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): May 8, 2013

 

ION Geophysical Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

1-12691

 

22-2286646

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)

 

(Commission file number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

2105 CityWest Blvd

Suite 400

Houston, Texas 77042-2839

 (Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

 

(281) 933-3339

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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 May 13, 2013, ION Geophysical Corporation (the “Company”) completed the issuance and sale of $175 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018 (the “Notes”) in a private offering.  The Notes are initially jointly and severally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by each of the Company’s current material domestic subsidiaries, GX Technology Corporation, ION Exploration Production (U.S.A.), Inc. and I/O Marine Systems, Inc. (the “Guarantors”).  The Notes and the guarantees will be secured, subject to certain exceptions and permitted liens, by second-priority liens on substantially all of the assets that secure the Company’s senior secured credit facility with China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., New York Branch (“CMB”) as administrative agent and lender.  The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under its senior secured credit facility with CMB and for general corporate purposes, including for potential additional capital contributions to its GeoRXT B.V. seabed seismic joint venture.  The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.

 

Purchase Agreement

 

On May 8, 2013, the Company and the Guarantors entered into a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the initial purchasers named therein (the “Initial Purchasers”) under which the Company agreed to sell the Notes to the Initial Purchasers, in accordance with exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, and Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act.  A copy of the Purchase Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.  The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties and indemnification and contribution provisions whereby the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities.

 

Intercreditor Agreement

 

The Company and the Guarantors acknowledged and agreed to a second lien intercreditor agreement dated as of May 13, 2013 (the “Intercreditor Agreement”) by and among CMB, as administrative agent, first lien representative for the first lien secured parties and collateral agent for the first lien secured parties, Wilmington Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and second lien representative for the second lien secured parties, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent for the second lien secured parties.   The Intercreditor Agreement provides, among other things, that the liens on the collateral securing the Notes and related obligations will be junior and subordinate in all respects to the liens on the collateral securing the Company’s senior secured credit facility and related obligations. A copy of the Intercreditor Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Indenture

 

The Notes were issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2013, among the Company, the Guarantors, Wilmington Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent.  A copy of the Indenture is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Notes are senior secured second-priority debt obligations of the Company and will mature on May 15, 2018.  Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate of 8.125% per annum and will be payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15, commencing on November 15, 2013.  Each of the Guarantors has guaranteed the obligations of the Company under the Notes.  The Notes may be guaranteed by additional subsidiaries in the future under certain circumstances.  The guarantees are senior secured second-priority obligations of the Guarantors.

 

The Notes:

 

·                   will be general obligations of the Company;

 

·                   will be secured on a second-priority basis, equally and ratably with all obligations of the Company under any future debt ranking pari passu with the indebtedness under the Notes, by liens on all of the assets of the Company other than certain excluded assets, subject to the liens and security interests securing the Company’s obligations under its senior secured credit facility and any other indebtedness and security interests that would rank prior to the indebtedness and liens under the Notes;

 

·                   will be effectively junior, to the extent of the value of the collateral, to the Company’s obligations under its senior secured credit facility and any other indebtedness secured on a first-priority basis by the same assets of the Company that secure the Notes;

 

2



 

·                   will be effectively junior to any first-priority security interests to the extent of the value of the assets of the Company subject to those first-priority security interests;

 

·                   will be pari passu in right of payment with all other unsecured senior indebtedness of the Company, including indebtedness under its senior secured credit facility;

 

·                   will be senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness of the Company, if any;

 

·                   will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors; and

 

·                   will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness, claims of holders of preferred stock and other liabilities of subsidiaries of the Company that are not guaranteeing the notes.

 

Each guarantee of the notes:

 

·                   will be general obligations of each Guarantor;

 

·                   will be secured on a second-priority basis, equally and ratably with all obligations of that Guarantor under any other future debt ranking pari passu with the obligations under the guarantees, by security interests on all of the assets of that Guarantor other than certain excluded assets as permitted under the Indenture, subject to the security interests securing that Guarantor’s guarantee of its obligations under the senior secured credit facility and any other any other indebtedness and security interests that would rank prior to the indebtedness and liens under the guarantees;

 

·                   will be effectively junior, to the extent of the value of the collateral, to the Guarantor’s obligations to guarantee the indebtedness under the senior secured credit facility and any other indebtedness that will be secured on a first-priority basis by the same assets of the Guarantor that secure the guarantees;

 

·                   will be effectively junior to any first-priority security interests to the extent of the value of the assets of the Guarantor subject to those first-priority security interests;

 

·                   will be pari passu in right of payment with all other unsecured senior indebtedness of the Guarantor, including its guarantee of the indebtedness under the senior secured credit facility; and

 

·                   will be senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness of the Guarantor, if any.

 

On or after May 15, 2015, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes at the redemption prices set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and special interest, if any,  on the Notes redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 15 th  of the years indicated below:

 

Date

 

Percentage

 

2015

 

104.063

%

2016

 

102.031

%

2017 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

At any time prior to May 15, 2015, the Company may at its option redeem the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a “make-whole” redemption price to be determined as described in the Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.  Before May 15, 2015, the Company may, at its option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, using net proceeds of certain equity offerings, at a price equal to 108.125% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.

 

If the Company experiences certain specific kinds of changes in control described in the Indenture, the Company must offer to purchase the Notes at 101% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest and special interest, if any.  Under some circumstances as described in the Indenture, the Company may be required to use proceeds of asset sales to offer to purchase the Notes with the net proceeds of the sale at 100% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest and special interest, if any.

 

The Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to: (i) incur additional debt or issue certain preferred stock; (ii) make certain investments or pay dividends or distributions on the Company’s capital stock, purchase or redeem or retire capital stock or make other restricted payments; (iii) sell assets, including capital stock of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries; (iv) restrict dividends or other payments by restricted subsidiaries; (v) create liens; (vi) create unrestricted subsidiaries; (vii) enter into transactions with affiliates; and (viii) merge or consolidate with another company.

 

3



 

As of the date of the Indenture, all of the Company’s subsidiaries will be restricted subsidiaries. The restrictive covenants set forth in the Indenture are subject to important exceptions and qualifications.

 

The Indenture provides for customary events of default, including the following (subject to any applicable cure period):  nonpayment, breach of covenants in the Indenture, breach of provisions in the security documents, payment defaults under or acceleration of certain other indebtedness, failure to discharge certain judgments, certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization and the invalidity or unenforceability of any guarantee of the Notes or any security document.   If an event of default occurs or is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to be due and payable immediately, except that an event of default by reason of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization will accelerate the maturity of the Notes without further action or notice, and cause all indebtedness thereunder to be immediately due and owing.

 

In connection with granting security interests in favor of the Notes indebtedness, the Company and the Guarantors entered into various agreements and instruments related to such security interests, including a security agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement described above.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

In addition, on May 13, 2013, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Guarantors and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as representatives of the Initial Purchasers. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is filed as Exhibit 4.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to register the offer and sale of exchange notes having substantially identical terms as the Notes under the Securities Act as part of an offer to exchange freely tradable exchange notes for the Notes. The Company will file a registration statement for the exchange offer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause that registration statement to be declared effective by the SEC not later than 365 days after the issue date of the Notes. In certain instances, the Company may be required to file a shelf registration statement relating to resales of the Notes. The Company will pay liquidated damages in the form of additional interest (or, “special interest”) on the Notes upon the occurrence of any of the following registration defaults: (a) any registration statement required by the Registration Rights Agreement is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness (the “Effectiveness Target Date”); (b) notwithstanding that the Company has consummated or will consummate an exchange offer, the Company is required to file a shelf registration statement and such shelf registration statement is not declared effective or does not automatically become effective within the time periods specified in the registration rights agreement; (c) the Company and the guarantors fail to consummate the exchange offer within 30 business days of the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the exchange offer registration statement; or (d) the shelf registration statement or the exchange offer registration statement is declared effective but thereafter ceases to be effective or usable (subject to customary exceptions) during the periods specified in the registration rights agreement.

 

If a registration default described above occurs, the annual interest rate on the Notes will increase initially by 0.25% for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such registration default. The annual interest rate on the Notes will increase by an additional 0.25% for each subsequent 90 day period until all registration defaults have been cured, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.0% per year. If the Company corrects all registration defaults, the accrual of such additional interest will cease. Any such additional interest will be paid to holders in cash on the same dates that the Company makes other interest payments on the Notes.

 

The descriptions and provisions of the Purchase Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement set forth above are summaries only, are not necessarily complete, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full and complete terms thereof contained in the Purchase Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, any other federal securities laws or the securities laws of any jurisdiction, and until so registered, the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States to, or for the account or benefit of, any United States person except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws.

 

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The information under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

4



 

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The information under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

On May 8, 2013, the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of $175 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes.  A copy of the Company’s press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The information contained in Item 8.01 and Exhibit 99.1 of this Current Report shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a)

Financial statements of businesses acquired.

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

(b)

Pro forma financial information .

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

(c)

Shell company transactions.

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

4.1

 

Indenture, dated May 13, 2013, among ION Geophysical Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 13, 2013, among ION Geophysical Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the initial purchasers named therein.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Purchase Agreement, dated May 8, 2013, among ION Geophysical Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the initial purchasers named therein.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement by and among China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., New York Branch, as administrative agent, first lien representative for the first lien secured parties and collateral agent for the first lien secured parties, Wilmington Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and second lien representative for the second lien secured parties, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent for the second lien secured parties, and acknowledged and agreed to by ION Geophysical Corporation and the other grantors named therein.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press release dated May 8, 2013.

 

5



 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Date:

May 13, 2013

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ DAVID L. ROLAND

 

 

 

David L. Roland

 

 

 

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

6



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

4.1

 

Indenture, dated May 13, 2013, among ION Geophysical Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 13, 2013, among ION Geophysical Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the initial purchasers named therein.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Purchase Agreement, dated May 8, 2013, among ION Geophysical Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the initial purchasers named therein.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement by and among China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., New York Branch, as administrative agent, first lien representative for the first lien secured parties and collateral agent for the first lien secured parties, Wilmington Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and second lien representative for the second lien secured parties, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent for the second lien secured parties, and acknowledged and agreed to by ION Geophysical Corporation and the other grantors named therein.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press release dated May 8, 2013.

 

7


Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

 

AND EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

 

8.125% SENIOR SECURED SECOND PRIORITY NOTES DUE 2018

 


 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of May 13, 2013

 


 

Wilmington Trust, National Association

 

as Trustee

 

U.S. Bank National Association

 

as Collateral Agent

 

 



 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

Trust Indenture
Act Section

 

Indenture Section

310(a)(1)

7.10

(a)(2)

7.10

(a)(3)

N.A.

(a)(4)

N.A.

(a)(5)

7.10

(b)

7.10

(c)

N.A.

311(a)

7.11

(b)

7.11

(c)

N.A.

312(a)

2.05

(b)

13.03

(c)

13.03

313(a)

7.06

(b)(1)

N.A.

(b)(2)

7.06; 7.07

(c)

7.06; 13.02

(d)

7.06

314(a)

4.03;13.05

(b)

N.A.

(c)(1)

13.04

(c)(2)

13.04

(c)(3)

N.A.

(d)

10.05; 10.06

(e)

13.05

(f)

N.A.

315(a)

7.01

(b)

7.05; 13.02

(c)

7.01

(d)

7.01

(e)

6.11

316(a) (last sentence)

2.09

(a)(1)(A)

6.05

(a)(1)(B)

6.04

(a)(2)

N.A.

(b)

6.07

(c)

2.12

317(a)(1)

6.08

(a)(2)

6.09

(b)

2.04

318(a)

13.01

(b)

N.A.

(c)

13.01

 



 


N.A. means not applicable.

*  This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

 

 

 

Section 1.01

Definitions

1

Section 1.02

Other Definitions

33

Section 1.03

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

33

Section 1.04

Rules of Construction

34

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

 

 

 

Section 2.01

Form and Dating

34

Section 2.02

Execution and Authentication

35

Section 2.03

Registrar and Paying Agent

35

Section 2.04

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

36

Section 2.05

Holder Lists

36

Section 2.06

Transfer and Exchange

36

Section 2.07

Replacement Notes

48

Section 2.08

Outstanding Notes

48

Section 2.09

Treasury Notes

49

Section 2.10

Temporary Notes

49

Section 2.11

Cancellation

49

Section 2.12

Defaulted Interest

49

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

 

 

Section 3.01

Notices to Trustee

50

Section 3.02

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased

50

Section 3.03

Notice of Redemption

50

Section 3.04

Effect of Notice of Redemption

51

Section 3.05

Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price

51

Section 3.06

Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part

52

Section 3.07

Optional Redemption

52

Section 3.08

Mandatory Redemption

53

Section 3.09

Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds

53

 

 

 

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

 

 

 

Section 4.01

Payment of Notes

55

Section 4.02

Maintenance of Office or Agency

55

Section 4.03

Reports

55

Section 4.04

Compliance Certificate

56

Section 4.05

Taxes

57

Section 4.06

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

57

 



 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 4.07

Restricted Payments

57

Section 4.08

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries

62

Section 4.09

Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock

64

Section 4.10

Asset Sales

68

Section 4.11

Transactions with Affiliates

70

Section 4.12

Liens

72

Section 4.13

Corporate Existence

73

Section 4.14

Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control

73

Section 4.15

Additional Note Guarantees

75

Section 4.16

Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries

75

Section 4.17

Covenant Suspension

76

Section 4.18

Further Assurances; Insurance

76

Section 4.19

Impairment of Security Interest

77

Section 4.20

After-Acquired Property

77

 

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

 

 

 

Section 5.01

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

78

Section 5.02

Successor Corporation Substituted

79

 

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

 

 

Section 6.01

Events of Default

79

Section 6.02

Acceleration

81

Section 6.03

Other Remedies

81

Section 6.04

Waiver of Past Defaults

82

Section 6.05

Control by Majority

82

Section 6.06

Limitation on Suits

82

Section 6.07

Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment

83

Section 6.08

Collection Suit by Trustee

83

Section 6.09

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

83

Section 6.10

Priorities

84

Section 6.11

Undertaking for Costs

84

 

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

 

 

 

Section 7.01

Duties of Trustee

84

Section 7.02

Rights of Trustee

85

Section 7.03

Individual Rights of Trustee

86

Section 7.04

Trustee’s Disclaimer

86

Section 7.05

Notice of Defaults

87

Section 7.06

Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes

87

Section 7.07

Compensation and Indemnity

87

Section 7.08

Replacement of Trustee

88

Section 7.09

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

89

Section 7.10

Eligibility; Disqualification

89

Section 7.11

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

89

Section 7.12

Collateral Agent

89

 



 

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

 

 

Section 8.01

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

89

Section 8.02

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

90

Section 8.03

Covenant Defeasance

90

Section 8.04

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

91

Section 8.05

Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

92

Section 8.06

Repayment to Company

92

Section 8.07

Reinstatement

93

 

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

 

 

Section 9.01

Without Consent of Holders of Notes

93

Section 9.02

With Consent of Holders of Notes

94

Section 9.03

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

95

Section 9.04

Revocation and Effect of Consents

95

Section 9.05

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

96

Section 9.06

Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

96

 

ARTICLE 10

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

 

 

 

Section 10.01

Security Documents

96

Section 10.02

Recording and Opinions

97

Section 10.03

Release of Liens on Collateral

97

Section 10.04

Release of Liens in Respect of Notes

97

Section 10.05

Certificates of the Company

98

Section 10.06

Certificates of the Trustee

98

Section 10.07

Authorization of Actions to Be Taken Under the Security Documents

99

Section 10.08

Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security Documents

99

Section 10.09

Collateral Agent

99

 

ARTICLE 11

NOTE GUARANTEES

 

 

 

Section 11.01

Guarantee

101

Section 11.02

Limitation on Guarantor Liability

102

Section 11.03

Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee

102

Section 11.04

Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms

102

Section 11.05

Releases

103

 

ARTICLE 12

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

 

 

Section 12.01

Satisfaction and Discharge

104

Section 12.02

Application of Trust Money

105

 



 

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE 13

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

Section 13.01

Trust Indenture Act Controls

105

Section 13.02

Notices

106

Section 13.03

Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes

107

Section 13.04

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

107

Section 13.05

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

107

Section 13.06

Rules by Trustee and Agents

108

Section 13.07

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

108

Section 13.08

Governing Law

108

Section 13.09

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

108

Section 13.10

Successors

108

Section 13.11

Severability

108

Section 13.12

Counterpart Originals

108

Section 13.13

Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

109

 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

FORM OF NOTE

Exhibit B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Exhibit C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Exhibit D

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

Exhibit E

FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

Exhibit F

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Exhibit G

FORM OF INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

 



 

INDENTURE dated as of May 13, 2013 is among ION Geophysical Corporation, a Delaware corporation, the Guarantors (as defined), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent.

 

The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined) of the 8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018 (the “ Notes ”):

 

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01                              Definitions .

 

“144A Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

 

“Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)                                  Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and

 

(2)                                  Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

 

“Act of Supermajority of Debtholders” means, as to any matter at any time:

 

(1)                                  prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, a direction in writing delivered to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent by or with the written consent of the Holders of more than 66 2 / 3 % of the sum of: (a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Priority Lien Debt (including outstanding letters of credit whether or not then available or drawn); and (b) other than in connection with the exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments to extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Priority Lien Debt; and

 

(2)                                  at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, a direction in writing delivered to the Collateral Agent by or with the written consent of the Holders of at least 66 2 / 3 % in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) then outstanding.

 

“Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.02 and 4.09 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes.

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, 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%

 

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or more of the Voting Stock of a Person shall be deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

 

“After-Acquired Property” means any and all assets or property acquired after the date of this Indenture, including any property or assets acquired by the Company or a Guarantor from another Guarantor, which in each case constitutes Collateral.

 

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

 

“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any redemption date, the greater of:

 

(1)                                  1.0% of the principal amount of the Note; or

 

(2)                                  the excess of:  (a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Note at May 15, 2015 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 3.07 hereof) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through May 15, 2015 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the principal amount of the Note.

 

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

 

“Asset Sale” means:

 

(1)                                  the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole shall be governed by Sections 4.14 and/or 5.01 hereof; and

 

(2)                                  the issuance of Equity Interests by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required by applicable law to be held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary).

 

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

 

(1)                                  any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a Fair Market Value of no more than $25.0 million since the date of this Indenture;

 

(2)                                  a transfer of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(3)                                  an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(4)                                  the sale, lease, license, sublicense or other transfer of assets, services or accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business and any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out or obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business (including the abandonment or other disposition of intellectual property that is, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, no longer

 

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economically practicable to maintain or useful in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as whole);

 

(5)                                  licenses and sublicenses by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of software or intellectual property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6)                                  any surrender or waiver of contract rights or settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims in the ordinary course of business;

 

(7)                                  the granting of Liens not prohibited by Section 4.12 hereof and the sale or other disposition pursuant to foreclosure of the assets subject to such Lien;

 

(8)                                  the sale or other disposition of cash, Cash Equivalents, Hedging Obligations or other financial instruments;

 

(9)                                  any sale of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other securities of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

 

(10)                           a Restricted Payment that does not violate Section 4.07 hereof or a Permitted Investment (or a disposition that would constitute a Restricted Payment but for the exclusion from the definition thereof).

 

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however , that if such sale and leaseback transaction results in a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of Indebtedness represented thereby shall be determined in accordance with the definition of “Capital Lease Obligation.”

 

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

 

“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” shall 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 after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

 

“Board of Directors” means:

 

(1)                                  with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

 

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

 

(3)                                  with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and

 

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

 

“Broker-Dealer” means any broker or dealer, in either case, that is registered under the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any lease (whether entered into before or after the date of this Indenture) that would have been classified as an operating lease pursuant to GAAP as in effect on the date of this Indenture shall be deemed not to represent a Capital Lease Obligation.

 

“Capital Stock” means:

 

(1)                                  in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(2)                                  in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(3)                                  in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

(4)                                  any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

“Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(1)                                  United States dollars;

 

(2)                                  securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government ( provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition;

 

(3)                                  certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

 

(4)                                  repurchase obligations with a term of not more than thirty days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

 

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(5)                                  commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and, in each case, maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

 

(6)                                  money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition;

 

(7)                                  money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated or invest solely in the assets described in clauses (1) through (6) above and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $500.0 million;

 

(8)                                  marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof, in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition and having, at such date, the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s;

 

(9)                                  any interest bearing account at, or certificate of deposit maturing not more than one year after such time issued by, a U.S. savings and loan association which has a rating of “A-” or better from S&P or a rating of “A3” or better from Moody’s on its long term unsecured debt and which has combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500.0 million;

 

(10)                           any interest bearing account at, or certificate of deposit maturing not more than one year after such time, payable in United Stated dollars and issued by, (i) a foreign banking institution or foreign branch of a U.S. banking institution, which banking institution has a rating of “A-” or better from S&P or a rating of “A3” or better from Moody’s on its long-term unsecured debt and combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500.0 million, or (ii) any foreign subsidiary of a U.S. banking institution, which U.S. banking institution has a rating of “A-” or better from S&P or a rating of “A3” or better from Moody’s and which subsidiary has combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500.0 million;

 

(11)                           any evidence of Indebtedness (including variable rate demand notes), maturing not more than one year after such time, issued by any State of the United States, by any county or municipality organized or incorporated under the laws of any State of the United States or by any agency or subdivision of any of the foregoing, in each case rated “A-” or better by S&P or rated “A3” or better by Moody’s;

 

(12)                           any preferred securities issued by domestic or foreign corporations, municipalities, or closed-end management investment companies and are designed as short term money market instruments rated “A-” or better by S&P or rated “A3” or better by Moody’s, provided that such Investment will not result in any violation of F.R.S. Board Regulation U and further provided that the Company’s aggregate ownership interest of all of the Guarantors does not exceed (and is not convertible into shares which exceed 5% of the issuer’s outstanding shares entitled to vote unless such ownership interest is acquired pursuant to a merger agreement between or among the Company and/or one or more Guarantors and such issuer);

 

(13)                           any mutual funds or similar investment vehicles investing primarily in Investments of the types set forth in the foregoing clauses (1) through (12), provided that ratings requirements shall be applicable to the mutual fund rather than the underlying Investments, as follows: such mutual funds shall, in each case, have a rating of “A-” or better from S&P or a rating of “A3” from Moody’s, provided , however , that it is agreed that (i) any Investment which

 

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when made complies with the requirements of any of the foregoing clauses (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) or (12) may continue to be held notwithstanding that such Investment if made thereafter would not comply with such requirements; and (ii) no Investment otherwise permitted by clauses (12) or (13) shall be permitted to be made directly or indirectly through a mutual fund if, immediately before or after giving effect thereto, any Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(14)                           with respect to the Subsidiaries that are not Domestic Subsidiaries only, any Investments outside of the United States that are the functional foreign equivalents in all material respects to the investments described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (13) of this definition.

