of the Article of the Base Indenture Regarding Sinking Funds

 

The provisions of Article XII of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.

 

SECTION 13.          Defeasance

 

(A)           Article XIII of the Base Indenture shall be amended by deleting the following Sections in their entirety and replacing them as follows:

 

Section 1301. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The Issuers may, at the option of the Board of Directors of the General Partner, on the Issuers’ behalf, and the Board of Directors of Finance Corp., and at any time, elect to have Section 1302 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII.  The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have Section 1303 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII.

 

Section 1302. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 1301 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 1302, the Issuers will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 1307 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Legal Defeasance ”).  For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1304 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (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 will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(1)            the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 1307 hereof;

 

49



 

(2)            the Issuers’ obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes under Article III;

 

(3)            the Issuers’ obligation to maintain an office or agency for payment under Section 1002 hereof and money for security payments held in trust;

 

(4)            the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(5)            the legal defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions of this Article XIII.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article XIII, the Issuers may exercise their option under this 1302 notwithstanding the prior exercise of their option under Section 1303 hereof.

 

Section 1303. Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 1301 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 1303, the Issuers will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 1307 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 1009, 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015 and 1007 hereof and clause (4) of Section 801 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1307 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes will 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 will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes).  For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuers may omit to comply with and will 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 will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 501 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes will be unaffected thereby.  In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 1301 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 1303 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in 1307 hereof, Section 501(3) hereof will not constitute an Event of Default.

 

Section 1304. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to Section 1305 hereof, all money and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 1304, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1307 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will 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 or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to

 

50



 

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 will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1307 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Article XIII to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the written request of the Issuers any money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1307 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 1307(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

(B)            Article XIII shall be amended by adding section 1307 as follows:

 

Section 1307. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 1302 or 1303 hereof:

 

(1)            the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable U.S. Government Obligations , 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 for payment thereof or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2)            the Issuers will deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

 

(a)  after the 91 st  day following the deposit the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with and confirming other matters;
 
(b)  in the case of an election under Section 1302 hereof, that the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or since the Issue Date, there shall have been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon, 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; and

 

51



 
(c)  in the case of an election under Section 1303 hereof, 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;
 

(3)            the Issuers must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Issuers or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Issuers;

 

(4)            no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or insofar as Events of Default described in Section 501(6) or 501(7) hereof are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91 st  day after the date of deposit; and

 

(5)            such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach, 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.

 

SECTION 14.          U.S.A. Patriot Act .

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee.  The parties to this First Supplemental Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

SECTION 15.          Miscellaneous.

 

(A)           The Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. All provisions included in this First Supplemental Indenture supersede any similar provisions included in the Base Indenture unless not permitted by law.  The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

(B)            If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this First Supplemental Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control.

 

(C)            All covenants and agreements in this First Supplemental Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

52



 

(D)           In case any provision in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or of the other series of Securities) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

(E)            Nothing in this First Supplemental Indenture, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the Holders of the Notes any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

(F)            This First Supplemental Indenture and each Note shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and this First Supplemental Indenture and each such Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(G)            This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.  The exchange of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture for all purposes.  Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

(H)           The provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

53



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.

 

 

 

By: Ferrellgas, Inc. , its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. RYAN VAN WINKLE

 

 

Name: J. Ryan Van Winkle

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. RYAN VAN WINKLE

 

 

Name: J. Ryan Van Winkle

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer & Sole Director

 

54



 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ THOMAS E. TABOR

 

 

Name: Thomas E. Tabor

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

55



 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Face of Security ]

CUSIP                    

 

8 5 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2020

 

No.

 

$

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns,

 

the principal sum of

Dollars on June 15, 2020.

 

Interest Payment Dates:  June 15 and December 15

 

Record Dates:  June 1 and December 1

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.

 

 

 

By: Ferrellgas, Inc., its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name: J. Ryan Van Winkle

 

Title:  Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name: J. Ryan Van Winkle

 

Title:  Chief Financial Officer

 

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

56



 

[Back of Security]

 

8 5 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2020

 

[Insert the Global Security Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

(1)            INTEREST .  Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (together, the “Issuers”), promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 8.625% per annum from April 13, 2010 until maturity.  The Issuers will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”).  Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further , that the first Interest Payment Date shall be June 15, 2010.  The Issuers will 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 a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; they will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

(2)            METHOD OF PAYMENT .  The Issuers will pay interest on the Notes to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the June 1 and December 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 307 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest.  The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose within the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium on, all Global Securities the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers or the Paying Agent.  Such payment will 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.