 

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(1)                                  the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person (including any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act));

 

(2)                                  the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

(3)                                  the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any Person (including any “person” (as defined above) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or

 

(4)                                  the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, the conversion of the Company from a corporation to a limited liability company, limited partnership or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding Equity Interests in one form of entity for Equity Interests in another form of entity shall not constitute a Change of Control, so long as such transaction otherwise complies with the terms of this Indenture and following such conversion or exchange the “persons” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) who Beneficially Owned the Capital Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transactions continue to Beneficially Own in the aggregate more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, or continue to Beneficially Own sufficient Equity Interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity or its general partner, as applicable, and, in either case no “person” Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity or its general partner, as applicable.

 

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, S.A.

 

“Class” means (1) in the case of Parity Lien Debt, all Parity Lien Debt, taken together, and (2) in the case of Priority Lien Debt, every Series of Priority Lien Debt, taken together.

 

“Collateral” means all properties and assets at any time owned or acquired by the Company or any of the other Guarantors, except:

 

(1)                                  Excluded Assets;

 

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(2)                                  any properties and assets in which the Collateral Agent is required to release its Liens pursuant to the provisions described in Section 5.1 of the Intercreditor Agreement; and

 

(3)                                  any properties and assets that no longer secure the Notes or any Obligations in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions described in Section 10.04 hereof;

 

provided that in the case of clauses (2) and (3), if such Liens are required to be released as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition of any properties or assets of the Company or any other Guarantor, such assets or properties shall cease to be excluded from the Collateral if the Company or any other Guarantor thereafter acquires or reacquires such assets or properties.

 

“Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

“Company” means ION Geophysical Corporation, and any and all successors thereto.

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus , without duplication:

 

(1)                                  an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(2)                                  provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(3)                                  the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(4)                                  any foreign currency translation losses (including losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such losses were taken into account in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(5)                                  the aggregate reserves established by the Company with respect to the WesternGeco L.L.C. v. ION Geophysical Corporation litigation, plus

 

(6)                                  depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash charges and expenses (excluding any such non-cash charge or expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges or expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash charge or expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges or expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

 

(7)                                  any foreign currency translation gains (including gains related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period,

 

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to the extent that such gains were taken into account in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

 

(8)                                  non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated EBITDA of the Company only to the extent that a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders.

 

“Consolidated Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP and without any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends; provided that:

 

(1)                                  all extraordinary gains and losses and all gains and losses realized in connection with any Asset Sale or the disposition of securities or the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, together with any related provision for taxes on any such gain, shall be excluded;

 

(2)                                  the net income of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

 

(3)                                  the net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary other than a Guarantor shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that net income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;

 

(4)                                  the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded; and

 

(5)                                  non-cash gains and losses attributable to movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 815 (“ ASC 815 ”) shall be excluded.

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, with respect to any specified Person as of any date of determination, the consolidated total assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined in

 

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accordance with GAAP as of the end of the Person’s most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available, less the sum of (1) all current liabilities and current liability items, and (2) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, organization expense, unamortized debt discount and expense and other similar intangibles properly classified as intangibles in accordance with GAAP.

 

“continuing” means, with respect to any Default or Event of Default, that such Default or Event of Default has not been cured or waived.

 

“Continuing Directors means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who:

 

(1)                                  was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture; or

 

(2)                                  was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

 

“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” means the address of the Trustee specified in Section 13.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

 

“Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2010, by and among the Company and China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., New York Branch, as administrative agent and lender, as amended, including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as further amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

 

“Credit Agreement Agent” means, at any time, the Person serving at such time as the “Agent” or “Administrative Agent” under the Credit Agreement or any other representative then most recently designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Credit Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

“Credit Facilities” means, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, any Credit Agreement), indentures, commercial paper facilities or secured or unsecured capital market financing, in each case, with banks or other institutional lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, term debt, debt securities, 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, extended, increased, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

 

“Customary Recourse Exceptions” means, with respect to any Non-Recourse Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, exclusions from the exculpation provisions with respect to such Non-Recourse Debt for the voluntary bankruptcy of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, fraud, misapplication of cash, environmental claims, waste, willful destruction and other circumstances customarily excluded by lenders from exculpation provisions or included in separate indemnification agreements in non-recourse financings.

 

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

 

“Deemed Capitalized Leases” means obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that are classified as “capital lease obligations” under GAAP due to the application of ASC Topic 840 or any subsequent pronouncement having similar effect and, except for such regulation or pronouncement, such obligation would not constitute a Capital Lease Obligation.

 

“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

 

“De Minimis Guaranteed Amount” means a principal amount of Indebtedness that does not exceed $5.0 million.

 

“Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations” has the meaning given to the term “Discharge of Second Lien Obligations” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

“Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations” has the meaning given to the term “Discharge of First Lien Obligations” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

“Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case, at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature; provided , however , that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy in full its obligations with respect to the payment of dividends or upon maturity, redemption (pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise) or repurchase thereof or otherwise by the delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock, and that is not convertible, puttable or exchangeable for Disqualified Stock so long as such Person satisfies its obligations with respect thereto solely by the delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 hereof. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Indenture shall be the maximum amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.

 

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“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or that guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company.

 

“Enforcement Action” shall have the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

“equally and ratably” means, in reference to sharing of Liens or proceeds thereof as between holders of Secured Obligations within the same Class, that such Liens or proceeds:

 

(1)                                  shall be allocated and distributed first to the Secured Debt Representative for each outstanding Series of Secured Debt within that Class, for the account of the holders of such Series of Secured Debt, ratably in proportion to the principal of, and interest and premium (if any) and reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of credit, if any, outstanding (whether or not drawings have been made under such letters of credit) on each outstanding Series of Secured Debt within that Class when the allocation or distribution is made, and thereafter

 

(2)                                  shall be allocated and distributed (if any remain after payment in full of all of the principal of, and interest and premium (if any) and reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of credit, if any, outstanding (whether or not drawings have been made on such letters of credit) on all outstanding Secured Obligations within that Class) to the Secured Debt Representative for each outstanding Series of Secured Obligations within that Class, for the account of the holders of any remaining Secured Obligations within that Class, ratably in proportion to the aggregate unpaid amount of such remaining Secured Obligations within that Class due and demanded (with written notice to the applicable Secured Debt Representative, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and the Collateral Agent) prior to the date such distribution is made.

 

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

 

“Equity Offering” means a public or private sale of Equity Interests of the Company by the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) made on a primary basis by the Company after the date of this Indenture.

 

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

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Exchange Notes” means the Notes issued in an Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2.06(f) hereof.

 

“Exchange Offer” has the meaning set forth in the applicable Registration Rights Agreement.

 

“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in the applicable Registration Rights Agreement.

 

“Excluded Assets” means each of the following:

 

(1)                                  any asset or property right of the Company or any Guarantor of any nature:

 

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(a)                                  if the grant of a security interest shall constitute or result in (i) the abandonment, invalidation or unenforceability of such asset or property right or the Company’s or any Guarantor’s loss of use of such asset or property right or (ii) a breach, termination or default under any lease, license, contract or agreement (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the UCC (or any successor provision or provisions) of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law (including the United States Bankruptcy Code) or principles of equity) to which the Company or such Guarantor is party; and

 

(b)                                  to the extent that any applicable law or regulation prohibits the creation of a security interest thereon (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to any applicable law or principles of equity);

 

(2)                                  Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary that is directly owned by the Company or any Guarantor, and any disregarded entity owner (direct or indirect through one or more other disregarded entities) of such Foreign Subsidiary, other than Voting Stock in ION International Holdings L.P. solely to the extent representing in excess of 65% of the total voting power of all outstanding Voting Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary or such disregarded entity owner and all Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries not directly owned by any Person that is the Company or a Guarantor;

 

(3)                                  any applications for trademarks or service marks filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “ PTO ”) pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1051 Section 1(b) unless and until evidence of use of the mark in interstate commerce is submitted to the PTO pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1051 Section 1(c) or Section 1(d);

 

(4)                                  fixed or capital assets owned by the Company or any Guarantor that is subject to a capital lease or purchase money obligations, in each case permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 4.09 and 4.12 hereof if the contract or other agreement in which such Lien is granted prohibits the creation of any other Lien on such fixed or capital assets, but only for so long as such prohibition is in effect and only with respect to the portion of such fixed or capital assets as to which such other Lien attaches and such prohibition applies;

 

(5)                                  motor vehicles;

 

(6)                                  any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary to the extent (and only to the extent) that in the reasonable judgment of the Company, if such Capital Stock were not excluded from the Collateral then Rule 3-16 or Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act would require the filing of separate financial statements of such Subsidiary with the SEC (or any other governmental agency) in connection with a registration of the Notes under the Securities Act;

 

(7)                                  de minimis or immaterial assets for which perfection of the security could not be obtained without unreasonable cost and expense or under applicable law;

 

(8)                                  unless such real property and fixtures (a) secure the Credit Agreement and (b) have a fair market value in excess of $10.0 million, real property and any fixtures owned or leased by the Company or any other Guarantor;

 

(9)                                  the INOVA Letter of Credit;

 

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(10)                           unless such Equity Interests secure the Credit Agreement, Equity Interests in any Person other than (a) a Guarantor, to the extent such Person is at such time a Guarantor, and (b) as provided in clause (2) of this definition;

 

(11)                           any account (and any cash, Cash Equivalents or other investments deposited therein) securing Indebtedness described in Section 4.09(b)(xx) hereof; and

 

(12)                           prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, any property not subject to a Lien securing the Credit Agreement.

 

“Existing Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) in existence on the date of this Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.

 

“Existing Priority Lien Security Agreement” means that certain Security and Pledge Agreement (Domestic Indebtedness) dated as of March 25, 2010, among the Company, the Guarantors and China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., New York Branch.

 

“Fair Market Value” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company in the case of amounts of $40 million or more and otherwise by an Officer of the Company (unless otherwise provided in this Indenture).

 

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.

 

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

 

(1)                                  acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations, or any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including all related financing transactions and including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, or that are to be made on the Calculation Date, shall be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period;

 

(2)                                  the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded;

 

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(3)                                  the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date;

 

(4)                                  any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date shall be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period;

 

(5)                                  any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date shall be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such four-quarter period; and

 

(6)                                  if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term as at the Calculation Date in excess of 12 months).

 

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any calculation under this definition, the pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Company, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes under this Indenture; provided that such Officer may in such Officer’s discretion include any reasonably identifiable and factually supportable pro forma changes to Consolidated Cash Flow or Fixed Charges, including any pro forma expense and cost reductions or synergies that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur within the 12 months immediately following the Calculation Date and are either (i) prepared and calculated in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or (ii) set forth in an Officers’ Certificate signed by the chief financial or accounting officer that states (a) the amount of each such adjustment and (b) that such adjustments are based on the reasonable good faith belief of the Officers executing such Officers’ Certificate at the time of such execution and the factual basis on which such good faith belief is based.

 

“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(1)                                  the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations (but excluding any interest expense attributable to Deemed Capitalized Leases), imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations in respect of interest rates; plus

 

(2)                                  the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

 

(3)                                  any interest on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such Guarantee or Lien is called upon (other than a Lien of the type described in clause (9) of the definition of Permitted Liens); plus

 

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(4)                                  all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

 

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the date of this Indenture.

 

“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(ii) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

 

“Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(iii), 2.06(b)(iv), 2.06(d)(ii) or 2.06(f) hereof.

 

“Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.

 

“Guarantee” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) (other than a Lien of the type described in clause (9) of the definition of Permitted Liens).

 

“Guarantors” means any Subsidiary of the Company that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person has been released in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under:

 

(1)                                  interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;

 

(2)                                  other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk; and

 

(3)                                  other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or commodity prices.

 

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“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

 

“IAI Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold to Institutional Accredited Investors .

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, as of any date, any Restricted Subsidiary whose total assets (other than Equity Interests in any other Subsidiary), as of that date, are less than $50.0 million in book value.

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person (excluding accrued expenses and trade payables), whether or not contingent:

 

(1)                                  in respect of borrowed money;

 

(2)                                  evidenced by or issued in exchange for bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) but excluding (i) bid, performance, surety and appeal bonds to the extent such bonds are undrawn upon and (ii) obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in clauses (1), (4) and (5) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed within ten business days of payment on such letter of credit;

 

(3)                                  in respect of banker’s acceptances;

 

(4)                                  representing Capital Lease Obligations or Attributable Debt in respect of sale and leaseback transactions;

 

(5)                                  representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are completed; or

 

(6)                                  representing any Hedging Obligations,

 

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit, Attributable Debt and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, but excluding Deemed Capitalized Leases. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of ASC 815 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, “Indebtedness” of a Person shall not include:

 

(1)                                  any indebtedness that has been defeased in accordance with GAAP or defeased pursuant to the deposit of cash or Cash Equivalents (in an amount sufficient to satisfy all such indebtedness obligations at maturity or redemption, as applicable, and all payments of interest

 

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and premium, if any) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness, and subject to no other Liens;

 

(2)                                  any repayment or reimbursement obligation of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Customary Recourse Exceptions, unless and until an event or circumstance occurs that triggers the Person’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s direct repayment or reimbursement obligation (as opposed to contingent or performance obligations) to the lender or other Person to whom such obligation is actually owed, in which case the amount of such direct payment or reimbursement obligation shall constitute Indebtedness; and

 

(3)                                  a Lien of the type described in clause (9) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

 

“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

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

 

“Initial Notes” means the first $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.

 

“Initial Purchasers” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Pareto Securities AS, Dougherty & Company, Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C., PNC Capital Markets LLC and Westlake Securities, LLC, with respect to the offer and sale of the Initial Notes and such other initial purchasers party to future purchase agreements entered into in connection with an offer and sale of any Additional Notes.

 

“INOVA” means INOVA Geophysical Equipment Limited, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China or any successor or substitute entity thereof (whether by reincorporation, transfer, merger, amalgamation, conversion or any other entity transaction) in the same or a different jurisdiction and whether known by the same or a different name.

 

“INOVA Letter of Credit” means that certain letter of credit issued for the account of INOVA Geophysical Equipment Limited in favor of China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd., New York Branch.

 

“insolvency or liquidation proceeding” means:

 

(1)                                  any case commenced by or against the Company or any other Guarantor under Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Company or any other Guarantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Company or any other Guarantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to the Company or any other Guarantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

(2)                                  any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Company or any other Guarantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(3)                                  any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Company or any other Guarantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

 

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“Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, dated as of the date of this Indenture, among the Guarantors, the Priority Lien Credit Agreement Agent, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

“Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, who are not also QIBs.

 

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07(c) hereof. The acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07(c) hereof. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

 

“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.

 

“Letter of Transmittal” means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in connection with an Exchange Offer.

 

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

 

“Lien Release Conditions” means (a) the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and (b) the settlement, abandonment or dismissal with prejudice of the WesternGeco L.L.C. vs. ION Geophysical Corporation litigation.

 

“Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation” means as to any Series of Priority Lien Debt, the written agreement of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, as set forth in the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt, for the enforceable benefit of all holders

 

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of Parity Lien Debt, each Parity Lien Representative and each existing and future holder of Permitted Prior Liens:

 

(1)                                  that all Priority Lien Obligations shall be and are secured equally and ratably by all Priority Liens at any time granted by the Company or any other Guarantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, and that all such Priority Liens will be enforceable by the Priority Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of all holders of Priority Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

 

(2)                                  that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens; and

 

(3)                                  consenting to and directing the Priority Lien Collateral Agent to perform its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate amount of cash proceeds and Cash Equivalents received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale but excluding any non-cash consideration deemed to be cash for the purpose of Section 4.10 hereof) net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale, taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the properties or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Sale or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale, all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale, and any reserve for adjustment or indemnification obligations in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness:

 

(1)                                  as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) or (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, except for Customary Recourse Exceptions;

 

(2)                                  as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than as permitted in clause (3) below); and

 

(3)                                  as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the Capital Stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except (a) as contemplated by clause (9) of the definition of Permitted Liens and (b) except for Customary Recourse Exceptions.

 

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“Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

 

“Note Documents” means this Indenture, the Notes and the Security Documents.

 

“Note Guarantee” means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

“Notes” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.  The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including for purposes of waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

 

“Obligations” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Priority Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

“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 Chief Accounting 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 limited partnership, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice President of such Person’s general partner).

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof.  The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.

 

“Parity Lien” means a Lien granted by a Security Document to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, at any time, upon any property of the Company or any other Guarantor to secure Parity Lien Obligations.

 

“Parity Lien Debt” means the Notes issued on the date of this Indenture and any Additional Notes, if any, incurred under Section 4.09(b)(iii) (in each case, including any related Exchange Notes).

 

“Parity Lien Documents” means, collectively, the Note Documents and the Security Documents (other than any security documents that do not secure Parity Lien Obligations).

 

“Parity Lien Obligations” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

 

“Parity Lien Representative” means the Trustee.

 

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“Parity Lien Secured Party” means the Holders of the Notes and the Trustee.

 

“Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

 

“Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness” means Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock was Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of any other Person existing at the time (a) such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (b) such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (c) assets of such Person were acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Indebtedness was assumed in connection therewith (excluding any such Indebtedness that is repaid contemporaneously with such event); provided that on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the date such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or on the date of such asset acquisition, as applicable, either:

 

(1)                                  immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof, or

 

(2)                                  immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

 

“Permitted Business” means any business that is the same as, or reasonably related, ancillary or complementary to, any of the businesses in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the date of this Indenture.

 

“Permitted Investments” means:

 

(1)                                  any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(2)                                  any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

 

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

 

(a)                                  such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or

 

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

 

(4)                                  any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof;

 

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(5)                                  an acquisition of assets or Capital Stock in any Person solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

 

(6)                                  any Investments received in compromise or resolution of (a) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer or (b) litigation, arbitration or other disputes;

 

(7)                                  Investments represented by Hedging Obligations;

 

(8)                                  loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5.0 million at any one time outstanding;

 

(9)                                  Investments in any Person to the extent such Investments consist of prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers’ compensation, performance and other similar deposits made in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(10)                           any guarantee of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by Section 4.09 hereof other than a guarantee of Indebtedness of an Affiliate of the Company that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(11)                           any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, the date of this Indenture and any Investment consisting of an extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to a binding commitment existing on, the date of this Indenture; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (a) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the date of this Indenture or (b) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

 

(12)                           Investments acquired after the date of this Indenture as a result of the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of another Person, including by way of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or all or substantially all of the assets of another Person, in each case, in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 hereof after the date of this Indenture to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

 

(13)                           repurchase of the Notes;

 

(14)                           Liens of the type described in clause (9) of the definition of Permitted Liens;

 

(15)                           Investments in INOVA and/or the Seabed J.V. having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (15) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the sum of (a) $60.0 million and (b) the gross profits realized by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from services provided or products sold to INOVA and/or the Seabed J.V., since the date of this Indenture;

 

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(16)                           the Investments described in the “Use of Proceeds” section of the Company’s Offering Memorandum dated May 8, 2013, relating to the initial offering of the Notes; and

 

(17)                           other Investments in any Person having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (17) that are at the time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) $25.0 million and (b) and amount equal to 10.0% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined at the time of such Investment this clause) (after giving effect to any dividends, interest payments, return of capital and subsequent reduction in the amount of any Investments made pursuant to this clause as a result of the repayment or other disposition thereof, in an amount not to exceed the amount of such Investments previously made pursuant to in this clause); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (17) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (17) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

With respect to any Permitted Investment, the Company may, in its sole discretion, allocate all or any portion of any Permitted Investment and later re-allocate all or any portion of any Permitted Investment to one or more of the above clauses (1) through (17) so that the entire Permitted Investment would be a Permitted Investment. Amounts permitted under clauses (15), (16) and (17) shall be measured after giving effect to any dividends, interest payments, return of capital and subsequent reduction in the amount of any Permitted Investment made pursuant to such clause as a result of the repayment or other disposition thereof, in an amount not to exceed the amount of such Permitted Investment previously made pursuant to such clause.