 

57



 

(3)            PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR .  Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder.  The Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

(4)            INDENTURE .  The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of April 13, 2010, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 13, 2010 (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), among the Issuers and the Trustee.  The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 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.  The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Issuers.

 

(5)            Optional Redemption.

 

(i)             On or after June 15, 2015, the Issuers will have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice (provided that more than 60 days’ notice may be given if the redemption is being made in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture), at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve months beginning on June 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

 

Percentage

 

2015

 

104.313

%

2016

 

102.875

%

2017

 

101.438

%

2018 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

(ii)            In addition, at any time on or prior to June 15, 2013, the Issuers, at their option, may use the net proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to redeem up to an aggregate of 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture at a Redemption Price equal to 108.625% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided that at least 65% of the initial aggregate principal amount of the Notes must remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and the Issuers must complete such redemption within 90 days of the closing of the Equity Offering.

 

(6)            Mandatory Redemption.

 

The Issuers will not be required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.

 

58



 

(7)            Repurchase at Option of Holder.

 

(a)  If there is a Change of Control, the Issuers will be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to repurchase, in cash, all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).  Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuers will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.
 
(b)  If the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales, within 15 days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20 million, the Issuers will commence an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that are pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (an “Asset Sale Offer”) pursuant to Sections 1010 and 1110 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.  To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary may use such deficiency for general business purposes.  If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis.  Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Issuers prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes.
 

(8)            NOTICE OF REDEMPTION .  Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 10 days but not more than 60 days (provided that more than 60 days’ notice may be given if the redemption is being made in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture) before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.  Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.  On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

(9)            DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE .  The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  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

 

59



 

of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed 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 during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

(10)          PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS .  The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

(11)          AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER .  Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes), and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes).  Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Issuers’ obligations to Holders of the Notes  in case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that could provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, or to provide for security for or add guarantees with respect to the Notes.

 

(12)          DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES .  Events of Default include:  Each of the following is an “Event of Default”: (i) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, upon stated maturity, acceleration, optional redemption, required purchase, scheduled principal payment or otherwise; (ii) default in the payment of an installment of interest on any of the Notes, when the same becomes due and payable, which default continues for a period of 30 days; (iii) failure of the Issuers to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in the Notes or the Indenture, other than a default specified in either (i) or (ii) above, and the default continues for a period of 45 days after written notice of the default requiring the Issuers to remedy the same has been given to the Partnership by the Trustee or to the Issuers and the Trustee by Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding; (iv) default or defaults under certain other agreements, instruments, mortgages, bonds, debentures or other evidences of Indebtedness under which the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership has outstanding Indebtedness in excess of $25 million if the default (x) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on to such Indebtedness within the applicable grace period, if any, provided with respect to such Indebtedness or (y) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its stated maturity; (v) certain final judgment or judgments, which is or are non-appealable and non-reviewable or which has or have not been stayed pending appeal or review or as to which all rights to appeal or review have expired or been exhausted, shall have been rendered against the

 

60



 

Partnership, any Restricted Subsidiary or the General Partner provided such judgment or judgments requires or require the payment of money in excess of $25 million in the aggregate and is not covered by insurance or discharged or stayed pending appeal or review within 60 days after entry of such judgment or in the event of a stay, within 30 days after the stay expires; or (vi) specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization with respect to the Issuers or any of their Significant Subsidiaries as more fully set forth in the Indenture.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the applicable series of Notes then outstanding may declare all the Notes of that series to be due and payable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the Partnership, Finance Corp. or any Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice.  Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture.  Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of a series of then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee of that series of Notes 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 in good faith that withholding notice is in their interest.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of a series of Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee for those Notes may on behalf of all Holders of Notes of that series 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, and the Issuers are required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

(13)          TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH 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.

 

(14)          NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS .  A limited partner of the Partnership or director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the General Partner or Finance Corp., as such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations.  Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

(15)          AUTHENTICATION .  This Note will 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).

 

61



 

(17)          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.

 

(18)          GOVERNING LAW.   THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture.  Requests may be made to:

 

Ferrellgas, L.P.

7500 College Boulevard

Suite 1000

Overland Park, Kansas  66210

Attention:  Investor Relations

(913) 661-1537

 

62



 

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).

 

63



 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 1010 or 1015 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

 

o Section 1010

o Section 1015

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 1010 or Section 1015 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).

 

64



 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL SECURITY*

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Security for an interest in another Global Security or for a Definitive Security, or exchanges of a part of another Global Security or Definitive Security for an interest in this Global Security, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount  of
this Global Security

 

Amount of increase in
Principal Amount  of
this Global Security

 

Principal Amount
of this Global Security
following such decrease
(or increase)

 

Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee or
Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form .

 

65


Exhibit 5.1

 

[GREENBERG TRAURIG LETTERHEAD]

 

Greenberg Traurig, LLP
1000 Louisiana St
Houston TX 77002
Main Tel: 713 374 3500
Main Fax: 713 374 3505

 

April 13, 2010

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

7500 College Boulevard, Suite 1000

Overland Park, Kansas  66210

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special counsel to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Corp ” and, together with the Partnership, the “ Issuers ”), in connection with the issuance of $280,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 8.625% senior unsecured notes due 2020 (the “ Securities ”).  The Securities are being issued under an indenture dated April 13, 2010 by and among the Issuers and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Base Indenture ”), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture dated April 13, 2010 setting forth the terms of the Securities (the “ Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), and in accordance with an Underwriting Agreement dated March 31, 2010 by and among the Issuers, Ferrellgas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ General Partner ”), and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative of the underwriters named therein (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”) (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), relating to the sale of the Securities by the Issuers to the Underwriters.

 

The Securities are being issued pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated March 31, 2010 (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) on April 1, 2010, a base prospectus dated April 13, 2009 (such base prospectus, as amended and supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, the “ Prospectus ”), and an effective Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-157760) (as amended, the “ Registration Statement ”).  This opinion letter is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus other than as expressly stated herein.

 

In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have examined originals or copies of (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Prospectus; (iii) the Prospectus Supplement; (iv) the

 

 



 

Underwriting Agreement; (v) the Indenture; (vi) the Supplemental Indenture; (vii) the certificate of limited partnership and the limited partnership agreement of the Partnership; (viii) the certificates of incorporation and the bylaws of the General Partner and Finance Corp.; (ix) certain resolutions of the boards of directors of the General Partner and Finance Corp.; (x) certificates of officers of the General Partner and Finance Corp., including exhibits thereto, with respect to certain matters (the “ Officer’s Certificates ”); and (xi) such other certificates, instruments and documents we considered appropriate to render the opinions expressed herein.

 

In our examination and investigation of the documents listed in clauses (i) through (xi) in the above paragraph (collectively, the “ Documents ”), we have assumed (a) the genuineness of all signatures on, and the authenticity of, all Documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the original documents of all Documents submitted to us as copies, (b) that the Documents have not been and will not be, on or before the date of this opinion letter, altered or amended in any respect material to our opinions expressed herein, (c) the truthfulness of all statements of fact set forth in the Documents, (d) the due authorization, execution and delivery by the parties thereto of all Documents examined by us other than by the Issuers and the General Partner, (e) the legal capacity of all natural persons and (f) that, to the extent the Documents purport to constitute agreements of parties other than the Issuers and the General Partner, the Documents constitute valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such other parties.

 

Based on the foregoing and subject to the limitations, conditions and assumptions set forth herein, and having due regard for such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Securities have been duly executed, issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered by the trustee against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuers, enforceable against the Issuers in accordance with their terms except as such enforcement may be subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or other law relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.

 

The opinions expressed herein are strictly limited to the matters expressly stated herein, and no other or more extensive opinions are intended or implied or to be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.  The opinions expressed herein are based on and are strictly limited to, as in effect on the date hereof, the internal laws of the state of New York, the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, the general corporation law of the state of Delaware, which includes all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting such laws, and the federal laws of the United States.  No opinion is expressed herein as to the effect the laws of any other jurisdiction might have upon the subject matter of the opinions expressed herein under any conflict of law principles or otherwise.

 

The opinions expressed herein are as of the date hereof, we undertake no responsibility to update such opinions after the date hereof and we assume no responsibility for advising you of any changes with respect to any matters described in such opinions that may occur subsequent to the date hereof or with respect to the discovery subsequent to the date hereof of information not

 

2



 

previously known to us pertaining to events occurring prior to the date hereof.