 

“Permitted Joint Venture” means any entity characterized as a joint venture, however structured, engaged in a Permitted Business in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has an ownership interest; provided that such joint venture is not a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

“Permitted Liens” means:

 

(1)                                  Liens held by the Priority Lien Collateral Agent securing (a) Priority Lien Debt in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Priority Lien Cap and (b) all related Priority Lien Obligations;

 

(2)                                  Liens to secure the Notes and the Note Guarantees issued on the date of this Indenture and any obligations owing to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement in connection therewith;

 

(3)                                  Liens to secure Hedging Obligations so long as such Hedging Obligations are permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

 

(4)                                  Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into or

 

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consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (plus improvements and accessions to such property or proceeds or distributions thereof);

 

(5)                                  Liens on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to such acquisition and not incurred in contemplation of, such acquisition;

 

(6)                                  Liens on cash and Cash Equivalents to secure the performance of statutory obligations, insurance, surety or appeal bonds, workers compensation obligations, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (including Liens to secure letters of credit issued to assure payment of such obligations) and including any bonds issued in connection with the WesternGeco L.L.C. vs. ION Geophysical Corporation litigation;

 

(7)                                  Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by Section 4.09(b)(iv) hereof covering only the assets acquired with or financed by such Indebtedness (plus improvements and accessions to such property or proceeds or distributions thereof);

 

(8)                                  Liens to secure Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, to the extent such Liens relate only to assets and properties of Foreign Subsidiaries;

 

(9)                                  Liens on the Capital Stock of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Permitted Joint Venture granted by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Permitted Joint Venture;

 

(10)                           Liens existing on the date of this Indenture, other than Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(i) hereof;

 

(11)                           Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent by more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;

 

(12)                           Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, landlord’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(13)                           survey exceptions, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property that were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

(14)                           Liens created for the benefit of (or to secure) the Notes or the Note Guarantees;

 

(15)                           Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided, however, that:

 

(a)                                  the new Lien is limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could

 

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secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to, such property or proceeds or distributions thereof); and

 

(b)                                  the Indebtedness secured by the new Lien is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, committed amount, of the Indebtedness renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged with such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and (y) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge;

 

(16)                           Liens on insurance policies and proceeds thereof, or other deposits, to secure insurance premium financings;

 

(17)                           filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements as a precautionary measure in connection with operating leases;

 

(18)                           bankers’ Liens, rights of setoff, Liens arising out of judgments or awards not constituting an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

 

(19)                           Liens on cash, Cash Equivalents or other property arising in connection with the defeasance, discharge or redemption of Indebtedness;

 

(20)                           Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods (and the proceeds thereof) of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created in the ordinary course of business for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

(21)                           grants of software and other technology and intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business;

 

(22)                           Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(23)                           Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

(24)                           Liens in favor of the Company or any of the Guarantors;

 

(25)                           Liens on cash collateral or Cash Equivalents for letters of credit and/or bank guarantees permitted under Section 4.09(b)(xx) hereof, not to exceed 105% of the face amount thereof; provided that the aggregate book value of the assets encumbered by all Liens permitted by this clause (25) shall not exceed $10.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

 

(26)                           Liens arising under this Indenture in favor of the Trustee for its own benefit and similar Lien in favor of other trustees, agents and representatives arising under instruments governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided , however , that such Liens are solely for the benefit of the trustees, agents or representatives in their capacities as such and not for the benefit of the holders of such Indebtedness;

 

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(27)                           Liens to secure Parity Lien Debt permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09(b)(iii) hereof; and

 

(28)                           Liens to secure Parity Lien Debt permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 hereof in an amount not to exceed $15.0 million at any one time outstanding.

 

“Permitted Prior Liens” means:

 

(1)                                  Liens described in clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Liens;”

 

(2)                                  Liens described in clauses (4), (5), (7), (10), (16), (18), (19), (20) and (26) of the definition of “Permitted Liens;” and

 

(3)                                  Permitted Liens that arise by operation of law and are not voluntarily granted, to the extent entitled by law to priority over the Liens created by the Priority Lien Security Documents or the Security Documents.

 

“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Disqualified Stock of the Company incurred or issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease, discharge, refund or otherwise retire for value, in whole or in part, any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or any Disqualified Stock of the Company (the “Refinanced Indebtedness” ), provided that:

 

(1)                                  the principal amount, or in the case of Disqualified Stock, the amount thereof as determined in accordance with the definition of Disqualified Stock, of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Refinanced Indebtedness (plus all accrued and unpaid interest on or accrued and unpaid dividends on the Refinanced Indebtedness, as the case may be, and the amount of all fees, expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith) (or, if such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness refinances Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility or other agreement providing for a commitment for subsequent borrowings, with a maximum commitment not to exceed the maximum commitment under such revolving credit facility or other agreement);

 

(2)                                  such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, later than or equal to the shorter of (a) 91 days following the Stated Maturity or (b) the final maturity or redemption date as applicable, of the Refinanced Indebtedness;

 

(3)                                  such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred that is no shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the portion of the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged;

 

(4)                                  if the Refinanced Indebtedness is contractually subordinated or otherwise junior in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is contractually subordinated or otherwise junior in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Refinanced Indebtedness;

 

(5)                                  such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was the obligor on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded,

 

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refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged and is guaranteed only by Persons who were obligors on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged (or by any Person that was required by the documents governing such Indebtedness to guarantee such Indebtedness); and

 

(6)                                  the proceeds of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be used substantially concurrently with the incurrence thereof to redeem, refinance, replace, defease, discharge, refund or otherwise retire for value the Refinanced Indebtedness, unless the Refinanced Indebtedness is not then due and is not redeemable or prepayable at the option of the obligor thereof or is redeemable or prepayable only with notice, in which case such proceeds shall be held in a segregated account of the obligor of the Refinanced Indebtedness until the Refinanced Indebtedness becomes due or redeemable or prepayable or such notice period lapses and then shall be used to refinance the Refinanced Indebtedness; provided that in any event the Refinanced Indebtedness shall be redeemed, refinanced replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or otherwise retired for value within 120 days of the incurrence of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any indebtedness incurred under Credit Facilities shall be subject to the refinancing provision of the definition of Credit Facilities and not pursuant to the requirements set forth in this definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

 

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

 

“Priority Lien” means a Lien granted by a Priority Lien Security Document to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any property of the Company or any other Guarantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations.

 

“Priority Lien Cap” means, as of any date, the principal amount outstanding under the Credit Agreement and/or the Indebtedness outstanding under any other Credit Facility, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the sum of the amount provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt, as of any date, less the amount of Parity Lien Debt incurred after the date of this Indenture the net proceeds of which are used to repay Priority Lien Debt. For purposes of this definition, all letters of credit will be valued at the face amount thereof, whether or not drawn and all Hedging Obligations will be valued at zero.

 

“Priority Lien Collateral Agent” means China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd., New York Branch, in its capacity as collateral agent under the Priority Lien Security Documents, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

“Priority Lien Debt” means:

 

(1)                                  Indebtedness of the Company under the Credit Agreement that was permitted to be incurred and secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document (or as to which the lenders under the Credit Agreement obtained an Officers’ Certificate at the time of incurrence to the effect that such Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred and secured by all applicable Secured Debt Documents);

 

(2)                                  Indebtedness of the Company under any other Credit Facility that is secured equally and ratably with the Credit Agreement by a Priority Lien that was permitted to be

 

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incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided , in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this clause (2), that:

 

(a)                                  on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to each Priority Lien Representative, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and the Collateral Agent, as “Priority Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents; provided that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt;

 

(b)                                  such Indebtedness is governed by a credit agreement or other agreement that includes a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation; and

 

(c)                                   all requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Priority Lien Collateral Agent’s Lien to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause (c) will be conclusively established if the Company delivers to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate stating that such requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such Indebtedness is “Priority Lien Debt”); and

 

(3)                                  Hedging Obligations of the Company incurred to hedge or manage interest rate risk with respect to Priority Lien Debt; provided that:

 

(a)                                  such Hedging Obligations are secured by a Priority Lien on all of the assets and properties that secure Indebtedness under the Credit Facility in respect of which such Hedging Obligations are incurred; and

 

(b)                                  such Priority Lien is senior to or on a parity with the Priority Liens securing Indebtedness under the Credit Facility in respect of which such Hedging Obligations are incurred.

 

“Priority Lien Documents” means the Credit Agreement and any other Credit Facility pursuant to which any Priority Lien Debt is incurred and the Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

“Priority Lien Obligations” means the Priority Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect of Priority Lien Debt, including without limitation the “Secured Obligations” as such term is defined in the Existing Priority Lien Security Agreement as of the date of this Indenture.

 

“Priority Lien Representative” means (1) the Credit Agreement Agent or (2) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Priority Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Priority Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt and who has become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

“Priority Lien Security Documents” means the Intercreditor Agreement, each Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation, and all security documents, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any other Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a

 

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Priority Lien upon collateral in favor of the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms.

 

“Priority Lien Secured Parties” means the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Priority Lien Documents.

 

“Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(i) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

 

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

 

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2013, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and, with respect to any Additional Notes, one or more registration rights agreements among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, as such agreement(s) may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, relating to rights given by the Company to the purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes under the Securities Act.

 

“Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“Regulation S Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

 

Reporting Default ” means the failure by the Company for 180 days after notice from the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with the provisions described in Section 4.03 hereof.

 

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

“Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

“Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

“Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

 

“Restricted Period” means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

 

Restricted Subsidiary ” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

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“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group.

 

“Sale of Collateral” means any Asset Sale involving a sale or other disposition of Collateral.

 

“Seabed J.V.” means GeoRXT B.V., a Netherlands entity, or any successor or substitute entity thereof (whether by reincorporation, transfer, merger, amalgamation, conversion or any other entity transaction) in the same or a different jurisdiction and whether known by the same or a different name.

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Secured Debt” means Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt.

 

“Secured Debt Documents” means the Parity Lien Documents and the Priority Lien Documents.

 

“Secured Debt Representative” means the Parity Lien Representative and each Priority Lien Representative.

 

“Secured Obligations” means Parity Lien Obligations and Priority Lien Obligations.

 

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

 

“Security Documents” means the Intercreditor Agreement, each Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation, and all security documents, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and the provisions described in Section 5.3 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

“Series D Preferred Stock” means shares of the Company’s (a) Series D-1 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, the terms of which are governed by that certain Certificate of Rights and Preferences of Series D-1 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of Input/Output, Inc., dated February 16, 2005, and (b) Series D-2 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, the terms of which are governed by that certain Certificate of Rights and Preferences of Series D-2 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of ION Geophysical Corporation, dated December 6, 2007, that are outstanding as of the date of this Indenture.

 

“Series of Priority Lien Debt” means, severally, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement and any other Credit Facility that constitutes Priority Lien Debt.

 

“Series of Secured Debt” means Parity Lien Debt and each Series of Priority Lien Debt.

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” means a Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the applicable Registration Rights Agreement.

 

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“Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of this Indenture.

 

“Special Interest” has the meaning assigned to that term pursuant to the applicable Registration Rights Agreement.

 

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the documentation governing such Indebtedness as of the first date it was incurred in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof; provided that, in the case of debt securities that are by their terms convertible into Capital Stock (or cash or a combination of cash and Capital Stock based on the value of the Capital Stock) of the Company, any obligation to offer to repurchase such debt securities on a date(s) specified in the original terms of such securities, which obligation is not subject to any condition or contingency, will be treated as a Stated Maturity date of such convertible debt securities.

 

“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 and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) 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 or limited liability company of which (a) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (b) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

 

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).

 

“Treasury Rate” means, as of any redemption date, the yield to maturity as of the earlier of (a) such redemption date or (b) the date on which such Notes are defeased or satisfied and discharged, of the most recently issued United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two business days prior to such date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to May 15, 2015; provided, however , that if the period from the redemption date to May 15, 2015, is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used. Any such Treasury Rate shall be obtained by the Company.

 

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“Trustee” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as trustee, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

“Unrestricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

“Unrestricted Global Note” means a Global Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

 

(1)                                  has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;

 

(2)                                  except as permitted by Section 4.11 hereof, is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;

 

(3)                                  is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

 

(4)                                  has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except (a) to the extent such guarantee or credit support would be released upon such designation and (b) for Liens of the type described in clause (9) of the definition of Permitted Liens).

 

All Subsidiaries of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall also be Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

“U.S. Person” means a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902(k) promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“Voting Stock” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person entitling the holder thereof (whether at all time or only so long as no senior class of Capital Stock has voting power by reason of any contingency) that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

 

(1)                                  the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, 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

 

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(2)                                  the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

Section 1.02                              Other Definitions .

 

 

 

Defined
in

Term

 

Section

“Affiliate Transaction”

 

4.11

“Alternate Offer”

 

4.14

“Asset Sale Offer”

 

3.09

“Authentication Order”

 

2.02

“Change of Control Offer”

 

4.14

“Change of Control Payment”

 

4.14

“Change of Control Payment Date”

 

4.14

“Covenant Defeasance”

 

8.03

“Covenant Suspension Event”

 

4.17

“DTC”

 

2.03

“Event of Default”

 

6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

 

4.10

“incur”

 

4.09

“Indemnified Party”

 

7.07

“Investment Grade”

 

4.17

“Legal Defeasance”

 

8.02

“Offer Amount”

 

3.09

“Offer Period”

 

3.09

“Paying Agent”

 

2.03

“Payment Default”

 

6.01

“Permitted Debt”

 

4.09

“Purchase Date”

 

3.09

“Registrar”

 

2.03

“Restricted Payments”

 

4.07

“Reversion Date”

 

4.17

“Suspended Covenants”

 

4.17

 

Section 1.03                              Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

 

The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

“indenture securities” means the Notes;

 

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

 

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

 

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

 

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“obligor” on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Note Guarantees, respectively.

 

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

 

Section 1.04                              Rules of Construction .

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(i)                                      a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(ii)                                   an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

(iii)                                “or” is not exclusive;

 

(iv)                               “including” is not limiting;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(viii)                         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 SEC from time to time.

 

ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01                              Form and Dating .

 

(a)                                  General .  The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.  The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage.  Each Note will be dated the date of its authentication.  The Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.  However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

(b)                                  Global Notes .  Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto).  Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto).  Each Global Note 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

 

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outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.  Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes 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 2.06 hereof.

 

(c)                                   Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable.   The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream will be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

Section 2.02                              Execution and Authentication .

 

At least one Officer must sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.

 

A Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.  The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee will, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by two Officers (an “Authentication Order” ), authenticate Notes for original issue that may be validly issued under this Indenture, including any Additional Notes.  The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Company pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes.  An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so.  Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent.  An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Section 2.03                              Registrar and Paying Agent .

 

The Company will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange ( “Registrar” ) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment ( “Paying Agent” ).  The Registrar will keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange.  The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents.  The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.  The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder.  The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture.  If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such.  The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ( “DTC” ) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

 

The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

 

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Section 2.04                              Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .

 

The Company will require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium on, if any, or interest or Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes, and will notify the Trustee, in writing, of any default by the Company in making any such payment.  While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) will have no further liability for the money.  If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent.  Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

 

Section 2.05                              Holder Lists .

 

The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA §312(a).  If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA §312(a).

 

Section 2.06                              Transfer and Exchange .

 

(a)                                  Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes .  A Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.  All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if:

 

(i)                                      the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;

 

(ii)                                   the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or

 

(iii)                                there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes.

 

Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee.  Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof.  Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Sections 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note.  A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.

 

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(b)                                  Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes .  The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures.  Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act.  Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

 

(i)                                      Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note .  Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however , that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser).  Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note.  No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).

 

(ii)                                   All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes.   In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

 

(A)                                both:

 

(1)                                  a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

 

(2)                                  instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or

 

(B)                                both:

 

(1)                                  a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

 

(2)                                  instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above.

 

Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(ii) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes.  Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or

 

37



 

otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

 

(iii)                                Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note.   A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

 

(A)                                if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

(B)                                if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

 

(C)                                if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)(d) thereof, if applicable.

 

(iv)                               Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note.   A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and:

 

(A)                                such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

(B)                                such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement;

 

(C)                                such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

(D)                                the Registrar receives the following:

 

(1)                                  if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

 

(2)                                  if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take

 

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delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above.

 

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

 

(c)                                   Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes .

 

(i)                                      Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes.   If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

(A)                                if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

 

(B)                                if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

(C)                                if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

 

(D)                                if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

 

(E)                                 if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)(d) thereof, if applicable;

 

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(F)                                  if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

 

(G)                                if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

 

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.  The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

 

(ii)                                   Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.   A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:

 

(A)                                such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

(B)                                such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement;

 

(C)                                such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

(D)                                the Registrar receives the following:

 

(1)                                  if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

 

(2)                                  if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

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and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

(iii)                                Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.   If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Unrestricted Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iii) 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 Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.  The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iii) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

(d)                                  Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests .

 

(i)                                      Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes.   If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

(A)                                if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

 

(B)                                if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

(C)                                if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

 

(D)                                if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

 

(E)                                 if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a

 

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certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)(d) thereof, if applicable;

 

(F)                                  if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

 

(G)                                if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

 

the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, the IAI Global Note.

 

(ii)                                   Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes.   A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:

 

(A)                                such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

(B)                                such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement;

 

(C)                                such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

(D)                                the Registrar receives the following:

 

(1)                                  if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

 

(2)                                  if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance

 

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with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

 

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

 

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

 

(e)                                   Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.   Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes.  Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing.  In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e).

 

(i)                                      Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes.   Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

 

(1)                                  if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

(2)                                  if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

 

(3)                                  if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)(d) thereof, if applicable.

 

(ii)                                   Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.   Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or

 

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transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:

 

(A)                                such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

(B)                                any such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement;

 

(C)                                any such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

(D)                                the Registrar receives the following:

 

(1)                                  if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

 

(2)                                  if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

(iii)                                Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.   A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.  Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

 

(f)                                    Exchange Offer.   Upon the occurrence of an Exchange Offer in accordance with the applicable Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate:

 

(i)                                      one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (A) they are not Broker-Dealers, (B) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; and

 

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(ii)                                   Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (A) they are not Broker-Dealers, (B) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company.

 

Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.

 

(g)                                   Legends .   The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

 

(i)                                      Private Placement Legend .

 

(A)                                Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER  THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF ANY NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO UNDER RULE 144 (TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 144(d) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IF APPLICABLE) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE, OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS

 

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LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT TO THE TRUSTEE THE CERTIFICATE SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER (THE FORM OF WHICH CERTIFICATE CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE). AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

 

(B)                                Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

(ii)                                   Global Note Legend .  Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE 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 COMPANY OR ITS 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.”

 

(h)                                  Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.   At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for beneficial interests in another Global Note or Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.  At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such

 

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Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

(i)                                      General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

 

(i)                                      To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

 

(ii)                                   No service charge will be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14 and 9.05 hereof).

 

(iii)                                The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

(iv)                               All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(v)                                  Neither the Trustee, the Registrar nor the Company will be required:

 

(A)                                to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;

 

(B)                                to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or

 

(C)                                to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.

 

(vi)                               Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(vii)                            The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

 

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(viii)                         All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

 

(ix)                               Neither the Trustee nor any agent of the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depository.

 

(x)                                  The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any Participant or Indirect Participant or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the books or records, or the acts or omissions, of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any Participant or Indirect Participant or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the customary procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its Participants or Indirect Participants.

 

(xi)                               The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Participants or Indirect Participants in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

Section 2.07                              Replacement Notes .

 

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met.  If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced.  The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.

 

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

Section 2.08                             Outstanding Notes .

 

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding.  Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(a) hereof.

 

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If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.

 

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue interest.

 

Section 2.09                              Treasury Notes .

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company or any Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any Guarantor, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned will be so disregarded.  Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officers’ Certificate listing and identifying all Notes, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above described Persons, and the Trustee shall be entitled to accept and rely upon such Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Notes not listed therein are outstanding for the purpose of any determination.

 

Section 2.10                              Temporary Notes .

 

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate temporary Notes.  Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.  Without unreasonable delay, the Company will prepare and the Trustee will, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

Holders of temporary Notes will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Section 2.11                              Cancellation .

 

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation.  The Registrar and Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment.  The Trustee and no one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will destroy canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act).  Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes will be delivered to the Company.  The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.12                              Defaulted Interest .

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.  The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest

 

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proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment.  The Company will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest.  At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) will mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

Section 3.01                              Notices to Trustee .

 

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth:

 

(i)                                      the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur;

 

(ii)                                   the redemption date;

 

(iii)                                the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and

 

(iv)                               the redemption price.

 

Section 3.02                              Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased .

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption or purchase on a pro rata basis or, in the case of Notes issued in global form pursuant to Article 2 hereof, based on a method as DTC may require unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange or depositary requirements.

 

The Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased.  Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed or purchased.  Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

 

Section 3.03                              Notice of Redemption .

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 12 hereof.  Notice of any redemption, including, without limitation, upon an Equity Offering, may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering.

 

The notice will identify the Notes to be redeemed and will state:

 

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(i)                                      the redemption date;

 

(ii)                                   the redemption price;

 

(iii)                                if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

(iv)                               the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(v)                                  that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(vi)                               that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

(vii)                            the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

 

(viii)                         that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

 

At the Company’s request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however , that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

 

Section 3.04                              Effect of Notice of Redemption .

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price, unless the redemption is subject to a condition precedent that is not satisfied or waived.

 

Section 3.05                              Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price .

 

At least one Business Day prior to the redemption or purchase date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of, accrued interest and Special Interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date.  The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, accrued interest and Special Interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

 

If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or accepted for purchase.  If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date.  If any Note called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or tendered for purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the

 

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extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

 

Section 3.06                              Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part .

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.

 

Section 3.07                              Optional Redemption .

 

(a)                                  At any time prior to May 15, 2015, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 108.125% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date), in an amount not to exceed the net proceeds from an Equity Offering by the Company; provided that:

 

(i)                                      at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and

 

(ii)                                   the redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

 

(b)                                  At any time prior to May 15, 2015, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable date of redemption, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

 

(c)                                   Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs and Section 4.14(e), the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to May 15, 2015.

 

(d)                                  On or after May 15, 2015, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:

 

Year

 

Percentage

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

104.063

%

 

 

 

 

2016

 

102.031

%

 

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Year

 

Percentage

 

 

 

 

 

2017 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

 

(e)                                   Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

 

Section 3.08                              Mandatory Redemption .

 

Except as set forth below under Sections 4.10 and 4.14 hereof, the Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes or to repurchase the Notes at the option of Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 3.09                              Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds .

 

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company is required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer” ), it will follow the procedures specified below.

 

The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets.  The Asset Sale Offer shall 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 Company will apply all Excess Proceeds (the “Offer Amount”) to the purchase of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt (on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt surrendered, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Parity Lien Debt 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 an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

 

Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company 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:

 

(i)                                      that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer will remain open;

 

(ii)                                   the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

 

(iii)                                that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment will continue to  accrue interest;

 

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(iv)                               that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

 

(v)                                  that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

(vi)                               that Holders electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date;

 

(vii)                            that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

 

(viii)                         that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company will select the Notes and other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt surrendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, will be purchased); and

 

(ix)                               that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).

 

On or before the Purchase Date, the Company 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 or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09.  The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, 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 Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.  Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof.  The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.

 

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

 

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ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01                              Payment of Notes .