 

This opinion letter is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Issuers dated on or about the date hereof, to the incorporation by reference of this opinion letter into the Registration Statement and to the reference to us in the Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.”  In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

/s/ GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP

 

 

 

GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP

 

3


Exhibit 8.1

 

[GREENBERG TRAURIG LETTERHEAD]

 

Greenberg Traurig, LLP
1000 Louisiana St
Houston TX 77002
Main Tel: 713 374 3500
Main Fax: 713 374 3505

 

April 13, 2010

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

7500 College Boulevard, Suite 1000

Overland Park, Kansas  66210

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special tax counsel to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Corp ” and, together with the Partnership, the “ Issuers ”), in connection with the issuance of $280,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 8.625% senior unsecured notes due 2020 (the “ Securities ”).  The Securities are being issued under an indenture dated April 13, 2010 by and among the Issuers and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Base Indenture ”), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture dated April 13, 2010 setting forth the terms of the Securities (the “ Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), and in accordance with an Underwriting Agreement dated March 31, 2010 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) by and among the Issuers, Ferrellgas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ General Partner ”), and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative of the underwriters named therein (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”), relating to the sale of the Securities by the Issuers to the Underwriters.

 

The Securities are being issued pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated March 31, 2010 (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) on April 1, 2010, a base prospectus dated April 13, 2009 (such base prospectus, as amended and supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, the “ Prospectus ”), and an effective Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-157760) (as amended, the “ Registration Statement ”).  This opinion letter is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus other than as expressly stated herein.  In formulating the opinions expressed below, we prepared the discussion set forth under the heading “Certain U.S. Federal Tax Considerations” in the Prospectus Supplement.

 

 



 

In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have examined originals or copies of (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Prospectus; (iii) the Prospectus Supplement; (iv) the Underwriting Agreement; (v) the Indenture; (vi) the Supplemental Indenture; (vii) the certificate of limited partnership and the limited partnership agreement of the Partnership; (viii) the certificates of incorporation and the bylaws of the General Partner and Finance Corp.; (ix) certain resolutions of the boards of directors of the General Partner and Finance Corp.; (x) certificates of officers of the General Partner and Finance Corp., including exhibits thereto, with respect to certain matters (the “ Officer’s Certificates ”); and (xi) such other certificates, instruments and documents we considered appropriate to render the opinions expressed herein.

 

In our examination and investigation of the documents listed in clauses (i) through (xi) in the above paragraph (collectively, the “ Documents ”), we have assumed (a) the genuineness of all signatures on, and the authenticity of, all Documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the original documents of all Documents submitted to us as copies, (b) that the Documents have not been and will not be, on or before the date of this opinion letter, altered or amended in any respect material to our opinions expressed herein, (c) the truthfulness of all statements of fact set forth in the Documents, (d) the due authorization, execution and delivery by the parties thereto of all Documents examined by us other than by the Issuers and the General Partner, (e) the legal capacity of all natural persons and (f) that, to the extent the Documents purport to constitute agreements of parties other than the Issuers and the General Partner, the Documents constitute valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such other parties.

 

The opinions expressed herein are also based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, and the interpretations of the Code and such regulations by the courts and the Internal Revenue Service, all as they are in effect and exist as of the date hereof.  It should be noted, however, that statutes, regulations, judicial decisions and administrative interpretations are subject to change at any time and, in some circumstances, with retroactive effect.  A material change that is made after the date hereof in any of the foregoing bases for our opinions expressed herein could adversely affect our conclusions.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, the statements set forth in the Prospectus Supplement under the heading “Certain U.S. Federal Tax Considerations” and in the Prospectus under the heading “Tax Consequences,” to the extent that they constitute legal conclusions and subject to the qualifications set forth therein, constitute our opinion as to the matters set forth therein.

 

The opinions expressed herein are strictly limited to the matters expressly stated herein, and no other or more extensive opinions are intended or implied or to be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.  The opinions expressed herein are limited to the federal tax laws of the United States.  No opinion is expressed herein as to the effect the laws of any other jurisdiction might have upon the subject matter of the opinions expressed herein under any conflict of law principles or otherwise.

 

2



 

The opinions expressed herein are as of the date hereof, we undertake no responsibility to update such opinions after the date hereof and we assume no responsibility for advising you of any changes with respect to any matters described in such opinions that may occur subsequent to the date hereof or with respect to the discovery subsequent to the date hereof of information not previously known to us pertaining to events occurring prior to the date hereof.

 

This opinion letter is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of under the Act.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 8.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Issuers dated on or about the date hereof, to the incorporation by reference of this opinion letter into the Registration Statement and to the reference to us in the Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.”  In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

/s/ GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP

 

 

 

GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP

 

3


Exhibit 99.1

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP. ANNOUNCE CLOSING OF UNDERWRITTEN PUBLIC OFFERING OF SENIOR NOTES

 

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., April 13, 2010 —Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE: FGP) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. today announced the closing of their underwritten public offering of $280 million in aggregate principal amount of 8 5/8% senior unsecured notes due 2020. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $273.4 million, after deducting underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of the offering. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. intend to use the net proceeds from the offering to purchase and/or redeem all of their 8.75% senior notes due 2012 and to pay related costs and expenses.