 

The Company will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes.  Principal, premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, then due.  The Company will pay all Special Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the applicable Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at a rate that is 1% higher than the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Special Interest, if any (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

Section 4.02                              Maintenance of Office or Agency .

 

The Company will maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served.  The Company 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 Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations.  The Company 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.

 

The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

 

Section 4.03                              Reports .

 

(a)                                  Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders of Notes  (or file with the SEC for public availability), within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations:

 

(i)                                      all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such reports, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company’s certified independent accountants; and

 

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(ii)                                   all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.

 

All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations applicable to such reports. In addition, the Company will file a copy of each of the reports referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations applicable to such reports (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and will post the reports on its website within those time periods. The Company will at all times comply with TIA §314(a).

 

If, at any time, the Company is no longer subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, the Company will nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in the preceding paragraphs with the SEC within the time periods specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing.  The Company will not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings.  If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the SEC will not accept the Company’s filings for any reason, the Company will post the reports referred to in the preceding paragraphs on its website within the time periods that would apply if the Company were required to file those reports with the SEC.

 

(b)                                  If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

(c)                                   For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, if at any time they are not required to file with the SEC the reports required by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 4.03, the Company and the Guarantors will furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

Section 4.04                              Compliance Certificate .

 

(a)                                  The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2013), an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture and the Security Documents, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and the Security Documents and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture or the Security Documents (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 Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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(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 4.03 above shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Company’s independent public accountants (who shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.

 

(c)                                   So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company 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 Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.05                              Taxes .

 

The Company will pay, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 4.06                              Stay, Extension and Usury Laws .

 

The Company and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it 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 4.07                              Restricted Payments .

 

(a)                                  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)                                      declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and other than dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

 

(ii)                                   purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;

 

57



 

(iii)                                make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or to any Note Guarantee (excluding (A) any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (B) the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees purchased, redeemed, defeased or otherwise acquired or retired for value in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, and (C) a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof); or

 

(iv)                               make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments” ),

 

unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

 

(A)                                no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment;

 

(B)                                the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; and

 

(C)                                such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of this Indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii) through (xiv) of paragraph (b) of this Section 4.07), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(1)                                  50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period and without duplication of amounts used in the calculation of clause (15) of the definition of Permitted Investments) from April 1, 2013 to the last day of the Company’s last fiscal quarter ending prior to the Restricted Payment for which internal financial statements are in existence at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); plus

 

(2)                                  100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the Fair Market Value of any Capital Stock of Persons engaged in a Permitted Business or any other assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business in each case received by the Company after the date of this Indenture as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); plus

 

(3)                                  (a) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the date of this Indenture is sold for cash (other than to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or otherwise canceled, liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to such Restricted Investment resulting from such sale,

 

58



 

liquidation or repayment (less the out-of-pocket cost of any such disposition, if any) and (b) the net reduction in Restricted Investments resulting from repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets in each case to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from any Person (including without limitation, Unrestricted Subsidiaries) and any dividends received in cash by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company (to the extent that such dividends were not otherwise included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period); plus

 

(4)                                  the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries is reduced on the Company’s balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Company) subsequent to the date of this Indenture of any such Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries into or for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (less the amount of any cash, or the Fair Market Value of any other property (other than such Equity Interests), distributed by the Company upon such conversion or exchange and excluding the net cash proceeds from the conversion or exchange financed, directly or indirectly, using funds borrowed from the Company or any Subsidiary), together with the net proceeds, if any, received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon such conversion or exchange; plus

 

(5)                                  to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company designated as such after the date of this Indenture is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its properties or assets to or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Restricted Investment in such Subsidiary (or of the properties or assets disposed of, as applicable) as of the date of such redesignation, merger, consolidation, transfer, disposition or liquidation.

 

(b)                                  The provisions of Section 4.07(a) hereof will not prohibit:

 

(i)                                      the payment of any dividend or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice, the dividend or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(ii)                                   the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of or with the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the substantially concurrent contribution of common equity capital to the Company; provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded from Section 4.07(a)(iii)(B) and will not be considered to be net cash proceeds from an Equity Offering for purposes of Section 3.07 hereof;

 

(iii)                                the payment of any dividend (or, in the case of any partnership or limited liability company, any similar distribution) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis or on a basis more favorable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

59



 

(iv)                               the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or to any Note Guarantee with the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(v)                                  so long as no Default (other than a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any current or former officer, director or employee of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, shareholders’ agreement or similar agreement; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $5.0 million in any twelve-month period; provided, further , that the Company may carry over and make in subsequent twelve-month periods, in addition to the amounts permitted for such twelve-month period, up to $5.0 million of unutilized capacity under this clause (v) attributable to the immediately preceding twelve-month period; provided, further , that such amount in any twelve-month period may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

 

(A)                                the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of the Company and, to the extent contributed to the Company as common equity capital, the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to members of management, directors or consultants of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the date of this Indenture to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the making of Restricted Payments pursuant to Sections 4.07(a)(iii)(B) or Section 4.07(b)(ii) or to an optional redemption of Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof; plus

 

(B)                                the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the date of this Indenture; and

 

in addition, cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company from any current or former officer, director or employee (or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or any direct or indirect parent company thereof), in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company from such Persons will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provisions of this Indenture;

 

(vi)                               the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock or other equity options to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock or other equity options and any repurchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any exercise or exchange of stock options, warrants, incentives or other rights to acquire Equity Interests;

 

(vii)                            so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company, or any preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued on or after the date of this Indenture in accordance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 4.09(a) hereof;

 

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(viii)                         payments of cash, dividends, distributions, advances or other Restricted Payments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon (i) the exercise of options or warrants or (ii) the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;

 

(ix)                               repurchases of Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or a Note Guarantee at a purchase price not greater than (i) 101% of the principal amount of such subordinated Indebtedness in the event of a Change of Control or (ii) 100% of the principal amount of such subordinated Indebtedness in the event of an Asset Sale, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, in connection with any change of control offer or asset sale offer required by the terms of such Indebtedness, but only if:

 

(A)                                in the case of a Change of Control, the Company has first complied with and fully satisfied its obligations under Section 4.14 hereof; or

 

(B)                                in the case of an Asset Sale, the Company has complied with and fully satisfied its obligations in accordance with Sections 3.09 and 4.10 hereof;

 

(x)                                  so long as no Default (other than a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the payment to the holder(s) of shares of Series D Preferred Stock outstanding on the date of this Indenture in a total amount of up to $10.0 million in connection with the conversion or repurchase of the shares of Series D Preferred Stock outstanding on such date and the payment of dividends thereon;

 

(xi)                               any distributions or payments to dissenting stockholders in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets in connection with a transaction that is not prohibited by this Indenture, in an amount not to exceed $5.0 million;

 

(xii)                            the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the primary assets of which are cash and Cash Equivalents);

 

(xiii)                         declaration and payment of distributions effecting “poison pill” rights plans provided that any securities or rights so distributed have a nominal fair market value at the time of declaration; and

 

(xiv)                        so long as no Default (other than a Reporting Default) or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would be caused thereby, other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding $25.0 million (after giving effect to any dividends, interest payments, return of capital and subsequent reduction in the amount of any Investments made pursuant to this Section 4.07(b)(xiv) as a result of the repayment or other disposition thereof, in an amount not to exceed the amount of such Investments previously made pursuant to in this Section 4.07(b)(xiv)); provided , however , that if this Section 4.07(b)(xiv) is used to make an Investment in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Investments and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this Section 4.07(b)(xiv) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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(c)                                   The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.07 will be determined, in the case of amounts in excess of $40 million, by the Board of Directors of the Company whose resolution with respect thereto will be delivered to the Trustee.

 

(d)                                  For purposes of this Section 4.07, a contribution, sale or incurrence will be deemed to be “substantially concurrent” if effected within 120 days before or after such contribution, sale or incurrence, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                   For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in Section 4.07(b)(i) through Section 4.07(b)(xiv) above, or as a Permitted Investment or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 4.07(a), the Company will be permitted to divide or classify (or later divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted Payment in any manner that complies with this Section 4.07.

 

Section 4.08                              Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries .

 

(a)                                  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(i)                                      pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the priority that any series of preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary has in receiving dividends, distributions or liquidating distributions before dividends, distributions or liquidating distributions are paid in respect of common stock of such Restricted Subsidiary shall not constitute a restriction on the ability to make dividends or distributions on Capital Stock for purposes of this Section 4.08;

 

(ii)                                   make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (it being understood that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to other Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances); or

 

(iii)                                sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(b)                                  The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(i)                                      agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and Credit Facilities as in effect on the date of this Indenture and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided that the amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the date of this Indenture;

 

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(ii)                                   this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees and the Security Documents;

 

(iii)                                agreements governing other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Company or any Guarantor under Section 4.09 hereof and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided that the encumbrances or restrictions contained therein are not, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees;

 

(iv)                               applicable law, rule, regulation or order;

 

(v)                                  any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets or Subsidiaries of the Person, so acquired (plus improvements and accessions to, such property or proceeds or distributions thereof) and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, extensions, supplements, increases, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof; provided that the encumbrances and restrictions in any such amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, extensions, supplements, increases, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those in effect on the date of the acquisition; provided , further , that in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

 

(vi)                               customary non-assignment provisions in contracts and licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(vii)                            purchase money obligations and mortgage financings for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capital Lease Obligations that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased of the nature described in clause (iii) of Section 4.08(a) hereof;

 

(viii)                         any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition;

 

(ix)                               Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

 

(x)                                  Liens permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

 

(xi)                               provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements (including agreements entered into in connection with a Restricted Investment) entered into with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, which limitation is applicable only to the assets that are the subject of such agreements;

 

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(xii)                            restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xiii)                         any agreement or instrument relating to any property or assets acquired after the date of this Indenture, so long as such encumbrance or restriction relates only to the property or assets so acquired (plus improvements and accessions to, such property or proceeds or distributions thereof) and is not and was not created in anticipation of such acquisition; and

 

(xiv)                        existing under, by reason of or with respect to provisions with respect to any Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof, or any agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, if the encumbrance or restriction is not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes than is customary in comparable financings (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) and the Board of Directors of the Company determines that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Company’s ability to pay interest or principal on the Notes.

 

Section 4.09                              Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock .

 

(a)                                  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “incur” ) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however , that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock, and the Guarantors may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue preferred stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or such preferred stock is issued, as the case may be, would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or the Disqualified Stock or the preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

 

(b)                                  The provisions of Section 4.09(a) hereof will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted Debt” ):

 

(i)                                      the incurrence by the Company and any Guarantor of additional Indebtedness and letters of credit under one or more Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (i) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and any Guarantor thereunder) not to exceed the greater of (A) $175.0 million and (B) an amount equal to 20.0% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets;

 

(ii)                                   the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

 

(iii)                                the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by (A) the Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued on the date of this Indenture and the Exchange Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement and (B) any Additional Notes and related Note Guarantees and any related Exchange Notes and related Note Guarantees, in aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or

 

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discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (iii), at any time outstanding under clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iii), not to exceed $275.0 million;

 

(iv)                               the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations (other than Deemed Capitalized Leases), mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, construction, installation or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether through (a) the direct purchase of such assets or (b) the purchase of the Capital Stock of a Person owning such assets (but no other material assets) the result of which is that such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) and related financing costs, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (iv), not to exceed $25.0 million at any time outstanding;

 

(v)                                  the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a) or clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (xii) of this Section 4.09(b);

 

(vi)                               the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however , that:

 

(A)                                if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the payee is not the Company or a Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be unsecured and expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor; and

 

(B)                                (1) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (2) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,

 

will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (vi);

 

(vii)                            the issuance by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of shares of preferred stock; provided, however , that:

 

(A)                                any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred stock being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

 

(B)                                any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,

 

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will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (vii);

 

(viii)                         the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations in the ordinary course of business;

 

(ix)                               the guarantee by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and the guarantee by any Foreign Subsidiary of Indebtedness of another Foreign Subsidiary, in each case, to the extent that the guaranteed Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the Notes, then the Note Guarantee must be subordinated or pari passu , as applicable, to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;

 

(x)                                  the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations and bankers’ acceptances in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xi)                               the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is covered within five business days;

 

(xii)                            the incurrence by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

 

(xiii)                         the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earn outs, or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition or acquisition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Subsidiary in a transaction permitted by this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred or assumed by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

 

(xiv)                        the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness provided that sufficient net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited to defease or satisfy all of the Notes as described in Articles 8 or 12 hereof;

 

(xv)                           the incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in customary amounts consistent with the operations and business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(xvi)                        intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with cash pooling or other cash management arrangements;

 

(xvii)                     the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of bid, performance, surety, appeal, reimbursement and similar bonds issued for the account of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees and obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted

 

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Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit supporting such obligations (in each case other than an obligation for borrowed money);

 

(xviii)                  the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company in respect of guarantees of Indebtedness of joint ventures permitted under clause (15) of the definition of Permitted Investments;

 

(xix)                        letters of credit and/or bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business by a financial institution other than a lender or Affiliate of a lender under the Credit Agreement if the Company has reasonably determined that neither such lender or Affiliate is able to issue such letter of credit or bank guaranty, up to a maximum total for all such letters of credit of $10.0 million at any one time outstanding; and

 

(xx)                           the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness or the issuance by the Company of additional Disqualified Stock in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (xx), not to exceed the greater of (A) $25.0 million and (B) and amount equal to 5.0% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of such issuance or incurrence.

 

The Company will not incur, and will not permit any Guarantor to incur, any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the applicable Note Guarantee on substantially identical terms; provided, however , that no Indebtedness will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on a junior priority basis.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in Section 4.09(b)(i) through Section 4.09(b)(xx) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a), the Company will be permitted to divide, classify and reclassify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence, or later redivide or reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Indebtedness under Credit Facilities outstanding on the date on which Notes are first issued and authenticated under this Indenture will be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by Section 4.09(b)(i). The accrual of interest or preferred stock dividends, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the reclassification of preferred stock as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles, and the payment of dividends on preferred stock or Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of preferred stock or Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of preferred stock or Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09; provided , in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued. For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be utilized, calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values.

 

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The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

 

(1)                                  the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

 

(2)                                  the principal amount of the Indebtedness, in the case of any other Indebtedness; and

 

(3)                                  in respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, the lesser of:

 

(a)                                  the Fair Market Value of such assets at the date of determination; and

 

(b)                                  the amount of the Indebtedness of the other Person.

 

Section 4.10                              Asset Sales .

 

(a)                                  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

 

(i)                                      the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (measured as of the date of the definitive agreement with respect to such Asset Sale) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

 

(ii)                                   at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiaries (measured as of the date of the definitive agreement with respect to such Asset Sale) and all other Asset Sales since the date of this Indenture is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

 

(A)                                any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet, of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee) that are forgiven or assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation or indemnity agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or indemnifies against further liability;

 

(B)                                any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are, within 90 days after the Asset Sale, converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;

 

(C)                                any stock or assets of the kind referred to in Section 4.10(b)(ii) or (iv) hereof;

 

(D)                                accounts receivable of a business retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, following the sale of such business, provided that such accounts receivable do not have a payment date greater than 90 days from the date of the invoices creating such accounts receivable and are not past due; and

 

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(E)                                 Indebtedness (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or a Note Guarantee) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Sale; provided that the Company and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any Guarantee of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Sale;

 

provided that in the case of any Asset Sale pursuant to a condemnation, appropriation or similar taking, including by deed in lieu of condemnation, such Asset Sale shall not be required to satisfy the requirements of Sections 4.10(a)(i) and 4.10(a)(ii) above. Notwithstanding the preceding, the 75% limitation referred to above shall be deemed satisfied with respect to any Asset Sale in which the cash or Cash Equivalents portions of the consideration received therefrom, determined in accordance with the preceding provision on an after-tax basis, is equal to or greater than what the after-tax proceeds would have been had such Asset Sale complied with the aforementioned 75% limitation.

 

(b)                                  Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, other than a Sale of Collateral, the Company or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries may at its option apply cash in an amount equal to the amount of such Net Proceeds to any combination of the following:

 

(i)                                      to repay (or cash collateralize) Priority Lien Debt and, to the extent required by the documents governing such Indebtedness, Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(iv) hereof; provided that such Indebtedness was incurred for the purpose of financing all or part of the purchase price or cost of the design, construction, installation or improvement of such assets;

 

(ii)                                   to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or any Capital Stock of, another Permitted Business, if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Capital Stock, the Permitted Business is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(iii)                                to make capital expenditures in the Permitted Business, including investments in multi-client data libraries; or

 

(iv)                               to acquire other assets that are not classified as current assets under GAAP and that are used or useful in a Permitted Business.

 

The requirement of clause (ii) or (iv) of this Section 4.10(b) shall be deemed to be satisfied if a bona fide binding contract committing to make the investment referred to therein is entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with a Person other than an Affiliate of the Company within the time period specified in the preceding paragraph and such Net Proceeds are subsequently applied in accordance with such contract within 180 days following the date such agreement is entered into. Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company (or any Restricted Subsidiary) may invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

(c)                                   Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale that constitutes a Sale of Collateral, the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary that owned those assets, as the case may be) may at its option apply cash in an amount equal to the amount of such Net Proceeds to any combination of the following: (1) to purchase or invest in other long-term assets that would constitute Collateral; (2) to repay (or cash collateralize) Priority Lien Debt or (3) to make capital expenditures in the Permitted Business, including investments in multi-client data libraries.

 

(d)                                  Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in Section 4.10(b) hereof will constitute “Excess Proceeds .   When the aggregate amount of Excess

 

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Proceeds exceeds $15.0 million, within five days thereof, the Company will, to the extent permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement, make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets in accordance with Section 3.09 hereof to purchase, prepay or redeem the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith) that may be purchased, prepaid or redeemed out of the Excess Proceeds.  The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of purchase, prepayment or redemption, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered in (or required to be prepaid or redeemed in connection with) such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess  Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis (except that any Notes represented by a note in global form will be selected by such method as DTC or its nominee or successor may require or, where such nominee or successor is the Trustee, a method that most nearly approximates pro rata selection unless otherwise required by law), based on the amounts tendered or required to be prepaid or redeemed (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, will be purchased). Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.(e)

 

(f)                                    The Company 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 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 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.10, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.10 by virtue of such compliance.

 

Section 4.11                              Transactions with Affiliates .

 

(a)                                  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each, an “Affiliate Transaction” ) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $1.0 million, unless:

 

(i)                                      the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person or, if in the good faith judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and

 

(ii)                                   the Company delivers to the Trustee:

 

(A)                                with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20.0 million, an Officers’

 

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Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions complies with this covenant; and

 

(B)                                with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $40.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliated Transactions complies with this covenant and that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliated Transactions has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(b)                                  The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of Section 4.11(a) hereof:

 

(i)                                      any employment agreement or arrangement, equity award, equity option or equity appreciation agreement or plan, employee benefit plan, officer or director indemnification agreement, severance agreement or any similar arrangement entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and payments, awards, grants or issuances pursuant thereto;

 

(ii)                                   transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transactions);

 

(iii)                                transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company) that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns, directly or through a Restricted Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person;

 

(iv)                               payment of reasonable and customary fees and reimbursements of expenses (pursuant to indemnity arrangements or otherwise) of officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(v)                                  any issuance, dividend or distribution of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to, or receipt of capital contributions from, Affiliates of the Company and the granting of registration rights and other customary rights in connection therewith;

 

(vi)                               Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments that do not violate Section 4.07 hereof;

 

(vii)                            payments to an Affiliate in respect of the Notes or any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on the same basis as concurrent payments made or offered to be made in respect thereof to non-Affiliates;

 

(viii)                         any transaction in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an accounting, appraisal, advisory or investment banking firm of national standing stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or that such transaction meets the requirements of Section 4.11(a)(i);

 

(ix)                               loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

 

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(x)                                  transactions with Unrestricted Subsidiaries, joint ventures, customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or lessors or lessees of property, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are, in the aggregate (taking into account all the costs and benefits associated with such transactions), not materially less favorable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated person, in the good faith determination of the Company’s Board of Directors or any Officer of the Company involved in or otherwise familiar with such transaction, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

 

(xi)                               transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that would not otherwise constitute an Affiliate Transaction except for the fact that one director of such other Person is also a director of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable; provided that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, on any matter involving such other Person;

 

(xii)                            the existence of, and the performance of obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of, any written agreement to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party on the date of this Indenture, as these agreements may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time; provided , however , that any amendment, modification or supplement entered into after the date of this Indenture will be permitted to the extent that its terms are not materially more disadvantageous, taken as a whole, to the Holders of the Notes than the terms of the agreements in effect on the date of this Indenture (as conclusively evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company);

 

(xiii)                         transactions entered into by a Person prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (provided that such transaction is not entered into in contemplation of such merger or consolidation);

 

(xiv)                        dividends and distributions to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture;

 

(xv)                           any transaction where the only consideration paid by the Company or Restricted Subsidiary is Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); and

 

(xvi)                        (A) guarantees by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of performance of obligations of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures in the ordinary course of business, except for guarantees of Indebtedness of Unrestricted Subsidiaries in respect of borrowed money, and (B) pledges by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures for the benefit of lenders or other creditors of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures, in each case as permitted by the terms of this Indenture.

 

Section 4.12                             Liens .

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness, Attributable Debt or trade payables on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens.

 

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Section 4.13                              Corporate Existence .

 

Subject to Article 5 and Section 11.04 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:

 

(i)                                      its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary; and

 

(ii)                                   the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however , that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 4.14                              Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control .

 

(a)                                  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company will make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer” ) to each Holder to repurchase 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 in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (the “Change of Control Payment” ). Within ten days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating:

 

(i)                                      that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.14 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment;

 

(ii)                                   the purchase price and the purchase date, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date” );

 

(iii)                                that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;

 

(iv)                               that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(v)                                  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” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, 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;

 

(vi)                               that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of

 

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the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have the Notes purchased; and

 

(vii)                            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 Company 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 of Control.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.14, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.14 by virtue of such compliance.

 

(b)                                  Promptly following the expiration of the Change of Control Offer, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.  Promptly after such acceptance, the Company will, on the Change of Control Payment Date:

 

(i)                                      deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

 

(ii)                                   deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

 

The Paying Agent will promptly mail (but in any case not later than five days after the Change of Control Payment Date) to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes (or, if all of the Notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of DTC), and the Trustee will, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any.  The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.14, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.14 and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, and all conditions precedent to such redemption have been satisfied or waived, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price or (3) in connection with or in contemplation of any Change of Control, the Company has made an offer to purchase (an “Alternate Offer” ) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and has purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of such Alternate Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer is made.

 

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(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer is made.

 

(e)                                   In the event that Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer and the Company (or any third party making such Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer in lieu of the Company) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice to the Trustee and the Holders, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes that remain outstanding, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).  Any redemption pursuant to this Section 4.14(e) shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

 

Section 4.15                              Additional Note Guarantees .

 

If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates another Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) or any other Restricted Subsidiary guarantees Indebtedness of the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary in excess of a De Minimis Guaranteed Amount, then such Subsidiary will become a Guarantor and execute a supplemental indenture and deliver an Opinion of Counsel satisfactory to the Trustee within 30 business days of the date on which it was acquired or created or on which it Guaranteed such Indebtedness.  The form of such supplemental indenture is attached as Exhibit F hereto.

 

Section 4.16                              Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries .

 

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be either an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07 hereof or represent a Permitted Investment under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of the Company may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if that redesignation would not cause a Default.

 

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 hereof. In the case of any designation by the Company of a Person as an Unrestricted Subsidiary on the first day that such Person is a Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, such designation shall be deemed to have occurred for all purposes of this Indenture simultaneously with, and automatically upon, such Person becoming a Subsidiary. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for

 

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purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 hereof, the Company will be in default of such covenant. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will only be permitted if (a) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable reference period; and (b) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

 

Section 4.17                              Covenant Suspension .

 

(a)                                  If on any date following the date of this Indenture (i) the Notes are rated Baa3 or better by Moody’s and BBB- or better by S&P (or, if either such entity ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the control of the Company, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” registered under Section 15E of the Exchange Act selected by the Company as a replacement agency) (“Investment Grade” ) and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event” ), then, beginning on that day and subject to the provisions of the following paragraph, Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10 ( provided that those provisions relating to the Sale of Collateral and the application of the proceeds therefrom shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be suspended), 4.11, 4.16 and 5.01(iv)(A) hereof shall be suspended (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants” ).

 

(b)                                  During any period that the Suspended Covenants have been suspended as a result of a Covenant Suspension Event, the Company’s Board of Directors may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 4.16 hereof or the second paragraph of the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding the foregoing, if on any subsequent date, the Notes cease to maintain Investment Grade ratings, the Suspended Covenants will be reinstituted as of and from the date of such rating decline (a “Reversion Date” ). Calculations under the reinstated Section 4.07 will be made as if Section 4.07 had been in effect since the date of this Indenture except that no default will be deemed to have occurred solely by reason of a Restricted Payment made while Section 4.07 was suspended.

 

(d)                                  Upon the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event or a Reversion Date, the Company shall provide written notice to the Trustee, and file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such suspension or reversion complied with the foregoing provisions.

 

Section 4.18                              Further Assurances; Insurance .

 

(a)                                  The Company and each of the other Guarantors shall do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Agent from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the Collateral Agent holds, for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, duly created and enforceable and perfected Parity Liens upon the Collateral (including any property or assets that are acquired or otherwise become Collateral after the Notes are issued), in each case, as contemplated by, and with the Lien priority required under, the Parity Lien Documents.

 

(b)                                  Upon the request of the Collateral Agent or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, the Company and each of the other Guarantors shall promptly execute,

 

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acknowledge and deliver such security documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as shall be reasonably required to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

(c)                                   The Company and the other Guarantors will:

 

(i)                                      keep their properties adequately insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers;

 

(ii)                                   maintain such other insurance, to such extent and against such risks (and with such deductibles, retentions and exclusions), including fire and other risks insured against by extended coverage and coverage for acts of terrorism, as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, including public liability insurance against claims for personal injury or death or property damage occurring upon, in, about or in connection with the use of any properties owned, occupied or controlled by them;

 

(iii)                                maintain such other insurance as may be required by law; and

 

(iv)                               maintain such other insurance as may be required by the Security Documents.

 

(d)                                  Upon the request of the Collateral Agent, the Company and the other Guarantors shall furnish to the Collateral Agent full information as to their property and liability insurance carriers, certified as true and correct. Holders of Parity Lien Obligations, as a class, shall be named as additional insureds, with a waiver of subrogation, on all insurance policies of the Company and the other Guarantors covering the Collateral and the Collateral Agent shall be named as loss payee, with 30 days’ notice of cancellation or material change, on all property and casualty insurance policies of the Company and the other Guarantors covering the Collateral.

 

Section 4.19                              Impairment of Security Interest .

 

Except as permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, take or knowingly or negligently omit to take, any action which action or omission might or would have the result of materially impairing the security interest with respect to the Collateral for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, except as permitted under the terms of this Indenture, grant to any Person other than the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and the other beneficiaries described in the Security Documents, any interest whatsoever in any of the Collateral.

 

Section 4.20                              After-Acquired Property .

 

Promptly following the acquisition by the Company or any Guarantor of any After-Acquired Property, the Company or such Guarantor shall promptly execute and deliver such mortgages, deeds of trust, security instruments, financing statements and certificates and Opinions of Counsel as shall be reasonably necessary to vest in the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, a perfected second priority security interest in such After-Acquired Property and to have such After-Acquired Property added to the Collateral and thereupon all provisions of the indenture relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such After-Acquired Property to the same extent and with the same force and effect.

 

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ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01                              Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets .

 

The Company shall not, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or (2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

 

(i)                                      either:

 

(A)                                the Company is the surviving corporation; or

 

(B)                                the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; and, if such entity is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation organized or existing under any such laws;

 

(ii)                                   the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture, the relevant Registration Rights Agreement and the Security Documents pursuant to a supplemental indenture, supplement to the relevant Registration Rights Agreement and such joinders to the Security Documents as may be reasonably necessary;

 

(iii)                                immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(iv)                               the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made would, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (A) be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof or (B) have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio equal to or greater than the actual Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company for such four-quarter period.

 

In addition, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of the properties and assets of it and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to any other Person.  This Section 5.01 will not apply to any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or to the merger or consolidation of any Restricted Subsidiary with or into the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary.  Clauses (iii) and (iv) of this Section 5.01 will not apply to any merger or consolidation of the Company (x) with or into one of its Restricted Subsidiaries for any purpose or (y) with or into an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction.

 

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Section 5.02                              Successor Corporation Substituted .

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however , that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of the Company’s assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.

 

ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01                              Events of Default .

 

Each of the following is an “Event of Default” :

 

(i)                                      default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes;

 

(ii)                                   default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes;

 

(iii)                                failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Sections 4.07, 4.09, 4.10, 4.14 and 5.01;

 

(iv)                               (A) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in this Indenture or the Security Documents or (B) failure by the Company for 180 days after notice from the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with the provisions of Section 4.03 hereof;

 

(v)                                  default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Indenture, if that default:

 

(A)                                is caused by a failure to pay principal of, premium on, if any, or interest, if any, on, such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default” ); or

 

(B)                                results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity,

 

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and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $20.0 million or more; provided , however , if, prior to any acceleration of the Notes, (x) any such Payment Default is cured or waived, (y) any such acceleration is rescinded, or (z) such Indebtedness is repaid during the 10 business day period commencing upon the end of any applicable grace period for such Payment Default or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, any Default or Event of Default (but not any acceleration of the Notes) caused by such Payment Default or acceleration shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment, decree or applicable law;

 

(vi)                               failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $20.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed, for a period of 60 days;

 

(vii)                            the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(A)                                except as permitted by this Indenture, any security document ceases for any reason to be fully enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (vii)(A) if the sole result of the failure of one or more security documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such security documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value of not more than $15.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens;

 

(B)                                any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any security document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value in excess of $15.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens; or

 

(C)                                the Company or any other Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligations of the Company or any other Guarantor set forth in or arising under any security document;

 

(viii)                         the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary 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

 

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(E)                                 generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

 

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

 

(A)                                is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

 

(B)                                appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

 

(C)                                orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

 

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

 

(x)                                  except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

 

Section 6.02                              Acceleration .

 

In the case of an Event of Default set forth in clause (viii) or (ix) of Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a 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 aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes 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 the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, rescind an acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Notes that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

 

Section 6.03                              Other Remedies .

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

 

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The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding.  A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default.  All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

Section 6.04                              Waiver of Past Defaults .

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase); provided, however , that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration.  Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.05                              Control by Majority .

 

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it.  However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

Section 6.06                              Limitation on Suits .

 

Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, when due, no Holder of a Note may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

 

(i)                                      such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

 

(ii)                                   Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(iii)                                such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(iv)                               the Trustee does not comply with such request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

 

(v)                                  during such 60-day period, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request.

 

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

 

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Section 6.07                              Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment .

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder; provided that a Holder shall not have the right to institute any such suit for the enforcement of payment if and to the extent that the institution or prosecution thereof or the entry of judgment therein would, under applicable law, result in the surrender, impairment, waiver or loss of the Lien of this Indenture upon any property subject to such Lien.

 

Section 6.08                              Collection Suit by Trustee and Collateral Agent.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or (ii) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent is authorized to recover judgment (a) in its own name and (b)(i) in the case of the Trustee, as trustee of an express trust or (ii) in the case of the Collateral Agent, as collateral agent on behalf of the Holders, in each case against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, remaining unpaid on the Notes and, to the extent lawful, interest on overdue principal and interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and their respective agents and counsel.

 

Section 6.09                              Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

 

The Trustee or the Collateral Agent is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and their respective agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, and in the event that the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under Section 7.07 hereof.  To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.  Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

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Section 6.10                              Priorities .

 

If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

 

First :                   to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and their respective agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

Second :     to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, respectively; and

 

Third :               to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.

 

Section 6.11                              Undertaking for Costs .

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee or the Collateral Agent, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant.  This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01                              Duties of Trustee .

 

(a)                                  If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(b)                                  Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(i)                                      the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(ii)                                   in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or

 

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opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture.  However, the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

(c)                                   The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(i)                                      this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

 

(ii)                                   the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(iii)                                the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.

 

(d)                                  Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to this Section 7.01.

 

(e)                                   No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability.  The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

(f)                                    The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.  Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 7.02                              Rights of Trustee .

 

(a)                                  The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person.  The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

 

(b)                                  Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both.  The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.  The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

(c)                                   The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

 

(d)                                  The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

(e)                                   Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.

 

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(f)                                    The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the losses, liabilities and expenses that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(g)                                   The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of Officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

 

(h)                                  The Company shall provide prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change to its fiscal year (it being expressly understood that the failure to provide such notice to the Trustee shall not be deemed a Default or Event of Default under this Indenture).

 

(i)                                      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 Notes of this Indenture.

 

(j)                                     The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.

 

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

 

(l)                                      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 under the Note Documents, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder or thereunder.

 

(m)                              In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

Section 7.03                              Individual Rights of Trustee .

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.  However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the TIA) it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA) or resign.  Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties.  The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

 

Section 7.04                              Trustee’s Disclaimer .

 

The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

 

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Section 7.05                              Notice of Defaults .

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to Holders of Notes , with a copy to the Collateral Agent, a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs.  Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 7.06                              Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes .

 

(a)                                  Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee will mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA §313(a) (but if no event described in TIA §313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted).  The Trustee also will comply with TIA §313(b)(2).  The Trustee will also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA §313(c).

 

(b)                                  A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes will be mailed by the Trustee to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA §313(d).  The Company will promptly notify the Trustee, in writing, when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 7.07                              Compensation and Indemnity .

 

(a)                                  The Company will pay to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent (each, an “Indemnified Party” ) from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture, the Security Documents and services hereunder and thereunder.  The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust.  The Company will reimburse the Indemnified Party promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services.  Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Indemnified Party’s agents and counsel.

 

(b)                                  The Company and the Guarantors will indemnify, and hold harmless, the Indemnified Party against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture or the Security Documents, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Guarantors, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its gross negligence or bad faith as proven in a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision.  The Indemnified Party will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.  Failure by the Indemnified Party to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder.  The Company or such Guarantor will defend the claim and the Indemnified Party will cooperate in the defense.  The Indemnified Party may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel.  Neither the Company nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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(c)                                   The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the termination of the Security Documents or earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

(d)                                  To secure the Company’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, each Indemnified Party will have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee, or the Collateral Agent, in its capacity as collateral agent, except, in the case of the Trustee, that held in trust to pay principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, particular Notes.  Such Lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

(e)                                   When an Indemnified Party incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (vii) or (viii) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

(f)                                    The Trustee will comply with the provisions of TIA §313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

 

Section 7.08                              Replacement of Trustee .

 

(a)                                  A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.

 

(b)                                  The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing.  The Company may remove the Trustee if:

 

(i)                                      the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

 

(ii)                                   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;

 

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

 

(iv)                               the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

(c)                                   If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee.  Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

(d)                                  If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(e)                                   If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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(f)                                    A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company.  Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture.  The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession to Holders.  The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof.  Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

Section 7.09                              Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.

 

Section 7.10                              Eligibility; Disqualification .

 

There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA §310(a)(1), (2) and (5).  The Trustee is subject to TIA §310(b).

 

Section 7.11                              Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA §311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA §311(b).  A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA §311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

Section 7.12                              Collateral Agent.

 

(a)                                  References to the Trustee in Sections 7.01(b) and (f) (“Duties of Trustee”), 7.02 (“Rights of Trustee”), 7.03 (“Individual Rights of Trustee”), 7.04 (“Trustee’s Disclaimer”), 7.07 (“Compensation and Indemnity”), 7.08 (“Replacement of Trustee”) and 7.09  (“Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.”) shall be read to apply to the Collateral Agent and the Security Documents, mutatis mutandis, in addition to this Indenture.  The privileges, rights, indemnities, immunities and exculpatory provisions contained in this Indenture, including the right to be indemnified, shall apply to the Collateral Agent, whether it is acting under this Indenture or the Security Documents, and shall be enforceable by the Collateral Agent.

 

ARTICLE 8
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01                              Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

 

The Company may at any time, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

 

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Section 8.02                              Legal Defeasance and Discharge .

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance” ).  For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the Note Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, at the written request and sole expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(i)                                      the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

 

(ii)                                   the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof;

 

(iii)                                the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(iv)                               this Article 8.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

 

Section 8.03                              Covenant Defeasance .

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19 and 4.20 hereof and clause (iv) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 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 and Note Guarantees, the Company and the Guarantors 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 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Note Guarantees will be unaffected thereby.  In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set

 

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forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (x) hereof will not constitute Events of Default.

 

Section 8.04                              Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance .

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:

 

(i)                                      the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;

 

(ii)                                   in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent confirming that:

 

(A)                                the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

 

(B)                                since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

 

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(iii)                                in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(iv)                               no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness), and the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings);

 

(v)                                  such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture and the agreements governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is bound;

 

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(vi)                               the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others; and

 

(vii)                            the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

The Collateral will be released from the Lien securing the Notes and the other Note Documents, as provided in Section 10.04 hereof, upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with the provisions described above.

 

Section 8.05                              Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions .

 

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee” ) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes 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 Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(i) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Section 8.06                              Repayment to Company .

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a

 

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date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

Section 8.07                              Reinstatement .

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Note Guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however , that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.01                              Without Consent of Holders of Notes .

 

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, if applicable, may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or any other Note Documents:

 

(i)                                      to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(ii)                                   to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

 

(iii)                                to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees by a successor to the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to Article 5 or Article 10 hereof;

 

(iv)                               to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder;

 

(v)                                  to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

 

(vi)                               to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Security Documents to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Company’s Offering Memorandum dated May 8, 2013, relating to the initial offering of the Notes, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Security Documents, which intent shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate to that effect;

 

(vii)                            to enter into additional or supplemental Security Documents;

 

(viii)                         to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by this Indenture or any of the Security Documents or any release of Collateral that becomes effective as set forth in this Indenture or any of the Security Documents;

 

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(ix)                               to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the date of this Indenture; or

 

(x)                                  to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amendment or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amendment or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.02                              With Consent of Holders of Notes .

 

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, if applicable, may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof), the Notes, the Note Guarantees or any other Note Documents with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes).  Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for purposes of this Section 9.02.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amendment or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture unless such amendment or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture , the other Note Documents or otherwise, in which case the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amendment or supplemental Indenture.

 

It is not necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver.  Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not,

 

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however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.  Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees.  However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

(i)                                      reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(ii)                                   reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the Notes (except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof);

 

(iii)                                reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Note;

 

(iv)                               waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

(v)                                  make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

 

(vi)                               make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, on, interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Notes (other than as permitted by clause (vii) below);

 

(vii)                            waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Sections 3.09, 4.10 or 4.15 hereof);

 

(viii)                         release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

 

(ix)                               make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.

 

In addition, any amendment to, or waiver of, the provisions of this Indenture or any security document that has the effect of releasing all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes will require the consent of the Holders of at least 66 2 / 3 % in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

 

Section 9.03                              Compliance with Trust Indenture Act .

 

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

Section 9.04                              Revocation and Effect of Consents .

 

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of

 

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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 amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective.  An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

 

Section 9.05                              Notation on or Exchange of Notes .

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated.  The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 9.06                              Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

 

The Trustee will sign any amendment or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.  The Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental indenture until the Board of Directors of the Company approves it.  In executing any amendment or supplemental indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 13.04 hereof, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions.

 

ARTICLE 10
COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

 

Section 10.01                       Security Documents .

 

The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any (to the extent permitted by law), on the Notes and performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders of Notes or the Trustee under this Indenture and the Notes (including, without limitation, the Note Guarantees), according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, are secured as provided in the Security Documents, which the Company has entered into simultaneously with the execution of this Indenture.  Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance thereof, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.  The Company will deliver to the Trustee copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents, and will do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be necessary or proper, or as may be required by the provisions of the Security Documents, to assure and confirm to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent the security interest in the Collateral contemplated hereby, by the Security Documents or any part thereof, as from

 

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time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes secured hereby, according to the intent and purposes herein expressed.  The Company will take, and will cause its Subsidiaries to take any and all actions reasonably required or as may be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to cause the Security Documents to create and maintain, as security for the Obligations of the Company hereunder, a valid and enforceable perfected second-priority Lien in and on all the Collateral, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Notes, superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons and subject to no other Liens other than Permitted Prior Liens.

 

Section 10.02                       Recording and Opinions .

 

(a)                                  The Company will furnish to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Indenture a reliance letter with respect to the opinion of counsel of the Company delivered to the Initial Purchasers on the date of this Indenture regarding the Lien intended to be created by the Security Documents.

 

(b)                                  The Company will furnish to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee on April 12 in each year beginning with April 12, 2014, an Opinion of Counsel, dated as of such date, either:

 

(i)                                      (A) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, action has been taken with respect to the recording, registering, filing, re-recording, re-registering and re-filing of all supplemental indentures, financing statements, continuation statements or other instruments of further assurance as is necessary to maintain the Lien of the Security Documents and reciting with respect to the security interests in the Collateral the details of such action or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are given, and (B) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, based on relevant laws as in effect on the date of such Opinion of Counsel, all financing statements and continuation statements have been executed and filed that are necessary as of such date and during the succeeding 12 months fully to preserve and protect, to the extent such protection and preservation are possible by filing, the rights of the Holders of Notes and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee hereunder and under the Security Documents with respect to the security interests in the Collateral;

 

(ii)                                   stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to maintain such Lien and assignment.

 

(c)                                   The Company will otherwise comply with the provisions of TIA §314.

 

Section 10.03                       Release of Liens on Collateral .

 

The Collateral Agent’s Parity Liens upon the Collateral will be released in any one or more of the circumstances set forth in Section 5.1 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Section 10.04                       Release of Liens in Respect of Notes .

 

(a)                                  The Collateral Agent’s Parity Liens upon the Collateral will no longer secure the Notes outstanding under this Indenture or any other Obligations under this Indenture, and the right of the Holders of the Notes and such Obligations to the benefits and proceeds of the Collateral Agent’s Parity Liens on the Collateral shall terminate and be discharged:

 

(i)                                      upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as set forth in Article 12 hereof;

 

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(ii)                                   upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Notes as set forth in Article 8 hereof;

 

(iii)                                upon payment in full and discharge of all Notes outstanding under this Indenture and all Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under this Indenture at the time the Notes are paid in full and discharged;

 

(iv)                               in whole or in part, with the consent of the Holders of the requisite percentage of Notes in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 hereof; or

 

(v)                                  after the satisfaction of the Lien Release Conditions, on the date the Notes are rated Investment Grade and no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

(b)                                  Upon the full and final payment and performance of all Obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes or upon Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 12 hereof, the Trustee will, at the written request of the Company, deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent stating that such Obligations have been paid in full, and instruct the Collateral Agent to release the Liens pursuant to this Indenture and the Security Documents.

 

Section 10.05                       Certificates of the Company .

 

The Company will furnish to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, prior to each proposed release of Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents:

 

(i)                                      all documents required by TIA §314(d);

 

(ii)                                   an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying that all conditions precedent under this Indenture and the Note Documents if any, to such release have been met and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Company; and

 

(iii)                                an Opinion of Counsel, which may be rendered by internal counsel to the Company, to the effect that such accompanying documents constitute all documents required by TIA §314(d).

 

The Trustee and the Collateral Agent may, to the extent permitted by Sections 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, accept as conclusive evidence of compliance with the foregoing provisions the appropriate statements contained in such documents and such Opinion of Counsel.  Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be liable for any such release undertaken in good faith in reliance upon any such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel, and notwithstanding any term hereof or in any Note Document to the contrary, the Trustee and Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to release any such Lien and security interest, or execute and deliver any such instrument of release, satisfaction or termination, unless and until it receives such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

 

Section 10.06                       Certificates of the Trustee .