 

The offering has been made pursuant to a prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus filed as a part of the issuers’ effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-157760).

 

Wells Fargo Securities, BofA Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan have acted as joint book-running managers of the offering and Barclays Capital, BNP PARIBAS, Fifth Third Securities, Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC, SOCIETE GENERALE and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. have acted as co-managers of the offering. A copy of the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from the following addresses:

 

Wells Fargo Securities
Attn: High Yield Syndicate
301 South College Street, 6th Floor
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-715-7035

 

BofA Merrill Lynch
Attn: Prospectus Department
One Bryant Park
New York, NY 10036
(800) 294-1322
dg.prospectus_distribution@bofasecurities.com

 

J.P. Morgan
Attn: Syndicate Desk
270 Park Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(800) 245-8812

 

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

About Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. is a leading distributor of propane and related equipment and supplies to customers primarily in the United States.

 

About Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that the issuers expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements include the issuers’ pricing of a public offering of $280 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2020. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the issuers, including market conditions, operational developments with respect to the issuers and other factors detailed in the issuers’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Contact:
Tom Colvin, Investor Relations, 913-661-1530
Jim Saladin, Media Relations, 913-661-1833

 

SOURCE Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 


Exhibit 99.2

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. ANNOUNCES 87% OF 8.75% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2012 TENDERED BY THE EXPIRATION OF THE EARLY TENDER DATE

 

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., April 13, 2010—Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE: FGP) (the “Company”) announced today that $233,764,000 in principal amount of the 8.75% Senior Notes due 2012 issued by the Company and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. (the “Notes”) (CUSIP No. 31529MAA6), or 87% of the outstanding Notes, had been validly tendered as of the expiration of the early tender date and withdrawal date of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 12, 2010, in connection with the previously announced cash tender offer to purchase any and all of the outstanding Notes. The tender offer is made pursuant to an Offer to Purchase dated March 30, 2010 (the “Offer to Purchase”), which sets forth a more comprehensive description of the terms of the tender offer.

 

On April 13, 2010, the Company accepted for purchase and payment all of the Notes that were validly tendered and not withdrawn at or prior to the early tender date. Payment for the Notes was made today. Holders of the Notes who tendered their Notes at or prior to the early tender date received $1,014.58 for each $1,000 principal amount of the Notes validly tendered (which includes the early tender payment of $30.00 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes from the last interest payment date for the Notes to, but not including, the initial payment date for the tender offer.

 

The tender offer remains open and is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on April 26, 2010, unless extended or earlier terminated. Holders who validly tender their Notes after the expiration of the early tender date and at or prior to the expiration date will receive $984.58 for each $1,000 principal amount of the Notes validly tendered (which is the total consideration minus the early tender payment), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes from the last interest payment date for the Notes to, but not including, the final payment date for the tender offer. The Company currently expects to have a final acceptance date and final purchase promptly following the expiration of the tender offer for Notes tendered after the early tender date. If any condition in the Offer to Purchase is not satisfied, the Company is not obligated to accept for purchase, or to pay for, Notes tendered in the tender offer and, subject to applicable law, may terminate, extend or amend the tender offer and may postpone the acceptance for purchase of, and payment for, Notes so tendered.

 

The Company has retained Wells Fargo Securities and J.P. Morgan to serve as joint dealer managers for the tender offer and have retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. to serve as the depositary and information agent for the tender offer.

 

Requests for documents may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. by telephone at (800) 714-3313 or (212) 269-5550 or in writing at 48 Wall Street, New York, NY, 10005. Questions regarding the tender offer may be directed to Wells Fargo Securities at (866) 309-6316 or (704) 715-8341 or to J.P. Morgan at (800) 245-8812.

 

This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes or any other securities and is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to purchase the Company’s proposed senior notes due 2020. The tender offer is made only by and pursuant to the terms of the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal. None of the Company, the dealer managers, the depositary or the information agent makes any recommendations as to whether holders should tender their Notes pursuant to the tender offer. Holders must make their own decisions as to whether to tender Notes, and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender.

 

Statements in this release concerning expectations for the future are forward-looking statements. A variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause results, performance and expectations to differ materially from anticipated results, performance and expectations. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed in the Form 10-K of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P., and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2009, and other documents filed from time to time by these entities with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Contact:
Tom Colvin, Investor Relations, 913-661-1530
Jim Saladin, Media Relations, 913-661-1833

 

SOURCE Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.