 

In the event that the Company wishes to release Collateral in accordance with the Security Documents and has delivered the certificates and documents required by the Security Documents and Sections 13.03 and 13.04 hereof, the Trustee will determine whether it has received all documentation required by TIA §314(d) in connection with such release and, based on such determination and the

 

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Opinion of Counsel delivered pursuant to Section 13.04(ii) hereof, will deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent setting forth such determination.  The Trustee, however, shall have no duty to confirm the legality, genuineness, accuracy, contents or validity of such documents (or any signature appearing therein), its sole duty being to certify its receipt of such documents which, on their face (and assuming that they are what they purport to be), conform to § 314(d) of the TIA.  The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any such release undertaken in good faith in reliance upon any such certificate from the Trustee, and notwithstanding any term hereof or in any Note Document to the contrary, the Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to release any such Lien and security interest, or execute and deliver any such instrument of release, satisfaction or termination, unless and until it receives such certificate from the Trustee.

 

Section 10.07                       Authorization of Actions to Be Taken Under the Security Documents .

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and 7.02 hereof and to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders of Notes, direct, on behalf of the Holders of Notes, the Collateral Agent to, take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

 

(i)                                      enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents; and

 

(ii)                                   collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations of the Company hereunder and under the Security Documents.

 

The Collateral Agent will have power to institute and maintain such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders of Notes in the Collateral (including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders of Notes , of the Collateral Agent or of the Trustee).  Nothing in this Section 10.07 shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Collateral Agent.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee may, at the expense of the Company, request the direction of the Holders of Notes with respect to any such actions and upon receipt of the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, shall take such actions; provided that all actions so taken shall, at all times, be in conformity with the requirements of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Section 10.08                       Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security Documents .

 

Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, proceeds in respect of the Collateral received by the Collateral Agent shall be passed on to the Trustee.  The Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders of Notes distributed under the Security Documents, and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders of Notes according to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 10.09                       Collateral Agent.

 

(a)                                  U.S. Bank National Association is hereby appointed as Collateral Agent and shall be authorized to appoint co-Collateral Agents as necessary in its sole discretion. Each Holder agrees that any

 

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action taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Security Document, and the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any rights or remedies set forth herein and therein shall be authorized and binding upon all Holders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture and the Security Documents, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the other documents to which the Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder, the Company or any Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture and the Security Documents or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

 

(b)                                  The Collateral Agent makes no representations as to, and shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness, value, sufficiency or condition of any of the Collateral or as to the security afforded or intended to be afforded thereby, hereby or by any Security Document, or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens or security interests in any of the Collateral created or intended to be created by any of the Security Documents, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, except to the extent such action or omission constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Collateral Agent as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral, any Security Documents or any agreement or assignment thereof contained in any provision thereof, for the validity of the title of the Company or any Guarantor to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral, all such responsibilities and obligations being responsibilities and obligations of the Company and the Guarantors.  The Collateral Agent shall not have any responsibility for recording, registering, filing, re-recording, re-registering or refiling any supplemental indenture, financing statement, continuation statement, document, instrument or other notice in any public office at any time or times or to otherwise take any action to perfect or maintain the perfection of any security interest granted to it under the Security Documents or otherwise (except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder or under any Security Document) and such responsibility shall be solely that of the Company.

 

(c)                                   The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, certification, telephone message, statement, or other communication, document or conversation (including those by telephone or e-mail) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Company or any Guarantor), independent accountants and other experts and advisors selected by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document. The Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture or the Security Documents in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

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ARTICLE 11
NOTE GUARANTEES

 

Section 11.01                       Guarantee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to this Article 11, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their respective successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes , the Security Documents or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

(i)                                      the principal of, premium, if any, on, interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee and the Collateral Agent hereunder or thereunder or under any Security Document will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

 

(ii)                                   in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

 

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately.  Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

 

(b)                                  The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder are unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.  Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(c)                                   If any Holder , the Collateral Agent or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee , the Collateral Agent or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

(d)                                  Each Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby.  Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in

 

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respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee.  The Guarantors will have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantee.

 

Section 11.02                       Limitation on Guarantor Liability .

 

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee.  To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 11, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

Section 11.03                       Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee .

 

To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E hereto will be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its Officers.

 

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which a Note Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee will be valid nevertheless.

 

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

 

In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries creates or acquires any Domestic Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, if required by Section 4.15 hereof, the Company will cause such Domestic Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15 hereof and this Article 11, to the extent applicable.

 

Section 11.04                       Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms .

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05 hereof, no Guarantor may sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor, unless:

 

(i)                                      immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

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(ii)                                   either:

 

(A)                                subject to Section 11.05 hereof, the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger unconditionally assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor under its Note Guarantee, this Indenture, the relevant Registration Rights Agreement and the Security Documents on the terms set forth herein or therein, pursuant to a supplemental indenture, a supplement to the relevant Registration Rights Agreement and appropriate security documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; or

 

(B)                                the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation, Section 4.10 hereof.

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person will succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor.  Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee.  All the Note Guarantees so issued will in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding clauses (ii)(A) and (B) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes will prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or will prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Guarantor.

 

Section 11.05                      Releases .

 

(a)                                  The Note Guarantee of a Guarantor will automatically be released:

 

(i)                                      In connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition does not violate the provisions described in Section 4.10 hereof;

 

(ii)                                   in connection with any sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of that Guarantor by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition does not violate the provisions described in Section 4.10 hereof and the Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of the sale or other disposition;

 

(iii)                                if the Company designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(iv)                               upon legal defeasance, covenant defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as provided in Articles 8 and 12 hereof;

 

(v)                                  upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing; or

 

(vi)                               if consent to such release has been given by an Act of Supermajority Debtholders.

 

(b)                                  Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee as provided in this Section 11.05 will remain liable for the full amount of principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 11.

 

ARTICLE 12
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 12.01                       Satisfaction and Discharge .

 

This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder (except as to surviving rights of registration, of transfer or exchange of the Notes and as otherwise provided in this Indenture), when:

 

(i)                                      either:

 

(A)                                all Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B)                                all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of maturity or redemption;

 

(ii)                                   in respect of subclause (B) of clause (i) of this Section 12.01, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and any similar deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound (other than with respect to the borrowing of funds to be applied concurrently to make the deposit required to effect such satisfaction and discharge and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and in each case the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings);

 

104



 

(iii)                                the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

 

(iv)                               the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

 

The Collateral will be released from the Lien securing the Notes and the other Note Documents, as provided in Section 10.04 hereof, upon a satisfaction and discharge in accordance with the provisions described above.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (i) of this Section 12.01, the provisions of Sections 12.02 and 8.06 hereof will survive.  In addition, nothing in this Section 12.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

Section 12.02                       Application of Trust Money .

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; 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 Government Securities in accordance with Section 12.01 hereof 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 Company’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 12.01 hereof; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 13.01                       Trust Indenture Act Controls .

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA §318(c), the imposed duties will control.

 

105



 

Section 13.02                       Notices .

 

Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), electronic image scan, facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

 

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

 

ION Geophysical Corporation
2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400

Houston, Texas 77042
Facsimile: 281-879-3600
Attention: General Counsel

 

With a copy to:
Mayer Brown LLP
700 Louisiana Street, Suite 3400

Houston, Texas 77002

 

Counsel for the Company and the Guarantors
Facsimile: 713-238-4888
Attention: Marc H. Folladori

 

If to the Trustee:

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Facsimile No.:  (306) 636-4145
Attention:  Corporate Capital Markets & Agency Services

 

If to the Collateral Agent:

 

U.S. Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent

5555 San Felipe, Suite 1150

Houston, Texas 77056

Facsimile No.:  713-235-9213

Attention:  Shazia Flores, Corporate Trust Services

 

The Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by electronic image scan or facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

106



 

Any notice or communication to a Holder will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar.  Any notice or communication will also be so given to any Person described in TIA §313(c), to the extent required by the TIA.  Failure to send a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

If a notice or communication is given in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

If the Company sends a notice or communication to Holders, it will send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

Section 13.03                       Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes .

 

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

 

Section 13.04                       Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .

 

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to take any action under this Indenture or any Security Document, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable:

 

(i)                                      an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable (which must include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof), stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture or any Security Document relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

 

(ii)                                   an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable (which must include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof), stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

 

Section 13.05                       Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA §314(a)(4)) or Security Document must comply with the provisions of TIA §314(e) and must include:

 

(i)                                      a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(ii)                                   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;

 

(iii)                                a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

107



 

(iv)                               a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

Section 13.06                       Rules by Trustee and Agents .

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders.  The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 13.07                       No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders .

 

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees, any Registration Rights Agreement, the Note Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.  The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

Section 13.08                       Governing Law .

 

THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

Section 13.09                       No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person.  Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 13.10                       Successors .

 

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors.  All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05 hereof.

 

Section 13.11                       Severability .

 

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

 

Section 13.12                       Counterpart Originals .

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture, and each party hereto may sign any number of separate copies of this Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.  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 as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes.  Signatures of the

 

108



 

parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

Section 13.13                       Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

109



 

SIGNATURES

 

Dated as of May 13, 2013

 

 

 

 

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name: David L. Roland

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

GX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name: David L. Roland

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

ION EXPLORATION PRODUCTS (U.S.A.), INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name: David L. Roland

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

I/O MARINE SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name: David L. Roland

 

 

Title: Vice President

 



 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael G. Oller, Jr.

 

 

Name: Michael G. Oller, Jr.

 

 

Title: Assistant Vice President

 



 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Shazia Flores

 

 

Name: Shazia Flores

 

 

Title: Assistant Vice President

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Face of Note]

 

 

 

CUSIP/CINS                              

 

 

8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018

 

 

No.             

 

$                       

 

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

 

promises to pay to                or registered assigns,

 

the principal sum of                                                                                                                      DOLLARS on May 15, 2018.

 

Interest Payment Dates:  May 15 and November 15

 

Record Dates:  May 1 and November 1

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

A-1



 

 

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

A-2



 

This is one of the Notes referred to

 

in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

 

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association,

 

 as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

A-3



 

[Back of Note]

8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018

 

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

[Insert the Private Placement 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.

 

(i)                                      INTEREST .  ION Geophysical Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), promises to pay or cause to be paid interest on the principal amount of this Note at 8.125% per annum from May 13, 2013 until maturity and shall pay the Special Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below.  The Company will pay interest and Special Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 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 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 November 15, 2013. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at a rate that is 1% higher than the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Special Interest, if any (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

(ii)                                   METHOD OF PAYMENT .  The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Special Interest, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the May 1 and November 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest.  The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar within the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Special Interest, if any, 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, premium on, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company 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.

 

(iii)                                PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR .  Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Company may change the Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to the Holders of the Notes.  The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

(iv)                               INDENTURE AND SECURITY DOCUMENTS .  The Company has issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of May 13, 2013 (the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the

 

A-4



 

Guarantors and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent.  The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA.  The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA 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 secured obligations of the Company.  The Notes are secured by a second-priority Lien in and on all the Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents referred to in the Indenture. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder.

 

(v)                                  OPTIONAL REDEMPTION .

 

(A)                                At any time prior to May 15, 2015, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 108.125% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date), in an amount not to exceed the net proceeds from an Equity Offering by the Company; provided that:

 

(1)                                  at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and

 

(2)                                  the redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

 

(B)                                At any time prior to May 15, 2015, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable date of redemption, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

(C)                                Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs and Section 4.14(e) in the Indenture, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to May 15, 2015.

 

(D)                                On or after May 15, 2015, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date:

 

A-5



 

Year

 

Percentage

 

2015

 

104.063

%

2016

 

102.031

%

2017 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

 

(vi)                               MANDATORY REDEMPTION.  Except as set forth below under Sections 4.10 and 4.14 of the Indenture, the Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

(vii)                            REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDER .

 

(A)                                Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company will be required to make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each Holder to repurchase 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 in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (the “ Change of Control Payment ”).  Within ten days following any Change of Control, the Company 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 Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $15.0 million, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets to purchase, prepay or redeem the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith) that may be purchased, prepaid or redeemed out of the Excess Proceeds.  The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of purchase, prepayment or redemption, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, and will be payable in cash.  If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture.  If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered in (or required to be prepaid or redeemed in connection with) such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis (except that any Notes represented by a note in global form will be selected by such method as DTC or its nominee or successor may require or, where such nominee or successor is the Trustee, a method that most nearly approximates pro rata selection unless otherwise

 

A-6



 

required by law), based on the amounts tendered or required to be prepaid or redeemed (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, will be purchased).  Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.  Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “ Option of Holder to Elect Purchase ” attached to the Notes.

 

(viii)                         NOTICE OF REDEMPTION .  At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 12 thereof.  Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed or purchased. Notice of any redemption, including, without limitation, upon an Equity Offering, may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering.

 

(ix)                               DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE .  The Notes are in registered form in minimum 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 Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.  The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.  Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

(x)                                  PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS .  The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered Holders have rights under the Indenture.

 

(xi)                               AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER .  Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or any other Note Documents may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class.  Without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or any other Note Documents may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees by a successor to the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the

 

A-7



 

qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to conform the text of the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Security Documents to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Company’s Offering Memorandum dated May 8, 2013, relating to the initial offering of the Notes, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Security Documents, which intent shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate to that effect, to enter into additional or supplemental security documents, to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the Indenture or any of the Security Documents or any release of Collateral that becomes effective as set forth in the Indenture or any of the Security Documents, to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture, or to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes.

 

(xii)                            DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES .  Events of Default include: (a) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes; (b) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium on, if any, the Notes, (c) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Sections 4.07, 4.09, 4.10, 4.14 or 5.01 of the Indenture; (d) (1) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture or the Security Documents, or (2) failure by the Company for 180 days after notice from the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with the provisions of Section 4.03 of the Indenture; (e) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company which default is a Payment Default or results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity; (f) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $20.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed, for a period of 60 days; (g) subject to certain exceptions and except as permitted by the Indenture, if any security document ceases for any reason to be fully enforceable, certain security interests created by any security documents cease to be in full force and effect, or the repudiation by the Company or any other Guarantor of any of their obligations under any security documents; (h) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee; and (i) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary.  In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a 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 aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.  Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture.  Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it.  The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing

 

A-8



 

Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any,) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all the Holders of Notes, rescind an acceleration or waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its respective consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase).  The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

(xiii)                         TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY .  The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

(xiv)                        NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS .  No director, officer, employee, incorporator or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees, any Registration Rights Agreement, the Note Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.  The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

(xv)                           AUTHENTICATION .  This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

(xvi)                        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).

 

(xvii)                     ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES .  In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 13, 2013, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have the rights set forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Company and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any Additional Notes (collectively, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”).

 

(xviii)                  CUSIP NUMBERS .  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders.  No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption, and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

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(xix)                        GOVERNING LAW.   THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES 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 Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the relevant Registration Rights Agreement.  Requests may be made to:

 

ION Geophysical Corporation
2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77042
Facsimile: 281-879-3600
Attention: General Counsel

 

A-10



 

Assignment Form

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

(Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint

to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Signature:

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

 

Signature Guarantee*:

 

 

 

 


*                                          Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-11



 

Option of Holder to Elect Purchase

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

Section 4.10                                                                   Section 4.14

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$                

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Signature:

 

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

 

Tax Identification No.:

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee*:

 

 

 

 

 


*              Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-12



 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE *

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of 
decrease in 
Principal Amount
of
this Global Note

 

Amount of 
increase in 
Principal Amount
of
this Global Note

 

Principal Amount
of this Global Note 
following such 
decrease
(or increase)

 

Signature of 
authorized officer 
of Trustee or 
Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


*              This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

ION Geophysical Corporation
2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77042
Facsimile: 281-879-3600
Attention: General Counsel

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee and Registrar

Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Facsimile No.:  (306) 636-4145
Attention:  Corporate Capital Markets & Agency Services

 

Re:  8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes Due 2018

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2013 (the “ Indenture ”), among ION Geophysical Corporation, as issuer (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

, (the “ Transferor ”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $                       in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Transfer ”), to                                                        (the “ Transferee ”), as further specified in Annex A hereto.  In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

 

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

 

1.        Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A .  The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

2.        Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S .  The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was

 

B-1



 

outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser).  Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

3.        Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S .  The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

 

(a)         such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

 

or

 

(b)         such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;

 

or

 

(c)         such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;

 

or

 

(d)         such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

B-2



 

4.        Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note .

 

(a)     Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144 .  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(b)     Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S .  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(c)     Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption .  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

B-3



 

ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1.             The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

 

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

(a)                                  a beneficial interest in the:

 

(i)                                      144A Global Note (CUSIP 462044 AD0), or

 

(ii)                                   Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP U4608C AC2), or

 

(iii)                                IAI Global Note (CUSIP                   ); or

 

(b)                                  a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

2.             After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

 

[CHECK ONE]

 

(a)                                  a beneficial interest in the:

 

(i)                                      144A Global Note (CUSIP 462044 AD0), or

 

(ii)                                   Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP U4608C AC2), or

 

(iii)                                IAI Global Note (CUSIP                   ); or

 

(iv)                               Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP 462044 AE8); or

 

(b)                                  a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

(c)                                   an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

 

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-4



 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

 

ION Geophysical Corporation
2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77042
Facsimile: 281-879-3600
Attention: General Counsel

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee and Registrar

Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Facsimile No.:  (306) 636-4145
Attention:  Corporate Capital Markets & Agency Services

 

Re:  8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes Due 2018

 

(CUSIP [      ])

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2013 (the “ Indenture ”), among ION Geophysical Corporation, as issuer (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

, (the “ Owner ”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $                         in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Exchange ”).  In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

 

1.        Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note

 

(a)     Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note .  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(b)     Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note .  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

C-1



 

(c)     Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note .  In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(d)     Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note .  In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

2.        Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

 

(a)     Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note.   In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer.  Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

(b)     Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note .  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] 144A Global Note, Regulation S Global Note, IAI Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.  Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

C-2



 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

 

ION Geophysical Corporation
2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77042
Facsimile: 281-879-3600
Attention: General Counsel

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee and Registrar

Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Facsimile No.:  (306) 636-4145
Attention:  Corporate Capital Markets & Agency Services

 

Re:  8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes Due 2018

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2013 (the “ Indenture ”), among ION Geophysical Corporation, as issuer (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

In connection with our proposed purchase of $                         aggregate principal amount of:

 

(a)  a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

 

(b)  a Definitive Note,

 

we confirm that:

 

1.        We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).

 

2.        We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence.  We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Company a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and[, if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes, at the time of transfer of less than $250,000,](1) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer is in compliance

 


(1)                                  Some Initial Purchasers will permit an IAI transaction over a certain amount to be effected without an Opinion of Counsel on the theory that the size of the transfer is evidence of investment intent.  See footnote 6 in Article 2.

 

D-1



 

with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any Person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

 

3.                                       We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions.  We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

 

4.                                       We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

 

5.                                       We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

 

You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

 

 

 

[Insert Name of Accredited Investor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT E

 

[FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE]

 

For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture dated as of May 13, 2013 (the “ Indenture ”) among ION Geophysical Corporation (the “Company” ), the Guarantors party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent, (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes, if any, if lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.  The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

 

[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

E-1



 

EXHIBIT F

 

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of                                 , is among                                      (the “ Guaranteeing Subsidiary ”), a subsidiary of ION Geophysical Corporation (or its permitted successor), a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent.

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of May 13, 2013 providing for the issuance of 8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018 (the “ Notes ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “ Note Guarantee ”); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

1.                                       CAPITALIZED TERMS.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

2.                                       AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE.  The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 11 thereof.

 

4.                                       NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS.  No director, officer, employee, incorporator or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees, any Registration Rights Agreement, the Note Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.  The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

5.                                       NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN.  THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE 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.

 

6.                                       COUNTERPARTS.  The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

F-1



 

7.                                       EFFECT OF HEADINGS.  The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

8.                                       THE TRUSTEE.  The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.

 

F-2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

 

Dated:

 

,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

[COMPANY]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

[EXISTING GUARANTORS]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

 

 as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

F-3



 

EXHIBIT G

 

[FORM OF INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT]

 

G-1


Exhibit 4.2

 

Execution Version

 

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

 

$175,000,000 8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

May 13, 2013

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

 

As Representatives of the Initial Purchasers

listed in Schedule I hereto

 

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Three World Financial Center

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

 

c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 S. Tryon Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

ION Geophysical Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), is issuing and selling to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (the “ Representatives ”), as representatives of the several initial purchasers listed in Schedule I hereto (the “ Initial Purchasers ”), upon the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement dated May 8, 2013, by and among the Company, the Representatives, on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, and the subsidiary guarantors named therein (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018 issued by the Company (each, a “ Note ” and collectively, the “ Notes ”).  As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the subsidiary guarantors listed in the signature pages hereto agree with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Notes (including, without limitation, the Initial Purchasers), as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions

 

Capitalized terms that are used herein without definition and are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Advice :  See Section 5(w).

 

1



 

Agreement :  This Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between the Company and the Representatives, on behalf of the Initial Purchasers.

 

Applicable Period :  See Section 2(e).

 

Blackout Period : See Section 4(a)(iii).

 

Business Day :  A day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to be closed.

 

Closing Date : May 13, 2013.

 

Company : See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

day :  Unless otherwise expressly provided, a calendar day.

 

Effectiveness Target Date :  The 365th day after the Closing Date.

 

Effectiveness Period :  See Section 3(a).

 

Event Date :  See Section 4(b).

 

Exchange Act :  The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Notes :  Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018 of the Company, identical in all material respects to the Notes, including the guarantees endorsed thereon, except for references to series and restrictive legends.

 

Exchange Offer :  See Section 2(a).

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement :  See Section 2(a).

 

FINRA :  Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

Holder :  Any beneficial holder of Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

Indemnified Party :  See Section 7(c).

 

Indemnifying Party :  See Section 7(c).

 

Indenture :  The Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the Notes are being issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Initial Purchasers :  See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

2



 

Initial Shelf Registration :  See Section 3(a).

 

Inspectors :  See Section 5(o).

 

Lien: Shall have the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

 

Losses:  See Section 7(a).

 

Maximum Contribution Amount :  See Section 7.

 

Notes :  See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

Participating Broker-Dealer :  See Section 2(e).

 

Person :  An individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, union, business association, firm, government or agency or political subdivision thereof, or other legal entity.

 

Prospectus :  The prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

Purchase Agreement :  See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

Records :  See Section 5(o).

 

Registration Default :  See Section 4(a).

 

Registration Statement :  Any registration statement of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors filed with the SEC under the Securities Act (including, but not limited to, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Shelf Registration Statement and any Subsequent Shelf Registration) that covers any of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Representatives :  See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

Rule 144 :  Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144A) or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of securities made in compliance therewith resulting in

 

3



 

offers and sales by subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer or such securities being free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144A :  Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144) or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.

 

Rule 405 : Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.

 

Rule 415 :  Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.

 

Rule 430A :  Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.

 

SEC :  The Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities :  The Notes and the Exchange Notes.

 

Securities Act :  The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Shelf Notice :  See Section 2(j).

 

Shelf Registration Statement :  See Section 3(b).

 

Special Interest :  See Section 4(a).

 

Subsequent Shelf Registration :  See Section 3(b).

 

Subsidiary Guarantor :  Each subsidiary of the Company that guarantees the obligations of the Company under the Notes and Indenture.

 

TIA :  The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

Transfer Restricted Securities :  Each Note until the earliest to occur of (1) the date on which such Note has been exchanged by a Person other than a broker-dealer for an Exchange Note in the Exchange Offer; (2) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Note for an Exchange Note, the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (3) the date on which such Note has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement; (4) the date on which such Note is actually sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; provided that such Note will not cease to be a Transfer Restricted Security for purposes of the Exchange Offer by virtue of this clause (4); or (5) such Note ceases to be outstanding.

 

4



 

Trustee :  The trustee under the Indenture and, if existent, the trustee under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes.

 

Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering :  A registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

 

2.                                       Exchange Offer

 

(a)                                  Unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable laws or a policy of the SEC, the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to) (i) prepare and file with the SEC sufficiently promptly so as to avoid a Registration Default with respect to the Exchange Offer, a registration statement (the “ Exchange Offer Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to an offer (the “ Exchange Offer ”) to the Holders of Notes to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Notes, a like principal amount of Exchange Notes, (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof, but in no event later than the Effectiveness Target Date, (iii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective until the consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with its terms and (iv) commence the Exchange Offer and use its commercially reasonable efforts to issue on or prior to 30 Business Days, or longer, if required by applicable securities laws, after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective, Exchange Notes in exchange for all Notes tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer.  The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC.

 

(b)                                  The Exchange Notes shall be issued under, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture or a trust indenture that is identical to the Indenture (other than such changes as are necessary to comply with any requirements of the SEC to effect or maintain the qualifications thereof under the TIA).

 

(c)                                   Interest on the Exchange Notes will accrue from the last interest payment due date on which interest was paid on the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Notes, from the date of original issue of the Notes.  Each Exchange Note shall bear interest at the rate set forth thereon; provided , that interest with respect to the period prior to the issuance thereof shall accrue at the rate or rates borne by the Notes from time to time during such period.

 

(d)                                  The Company may require each Holder as a condition to participation in the Exchange Offer to make such representations as may be required by applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, including (i) that any Exchange Notes received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) that at the time of the commencement and consummation of the Exchange Offer such Holder has not entered into any arrangement or

 

5



 

understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) that if such Holder is an “affiliate” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405, it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable to it, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Notes and (v) if such Holder is a Participating Broker-Dealer, that it will deliver a Prospectus in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes.

 

(e)                                   The Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to) include within the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution” reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the SEC with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer for its own account in exchange for Notes that were acquired by it as a result of market-making or other trading activity (a “ Participating Broker-Dealer ”), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers, represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC.  Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also allow, to the extent permitted by applicable policies and regulations of the SEC, the use of the Prospectus by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including, to the extent so permitted, all Participating Broker-Dealers, and include a statement describing the manner in which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes.  The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for a period (the “ Applicable Period ”) beginning when the Exchange Securities are first issued in the Exchange Offer and ending on the earlier of the expiration of the 270th day after the Exchange Offer has been completed or such time as such Participating Broker-Dealers no longer hold Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

(f)                                    [Intentionally Omitted].

 

(g)                                   In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to):

 

(i)             send to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal that is an exhibit to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any related documents;

 

6



 

(ii)            keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 Business Days after the date notice thereof is sent to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law);

 

(iii)           utilize the services of a depository for the Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate thereof;

 

(iv)           permit Holders to withdraw tendered Transfer Restricted Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

 

(v)            otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws.

 

(h)                                  As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to):

 

(i)             accept for exchange all Transfer Restricted Securities validly tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and not validly withdrawn;

 

(ii)            deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Transfer Restricted Securities so accepted for exchange; and

 

(iii)           cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder tendering such Transfer Restricted Securities, Exchange Notes equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

 

(i)                                      The Exchange Notes may be issued under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical to the Indenture (other than such changes as are necessary to comply with any requirements of the SEC to effect or maintain the qualification thereof under the TIA), which in either event will provide that the Exchange Notes will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture, and that the Exchange Notes and the Notes, if any, will be deemed one class of security (subject to the provisions of the Indenture) and entitled to participate in any Subsidiary Guarantee (as such terms are defined in the Indenture) on an equal and ratable basis.

 

(j)                                     If: (i) the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are not (A) required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (B) permitted to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Company determines in good faith after consultation with its counsel that the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or SEC policy; or (ii) any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities notifies the Company prior to the 20th Business Day following consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) it is prohibited by law or SEC policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) it may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales or (C) it is a broker-dealer and owns

 

7



 

Notes acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate of the Company and as a result may not participate in the Exchange Offer, then the Company shall promptly (and in any event within five Business Days) deliver to the Holders (or in the case of an occurrence of any event described in clause (ii) of this Section 2(j), to any such Holder) and the Trustee notice thereof (the “ Shelf Notice ”) and shall file an Initial Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3.

 

3.                                       Shelf Registration

 

If a Shelf Notice is delivered pursuant to Section 2(j), then this Section 3 shall apply to all Transfer Restricted Securities. Otherwise, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with Section 2, the provisions of this Section 3 shall apply solely with respect to (i) Notes held by any Holder thereof not permitted to participate in the Exchange Offer, (ii) Notes held by any broker-dealer that acquired such Notes directly from the Company or any of its affiliates and (iii) Exchange Notes that are not freely tradeable as contemplated by Section 2(j)(ii) hereof, provided in each case that the relevant Holder has duly notified the Company within 20 Business Days of the consummation of the Exchange Offer as required by Section 2(j)(ii).

 

(a)                                  Initial Shelf Registration .  The Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to), as promptly as practicable, file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Transfer Restricted Securities (the “ Initial Shelf Registration ”) to which this Section 3 relates.  If the Company (and any Subsidiary Guarantor) has not yet filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to) file with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration sufficiently promptly so as to avoid a Registration Default with respect to such Initial Shelf Registration and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Initial Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the Effectiveness Target Date.  Otherwise, the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to) use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration within 30 days of the delivery of the Shelf Notice and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable thereafter (but in no event more than 90 days after delivery of the Shelf Notice).  The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1 (or, if available, Form S-3) or another appropriate form permitting registration of such Transfer Restricted Securities for resale by Holders in the manner or manners reasonably designated by them (including, without limitation, one or more Underwritten Offerings).  The Company and Subsidiary Guarantors shall not permit any securities other than the Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in any Shelf Registration.  The Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to) use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Initial Shelf Registration continuously effective under the Securities Act for one year (subject to extension pursuant to the last sentence of Section 5(w)) (the “ Effectiveness Period ”), or such shorter period ending when (i) all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Initial Shelf Registration have been sold in

 

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the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Initial Shelf Registration (ii) a Subsequent Shelf Registration covering all of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by and not sold under the Initial Shelf Registration or an earlier Subsequent Shelf Registration has been declared effective under the Securities Act or (iii) there cease to be any outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

(b)                                  Subsequent Shelf Registrations .  If the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration (as defined below) ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within 30 days of such cessation of effectiveness amend such Shelf Registration in a manner to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file (and cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to file) an additional “shelf” Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Transfer Restricted Securities (a “ Subsequent Shelf Registration ”).  If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared effective as soon as practicable after such filing and to keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration continuously effective for a period equal to the number of days in the Effectiveness Period less the aggregate number of days during which the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration was previously continuously effective.  As used herein the term “Shelf Registration Statement” means the Initial Shelf Registration and any Subsequent Shelf Registrations.

 

(c)                                   Supplements and Amendments .  The Company shall promptly supplement and amend any Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such Shelf Registration Statement, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably requested in writing by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement or by any underwriter of such Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

(d)                                  Provision of Information.  No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless such Holder furnishes to the Company and the Trustee in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a written request therefor, such information as the Company and the Trustee after conferring with counsel with regard to information relating to Holders that would be required by the SEC to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein, may reasonably request for inclusion in any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein, and no such Holder shall be entitled to Special Interest pursuant to Section 4 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided such information.

 

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4.                                       Special Interest

 

(a)                                  The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities will suffer damages if the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to fulfill its material obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors agree to pay Special Interest under the circumstances and to the extent set forth below (each, a “ Registration Default ”, each of which shall be given independent effect) commencing on the first day on which the first Registration Default shall have occurred:

 

(i)             If (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the Initial Shelf Registration is declared effective on or prior to the Effectiveness Target Date or (B) notwithstanding that the Company has consummated or will consummate an Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the date required by this Agreement;

 

(ii)            if the Company (and any Subsidiary Guarantor) has not exchanged Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer on or prior to 30 Business Days after the Effectiveness Target Date; or

 

(iii)           if the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or, if applicable, a Shelf Registration Statement, has been declared effective and such Registration Statement ceases to be effective or usable in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Securities, other than during any period that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement is unusable as a result of (A) action reasonably taken by the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors required by applicable law or (B) the pending announcement of a material corporate transaction for which the Company has issued a written notice pursuant to Section 5(e)(iv) or (v) hereof (the “ Blackout Period ”), provided that the Blackout Period shall not exceed 45 days in any three-month period or 90 days in any 12-month period.

 

Special Interest ” shall mean an amount of interest that shall accrue over and above any stated interest at a rate of .25% per annum of the outstanding principal amount of such Notes for the first 90 days immediately following the first Registration Default, such Special Interest rate increasing by an additional .25% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured as described below; provided, however , that the maximum Special Interest rate on the Notes may not exceed at any one time in the aggregate 1.00% per annum; and provided further , that (1) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Initial Shelf Registration (in the case of (a)(i) above), (2) upon the exchange of Exchange

 

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Notes for all Notes tendered (in the case of (a)(ii) above), or (3) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that had ceased to remain effective (in the case of (a)(iii) above), Special Interest on the Notes as a result of such clause, as the case may be, shall cease to accrue.

 

(b)                                  The Company shall notify the Trustee within three Business Days after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Special Interest is required to be paid (an “ Event Date ”).  Any amounts of Special Interest due pursuant to clause (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this Section 4 will be payable in cash, on the dates and in the manner provided in the Indenture and whether or not any cash interest would then be payable on such date, commencing with the first such semi-annual date occurring after any such Special Interest commences to accrue.  The amount of Special Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Special Interest rate by the principal amount of the Notes, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Special Interest rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months and, in the case of a partial month, the actual number of days elapsed), and the denominator of which is 360.

 

5.                                       Registration Procedures

 

In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to) effect such registrations to permit the sale of such securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection with any Registration Statement filed by the Company hereunder, the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to):

 

(a)                                  Prepare and file with the SEC as promptly as practicable, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or if the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not filed because of the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(j), a Shelf Registration Statement as prescribed by Section 3, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided that, if (1) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3 or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period relating thereto, before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to), if requested, furnish to and afford the Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, each Participating Broker-Dealer, the managing underwriters, if any, and each of their respective counsel, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (in each case at

 

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least five Business Days prior to such filing).  The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto in respect of which the Holders must provide information for the inclusion therein without the Holders being afforded an opportunity to review such documentation if the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement, or any such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing underwriters, if any, or any of their respective counsel shall reasonably object in writing on a timely basis. A Holder shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act; provided , that this clause (a) shall not apply to any filing by the Company of any annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q or Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to matters unrelated to the Transfer Restricted Securities or the Holders.

 

(b)                                  Provide an indenture trustee for the Transfer Restricted Securities or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture (or other indenture relating to the Transfer Restricted Securities) to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement; and in connection therewith, to effect such changes to such indenture as may be required for such indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable such indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.

 

(c)                                   Prepare and file with the SEC such pre-effective amendments and post-effective amendments to each Shelf Registration Statement or Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as the case may be, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable to them with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented and with respect to the subsequent resale of any securities being sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such Prospectus.  The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall not, during the Applicable Period, voluntarily take any action that would result in selling Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by a Registration Statement or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking to sell Exchange Notes not being able to sell such Transfer Restricted Securities or such Exchange Notes

 

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during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law, rule or regulation or permitted by this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Furnish to such selling Holders and Participating Broker-Dealers who so request in writing (i) upon the Company’s receipt, a copy of the order of the SEC declaring such Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto effective, (ii) such reasonable number of copies of such Registration Statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including any documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits), (iii) such reasonable number of copies of the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus) and each amendment and supplement thereto, and such reasonable number of copies of the final Prospectus as filed by the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and each amendment and supplement thereto, and (iv) such other documents (including any amendments required to be filed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section), as any such Person may reasonably request in writing. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus by each of the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and the underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by, or the sale by Participating Broker-Dealers of the Exchange Notes pursuant to, such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

(e)                                   If (1) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period relating thereto and from whom the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company shall notify in writing the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing underwriters, if any, and each of their respective counsel promptly (but in any event within two Business Days) (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective (including in such notice a written statement that any Holder may, upon request, obtain, without charge, one conformed copy of such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment including financial statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when a Prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Transfer Restricted Securities the representations and warranties of the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor contained in any agreement (including any underwriting

 

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agreement) contemplated by Section 5(n) hereof cease to be true and correct, (iv) of the receipt by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the Transfer Restricted Securities or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event, the existence of any condition of any information becoming known that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in, or amendments or supplements to, such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (vi) of any reasonable determination by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate and (vii) of any request by the SEC for amendments to the Registration Statement or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto.

 

(f)                                    Use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Transfer Restricted Securities or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer, for sale in any jurisdiction, and, if any such order is issued, to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible date.

 

(g)                                   If (A) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3, (B) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period or (C) reasonably requested in writing by the managing underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in connection with an Underwritten Offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information or revisions to information therein relating to such underwriters or selling Holders as the managing underwriters, if any, or such Holders or any of their respective counsel reasonably request in writing to be included or made therein and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplements or post-effective amendment.

 

(h)                                  Prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities or any delivery of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by any

 

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Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify, and to cooperate with the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any selling Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or any managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, reasonably request in writing; provided that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(i)                                      If (A) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3 or (B) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 is requested to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, cooperate with the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company, and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may reasonably request.

 

(j)                                     Use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, except as may be required solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling Holder’s business, in which case the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to) cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals; provided that neither the Company nor any existing Subsidiary Guarantor shall be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(k)                                  If (1) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any

 

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Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(e)(v) or 5(e)(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable, prepare and file with the SEC, at the expense of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold thereunder or to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes to whom such Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating Broker-Dealer, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, if SEC review is required, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to be declared effective as soon as possible.

 

(l)                                      Use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with such appropriate rating agencies, if so requested in writing by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any.

 

(m)                              Prior to the initial issuance of the Exchange Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with one or more certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the Exchange Notes.

 

(n)                                  If a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3, enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in Underwritten Offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes, as may be appropriate in the circumstances) and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested in writing by the managing underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten Registration, (i) make such representations and warranties to the Holders and the underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as then conducted, and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in Underwritten Offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes, as may be appropriate in the circumstances, and confirm the same if and when reasonably required; (ii) obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters, if any, and the Holders of a

 

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majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold), addressed to each selling Holder and each of the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions of counsel to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors requested in Underwritten Offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes, as may be appropriate in the circumstances; (iii) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof (which letters and updates (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters) from the independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with Underwritten Offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes, as may be appropriate in the circumstances, and such other matters as reasonably requested in writing by the underwriters; and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested in writing by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold and the managing underwriters, if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company and its subsidiaries made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other similar agreement entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

(o)                                  If (1) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, make available for inspection by any selling Holder of such Transfer Restricted Securities being sold, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities, if any, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling Holder or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or underwriter (collectively, the “ Inspectors ”), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “ Records ”) as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all information reasonably requested in writing by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement.  Each Inspector shall agree in writing that it will keep the Records confidential and not disclose any of the Records unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) the information in such Records is public or has been

 

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made generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Inspector or (iv) disclosure of such information is, in the reasonable written opinion of counsel for any Inspector, necessary or advisable in connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding, directly or indirectly, involving or potentially involving such Inspector and arising out of, based upon, related to, or involving this Agreement, or any transaction contemplated hereby or arising hereunder.  Each selling Holder of such Transfer Restricted Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to agree that information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as the basis for any market transactions in the securities of the Company unless and until such is made generally available to the public.  Each Inspector, each selling Holder of such Transfer Restricted Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to further agree that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and, to the extent practicable, use commercially reasonable efforts to allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential at its expense.

 

(p)                                  Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make generally available to the security holders of the Company with regard to any applicable Registration Statement earning statements satisfying the provisions of section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts Underwritten Offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month periods.

 

(q)                                  Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers), addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders participating in the Exchange Offer, to the effect that (i) the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have duly authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange Notes and the Indenture, (ii) the Exchange Notes and the Indenture constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforcement may be subject to customary United States and foreign exceptions and (iii) all obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Exchange Notes and the Indenture are secured by Liens (as defined in the Indenture) on the assets securing the obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Notes and the Indenture to the extent and as discussed in the Registration Statement.

 

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(r)                                     If the Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (or to such other Person as directed by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors) in exchange for the Exchange Notes, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall mark, or caused to be marked, on such Transfer Restricted Securities that the Exchange Notes are being issued as substitute evidence of the indebtedness originally evidenced by the Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that in no event shall such Transfer Restricted Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

 

(s)                                    Cooperate with each seller of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA.

 

(t)                                     In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange, if any, on which similar debt securities issued by the Company are then listed , if requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities or the managing underwriters, if any.

 

(u)                                  Use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps reasonably necessary to effect the registration of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

 

(v)                                  The Company may require each seller of Transfer Restricted Securities or Participating Broker-Dealer as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such information regarding such seller or Participating Broker-Dealer and the distribution of such Transfer Restricted Securities as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request in writing.  The Company may exclude from such registration the Transfer Restricted Securities of any seller who fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time (which time in no event shall exceed 45 days, subject to Section 3(d) hereof) after receiving such request.  Each seller of Transfer Restricted Securities or Participating Broker-Dealer as to which any registration is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished by such seller not materially misleading.

 

(w)                                Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities and each Participating Broker-Dealer agrees by acquisition of such Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(e)(ii), 5(e)(iv), 5(e)(v), or 5(e)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities covered by a Registration Statement and such Participating Broker-Dealer will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Exchange Notes pursuant to any Prospectus and,

 

19



 

in each case, forthwith discontinue dissemination of such Prospectus until such Holder’s or Participating Broker-Dealer’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k), or until it is advised in writing (the “ Advice ”) by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or supplements thereto and, if so directed by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, will deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s or Participating Broker-Dealer’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities current at the time of the receipt of such notice.  In the event the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall give any such notice, the Applicable Period shall be extended by the number of days during such periods from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received (x) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) or (y) the Advice.

 

6.                                       Registration Expenses

 

(a)                                  All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be borne by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, whether or not the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees, including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be made with FINRA in connection with any Underwritten Offering and (B) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws as provided in Section 5(h) hereof (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Notes and determination of the eligibility of the Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Notes for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the Holders are located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as provided in Section 5(h), in the case of Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Notes to be sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)) , (ii) printing expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in any Registration Statement or by any Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period, as the case may be, (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their obligations hereunder, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and, subject to Section 6(b), the Holders, (v) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 5 (including, without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance), (vi)  rating agency fees and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities to be registered on any securities

 

20



 

exchange , (vii) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors desire such insurance, (viii) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, (ix)  fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” or other independent appraiser participating in an offering pursuant to Section 3 of Schedule E to the By-laws of FINRA, but only where the need for such a “qualified independent underwriter” arises due to a relationship with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, (x) internal expenses of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers and employees of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors performing legal or accounting duties), (xi) the expense of any annual audit, (xii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and the Exchange Agent and (xiii) the expenses relating to printing, word processing and distributing all Registration Statements, underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements, indentures and any other documents necessary in order to comply with this Agreement.  Each Holder shall be responsible for paying all agency fees and commissions and underwriting discounts and commissions, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(b)                                  The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel chosen by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in any Registration Statement.  The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall pay all documentary, stamp, transfer or other transactional taxes attributable to the issuance or delivery of the Exchange Notes in exchange for the Notes; provided that the Company shall not be required to pay taxes payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of any Exchange Note in a name other than that of the Holder of the Note in respect of which such Exchange Note is being issued.

 

7.                                       Indemnification

 

(a)                                  Indemnification by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors .  The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities and each Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, each Person, if any, who controls each such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors and partners of each such Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer and controlling person, to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees as provided in this Section 7) and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending against any of the foregoing) (collectively, “ Losses ”), as incurred, directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,

 

21



 

Prospectus or form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any preliminary prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such Losses are solely based upon information relating to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer and furnished in writing to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer or their counsel expressly for use therein.  The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors also agree to indemnify underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers, directors, agents and employees and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of Section 5 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders or the Participating Broker-Dealer.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification by Holder .  In connection with any Registration Statement, Prospectus or form of prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus in which a Holder is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in writing such information as the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors reasonably request for use in connection with any Registration Statement, Prospectus or form of prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, their respective directors and each Person, if any, who controls the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers and partners of such controlling persons, to the fullest extent lawful, from and against all Losses arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, that such Losses have resulted solely from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact contained in or omitted from any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors expressly for use therein.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the liability of any selling Holder be greater in amount than such Holder’s Maximum Contribution Amount (as defined below).

 

(c)                                   Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings .  If any proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “ Indemnified Party ”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the party or parties from which such indemnity is sought (the “ Indemnifying Party ” or “ Indemnifying Parties ”, as applicable) in writing; but the omission to so notify the Indemnifying Party (i) will not relieve such Indemnifying Party from any liability under

 

22



 

paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and only to the extent it is materially prejudiced as a result thereof and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the Indemnifying Party from any obligations to any Indemnified Party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) above.

 

The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to an Indemnified Party, within 20 Business Days after receipt of written notice from such Indemnified Party of such proceeding, to assume, at its expense, the defense of any such proceeding; provided , that an Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or parties unless:  (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such proceeding or shall have failed to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party; or (3) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party or any of its affiliates or controlling persons, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more defenses available to such Indemnified Party that are in addition to, or in conflict with, those defenses available to the Indemnifying Party or such affiliate or controlling person (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Parties in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Parties, the Indemnifying Parties shall not have the right to assume the defense and the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party; it being understood, however, that, the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any one such proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for such Indemnified Party).

 

No Indemnifying Party shall be liable for any settlement of any such proceeding effected without its written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with its written consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such proceeding, each Indemnifying Party jointly and severally agrees, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth above, to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and all Losses by reason of such settlement or judgment.  The Indemnifying Party shall not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement unless such judgment or settlement (i) includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to each Indemnified Party of a release, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, from all liability in respect of such proceeding for which such Indemnified Party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Party is a party thereto) and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

 

(d)                                  Contribution .  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or is insufficient to hold such Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses in respect of which this Section 7 would otherwise apply by its terms (other than by reason of exceptions provided in this Section 7), then each applicable Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party,

 

23



 

shall have a joint and several obligation to contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and such Indemnified Party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and Indemnified Party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such statement or omission.  The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any proceeding, to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in Section 7(a) or 7(b) was available to such party.

 

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), a selling Holder shall not be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of such Holder’s Maximum Contribution Amount.  A selling Holder’s “ Maximum Contribution Amount ” shall equal the excess of (i) the aggregate proceeds received by such Holder pursuant to the sale of such Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Notes over (ii) the aggregate amount of damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7(d) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.  The obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors to contribute pursuant to this Section 7(d) are joint and several.

 

The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 7 are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.

 

8.                                       Rules 144 and 144A

 

(a)                                  The Company covenants that it shall (a) file the reports required to be filed by it (if so required) under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the written request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, make publicly available other information necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 and 144A and (b) take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request in writing, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell

 

24



 

Transfer Restricted Securities without registration under the Securities Act pursuant to the exemptions provided by Rule 144 and Rule 144A.  Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such information and requirements.

 

(b)                                  Availability of Rule 144 Not Excuse for Obligations under Section 2 .  The fact that Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities may become eligible to sell such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144 shall not (1) cause such Notes to cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities or (2) excuse the obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement, including without limitation the obligations in respect of an Exchange Offer, Shelf Registration Statement and Special Interest.

 

9.                                       Underwritten Registrations of Transfer Restricted Securities

 

If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities included in such offering; provided , however , that such investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers must be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

10.                                Miscellaneous

 

(a)                                  Remedies . In the event of a breach by either the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors of any of their respective obligations under this Agreement, each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein, in the Indenture or, in the case of the Initial Purchasers, in the Purchase Agreement, or granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to seek specific performance of its rights under this Agreement.  The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors agree that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by either the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agree that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, the Company shall (and shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to) waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(b)                                  No Inconsistent Agreements .  The Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors have not entered, as of the date hereof, and the Company and each of

 

25



 

the Subsidiary Guarantors shall not enter, after the date of this Agreement, into any agreement with respect to any of its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.  The Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors have not entered and will not enter into any agreement with respect to any of its securities that will grant to any Person piggy-back rights with respect to a Registration Statement.

 

(c)                                   Adjustments Affecting Transfer Restricted Securities .  The Company shall not knowingly, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a class that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to include such Transfer Restricted Securities in a registration undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Amendments and Waivers .  The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written consent of the Company and Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities in circumstances that would adversely affect any Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided , however , that Section 8 and this Section 11(d) may not be amended, modified or supplemented without the prior written consent of each Holder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer or sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered or being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement.

 

(e)                                   Notices .  All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, registered first-class mail, next-day air courier or telecopier:

 

(i)                                      if to a Holder of Securities or to any Participating Broker-Dealer, at the most current address of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the records of the registrar of the Notes, with a copy in like manner to the Initial Purchasers as follows:

 

26



 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Three World Financial Center

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Facsimile: (212) 816-7912

Attention: Citigroup General Counsel

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 S. Tryon Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

Facsimile: (704) 410-4874

Attention: High Yield Syndicate

 

with a copy to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP

811 Main Street, Suite 3700

Houston, Texas 77002

Facsimile No.: 713-546-5401
Attention: J. Michael Chambers

 

(ii)                                   if to the Initial Purchasers, at the address specified in Section 10(e)(1);

 

(iii)                                if to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as follows:

 

ION Geophysical Corporation

2105 CityWest Boulevard

Houston, Texas 77042

Attention:  General Counsel

 

with a copy to:

 

Mayer Brown LLP

700 Louisiana, Suite 3400

Houston, Texas 77002

Facsimile No.: 713-238-4888
Attention: Marc H. Folladori

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, if mailed, one Business Day after being deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one Business Day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery; and when receipt is acknowledged by the addressee, if telecopied.

 

27



 

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee under the Indenture at the address specified in such Indenture.

 

(f)                                    Successors and Assigns .  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders of Securities.

 

(g)                                   Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(h)                                  Headings .  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(i)                                      Governing Law .  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITS AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS.  THE COMPANY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TRIAL BY JURY AND ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.  THE COMPANY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE COMPANY AT ITS SAID ADDRESS, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING.  NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY HOLDER TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST THE COMPANY IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

 

28



 

(j)                                     Severability .  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction.  It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

(k)                                  Securities Held by the Company or Its Affiliates .  Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

(l)                                      Third Party Beneficiaries .  Holders and Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third party beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons.

 

(m)                              Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior oral or written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts, understanding, correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Initial Purchasers on the one hand and the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors on the other, or between or among any agents, representatives, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or successors in interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof are merged herein and replaced hereby.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

29



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gregory J. Heinlein

 

 

Name:

Gregory J. Heinlein

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gregory J. Heinlein

 

 

Name:

Gregory J. Heinlein

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ION EXPLORATION PRODUCTS (U.S.A.), INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gregory J. Heinlein

 

 

Name:

Gregory J. Heinlein

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I/O MARINE SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gregory J. Heinlein

 

 

Name:

Gregory J. Heinlein

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 



 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:

 

 

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKET INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael Zicari

 

Name:

Michael Zicari

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Whitney Wall

 

Name:

Whitney Wall

 

Title:

Director

 

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 



 

SCHEDULE I

 

INITIAL PURCHASERS

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Pareto Securities AS
Dougherty & Company LLC
Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.
PNC Capital Markets LLC
Westlake Securities

 


Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

ION Geophysical Corporation

(Delaware corporation)

 

$175,000,000 8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018

 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

Dated:  May 8, 2013

 



 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

1.

Representations and Warranties of the Company

3

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

Preliminary Offering Memorandum, Time of Sale Memorandum and Offering Memorandum

3

 

(b)

Incorporated Documents

3

 

(c)

Additional Written Communications

3

 

(d)

Organization and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries

3

 

(e)

Financial Statements

4

 

(f)

No Material Adverse Effect

4

 

(g)

Capitalization

4

 

(h)

Legal Power and Authority

4

 

(i)

No Registration Rights

5

 

(j)

Purchase Agreement

5

 

(k)

Registration Rights Agreement

5

 

(l)

Indenture

5

 

(m)

The Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Guarantees

5

 

(n)

Collateral Documents

6

 

(o)

Security Interest

6

 

(p)

No Financing Statements

6

 

(q)

Description of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Indenture

7

 

(r)

No Violation or Default

7

 

(s)

No Conflicts

7

 

(t)

Accuracy of Disclosure

7

 

(u)

No Consents Required

8

 

(v)

Legal Proceedings

8

 

(w)

Independent Accountants

8

 

(x)

Reporting Compliance

9

 

(y)

Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley

9

 

(z)

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

9

 

(aa)

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

9

 

(bb)

Intellectual Property Rights

10

 

(cc)

Title to Real and Personal Property

10

 

(dd)

No Undisclosed Relationships

10

 

(ee)

Investment Company Act

10

 

(ff)

Environmental Laws

10

 

(gg)

Taxes

11

 

(hh)

Compliance with Labor Laws

11

 

(ii)

Licenses and Permits

12

 

(jj)

Compliance with ERISA

12

 

(kk)

Insurance

12

 

(ll)

No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments

12

 

(mm)

No Conflict with Anti-Money Laundering Laws

13

 

i



 

 

(nn)

Compliance with OFAC

13

 

(oo)

Statistical and Market Data

13

 

(pp)

Regulations T, U, X

13

 

(qq)

Solvency

13

 

(rr)

No Restrictions on Subsidiaries

14

 

(ss)

No Broker’s Fees

14

 

(tt)

No Registration Required

14

 

(uu)

No Stabilization

14

 

(vv)

Eligibility for Resale under Rule 144A

14

 

(ww)

Integration

14

 

(xx)

No General Solicitation or Directed Selling Efforts

14

 

 

 

2.

Purchase and Resale of the Securities

15

 

 

 

3.

Payment and Delivery

16

 

 

 

4.

Further Agreements of the Company

16

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

Offering Memorandum, Amendments or Supplements

16

 

(b)

Additional Written Communications

16

 

(c)

Ongoing Compliance of the Offering Memorandum and Time of Sale Memorandum

17

 

(d)

Delivery of Copies

17

 

(e)

Notice to the Representative

17

 

(f)

Blue Sky Compliance

17

 

(g)

Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Securities

18

 

(h)

Use of Proceeds

18

 

(i)

Supplying Information

18

 

(j)

Updating Information

18

 

(k)

The Depositary

18

 

(l)

Indenture Qualification

18

 

(m)

No Resales by the Company

19

 

(n)

No Integration

19

 

(o)

No General Solicitation or Directed Selling Efforts

19

 

(p)

No Stabilization

19

 

(q)

Legended Securities

19

 

(r)

Collateral Filings

19

 

 

 

5.

Conditions of Initial Purchasers’ Obligations

19

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

Representations and Warranties

19

 

(b)

No Downgrade

19

 

(c)

No Material Adverse Effect

20

 

(d)

Officer’s Certificate

20

 

(e)

Comfort Letters

20

 

(f)

Opinion of Counsel for the Company and the Guarantors

20

 

(g)

Opinion of Counsel for the Initial Purchasers

21

 

ii



 

 

(h)

Senior Secured Credit Facility Consent

21

 

(i)

No Legal Impediment to Issuance

21

 

(j)

Good Standing

21

 

(k)

Indenture and Registration Rights Agreement

21

 

(l)

Collateral Documents

21

 

(m)

Additional Documents

21

 

(n)

Solvency Certificate

21

 

(o)

Deliverables to Collateral Agent

22

 

 

 

6.

Indemnification and Contribution

23

 

 

 

 

(a)

Indemnification of the Initial Purchasers

23

 

(b)

Indemnification of the Company and the Guarantors

24

 

(c)

Notifications and Procedures

24

 

(d)

Settlements

25

 

(e)

Contribution

25

 

(f)

Limitation on Liability

26

 

(g)

Non-Exclusive Remedies

26

 

 

 

 

7.

Termination

26

 

 

 

 

8.

Defaulting Initial Purchaser

27

 

 

 

9.

Payment of Expenses

27

 

 

 

10.

Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement

28

 

 

 

11.

Survival

28

 

 

 

12.

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

29

 

 

 

13.

Authority of the Representative

29

 

 

 

14.

Partial Unenforceability

29

 

 

 

15.

Notices

29

 

 

 

16.

Governing Law

30

 

 

 

17.

Definition of the Terms “Business Day” and “Subsidiary”

30

 

 

 

18.

Counterparts

30

 

 

 

19.

Headings

31

 

iii



 

May 8, 2013

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

As Representatives of the Initial Purchasers

 

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Three World Financial Center

388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

 

c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 S. Tryon Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

ION Geophysical Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to the several initial purchasers listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “ Initial Purchasers ”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “ Representatives ”), $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018 (the “ Notes ”).  The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “ Guarantees ”) on a senior secured basis, jointly and severally by (i) the guarantors named in Schedule 2 hereto (collectively, the “ Guarantors ”) and (ii) any subsidiary of the Company or the Guarantors formed or acquired after the Closing Date (as defined herein) that executes an additional guarantee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns, pursuant to their guarantees.  The Notes and the Guarantees are herein collectively referred to as the “ Securities .”  The Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture to be dated as of May 13, 2013 (the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantors and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

 

The Securities will be sold to the Initial Purchasers without being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), in reliance upon an exemption therefrom.  In connection with the sale of the Securities, the Company has prepared a preliminary offering memorandum dated May 1, 2013 (the “ Preliminary Offering Memorandum ”) and has prepared a pricing supplement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Pricing Supplement ”) dated May 8, 2013, setting forth or including a description of the terms of the Securities, each for use by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the offering of the Securities.  The Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the information included in Exhibit A hereto, if any, are herein referred to as the “ Time of Sale Memorandum .”  Promptly after the Time of Sale (as defined below), the Company will prepare and deliver to each Initial Purchaser an offering memorandum (the “ Offering Memorandum ”), which will consist of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum with such changes therein as are required to reflect the information contained in the Pricing Supplement, and from and after the time such Offering Memorandum is delivered to each Initial Purchaser, all references herein to the Offering

 

1



 

Memorandum shall be deemed to be a reference to both the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.  The time when sales of the Securities were first made means 11:35 a.m., New York City Time, on the date of this Agreement (the “ Time of Sale ”).  References herein to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to refer to and include any document incorporated by reference therein.

 

Holders of the Securities will be entitled to the benefits of a registration rights agreement, to be dated as of May 13, 2013 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers, pursuant to which the Company and the Guarantors may be required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”), under the circumstances set forth therein, (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to another series of debt securities of the Company with terms substantially identical to the Notes (the “ Exchange Notes ,” and together with the Guarantees, the “ Exchange Securities ”) to be offered in exchange for the Securities (the “ Exchange Offer ”) and (ii) a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act relating to the resale by certain holders of the Securities, and in each case, to use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statements to be declared effective.

 

As described in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, the Securities will be secured on a second-priority basis by liens on the Collateral described in the Indenture and set forth in the respective Collateral Documents (as defined below), and will be documented by: (i) an intercreditor agreement (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”) to be entered into as of the Closing Date among the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, U.S. Bank National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent under the Indenture (in such capacity, the “ Collateral Agent ”), China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., New York Branch (“ CMB ”), in its capacity as administrative agent under the senior secured credit facility entered into by, inter alios, the Company, CMB and the lenders party thereto on March 25, 2010 (as subsequently amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Senior Secured Credit Facility ”), and CMB, in its capacity as collateral agent under the Senior Secured Credit Facility; (ii) a second lien security and pledge agreement to be entered into as of the Closing Date among the Company, the Guarantors and the Collateral Agent (the “ Security Agreement ”); (iii) the Guarantee issued pursuant to the Indenture as contained in Article 11 thereof and (iv) each other security document or pledge agreement delivered in accordance with this Agreement, the Indenture or the Security Agreement to grant a valid, perfected Parity Lien (as defined in the Indenture) on the Collateral, and all UCC or other financing statements or instruments of perfection required by this Agreement, the Indenture or the Security Agreement (the documents described in clauses (i)-(iv) above, as each may be supplemented or otherwise amended, collectively referred to as the “ Collateral Documents ”) .

 

For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term under the heading “Description of Notes” in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

 

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Initial Purchasers concerning the purchase and resale of the Securities, as follows:

 

2



 

1.                                       Representations and Warranties of the Company .  Each of the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to each Initial Purchaser that:

 

(a)                                  Preliminary Offering Memorandum, Time of Sale Memorandum and Offering Memorandum .  The Preliminary Offering Memorandum, as of its date, did not, the Time of Sale Memorandum, at the Time of Sale, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, and the Offering Memorandum, as of its date and as of the Closing Date, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company in writing by such Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Time of Sale Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum.

 

(b)                                  Incorporated Documents . The documents incorporated by reference in each of the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, when filed with the Commission, conformed or will conform, as the case may be, in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

(c)                                   Additional Written Communications .  The Company and each of the Guarantors (including their agents and representatives, other than the Initial Purchasers in their capacity as such) have not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or distributed and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or distribute any written communication that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities other than (i) the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, (ii) the Pricing Supplement, (iii) the Offering Memorandum, (iv) the documents listed on Exhibit A hereto and (v) any electronic road show or other written communications, in each case used in accordance with Section 4(b).

 

(d)                                  Organization and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries . Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or formed, as applicable, and is validly existing as a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company (or the foreign equivalent thereof), as applicable, in good standing (or the foreign equivalent thereof) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as applicable, and has corporate, partnership or limited liability company (or the foreign equivalent thereof), as applicable, power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum and, in the case of the Company and the Guarantors, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Securities, the Exchange Securities, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents.  Each of the Company and each subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, to transact business and is in good standing or equivalent status in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the

 

3



 

Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Securities (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

 

(e)                                   Financial Statements .  The financial statements together with the related schedules and notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in each of the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries and of INOVA Geophysical Equipment Limited (“ INOVA ”), as applicable, as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of their operations and the consolidated changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States and the requirements of Regulation S-X applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, except as disclosed therein; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in each of the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries or INOVA, as applicable, and presents fairly the information shown thereby.

 

(f)                                    No Material Adverse Effect .  Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is contained in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into or agreed to enter into any transactions or contracts (written or oral) not in the ordinary course of business, which liabilities, obligations, transactions or contracts would, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and (iii) there shall not have been any change in the long-term indebtedness or material change in the capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Memorandum.

 

(g)                                   Capitalization .  At December 31, 2012, on a consolidated basis, after giving pro forma effect to the issuance and sale of the Securities pursuant hereto, the Company would have an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Offering Memorandum under the caption “ Capitalization ” (other than for subsequent issuances of capital stock, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Offering Memorandum or upon exercise of outstanding options described in the Time of Sale Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum).  There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those accurately described in the Time of Sale Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum.

 

(h)                                  Legal Power and Authority .  The Company and the Guarantors each possess all necessary corporate or organizational power and authority to execute, delivery and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the Securities and the Exchange Securities and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4



 

(i)                                      No Registration Rights .  Except as described in each of the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, and pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, there are no contracts, commitments, agreements, arrangements, understandings or undertakings of any kind to which the Company is a party, or by which it is bound, granting to any person the right (other than rights that have been waived in writing in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise satisfied) to require either the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or requiring the Company to include such securities with the Securities registered pursuant to any registration statement.

 

(j)                                     Purchase Agreement .  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors.

 

(k)                                  Registration Rights Agreement . The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and the Guarantors and on the Closing Date will be duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

 

(l)                                      Indenture .  The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and the Guarantors and, at the Closing Date, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.  The Indenture meets the requirements for qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ Trust Indenture Act ”).

 

(m)                              The Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Guarantees .  The Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and the Guarantors and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.  The Guarantees of the Notes on the Closing Date and the Guarantees of the Exchange Notes have been duly authorized for issuance pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture; the Guarantees of the Notes, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed by each of the Guarantors and, when the Notes have been duly executed and authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and issued and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, the Guarantees of the Notes will constitute valid and binding agreements of the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or

 

5



 

by general equitable principles.  The Exchange Notes have been duly and validly authorized for issuance by the Company and the Guarantors, and when issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the terms of the Exchange Offer, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.  When the Exchange Notes have been duly executed and authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and issued and delivered in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Guarantees of the Exchange Notes will constitute valid and binding agreements of the Guarantors, in each case, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

(n)                                  Collateral Documents .  Each of the Collateral Documents has been duly authorized by the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent party thereto), and when executed by the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent party thereto), and delivered by the Company and each of the Guarantors, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the other parties thereto, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent party thereto), enforceable against the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent party thereto) in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles. The Collateral Documents will conform in all material respects to the descriptions therein in the Offering Memorandum.

 

(o)                                  Security Interest .  Upon (i) the Initial Purchasers’ payment for the Notes in accordance with the terms hereof and (ii) the filing of appropriate Uniform Commercial Code (the “ UCC ”) financing statements and the taking of other actions described herein, in the Collateral Documents and in the Indenture, the security interests of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Securities and the liens on the rights of the Company and the Guarantors in the Collateral will be a valid and perfected security interest in all Collateral that can be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement under the UCC as in effect in any jurisdiction and the liens will have the priority described in each of the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum (subject to Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture)), subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles.  As of the Closing Date, the filing of all necessary UCC financing statements in the proper filing offices and other filings and actions contemplated by the Collateral Documents, will have been duly made or taken and will be in full force and effect, or will have been provided to the Collateral Agent for filing or recording, in each case to the extent required by the Collateral Documents, except as otherwise set forth in Exhibit C.

 

(p)                                  No Financing Statements .  As of the Closing Date, there will be no currently effective financing statement, security agreement, chattel mortgage, real estate mortgage or other document filed or recorded with any filing records, registry, or other public

 

6



 

office, that purports to cover, affect or give notice of any present or possible future lien on any assets or property of the Company or any Guarantor or any rights thereunder, except for Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture).

 

(q)           Description of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Indenture .  This Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the respective statements relating thereto contained in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(r)            No Violation or Default .  Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws (or other organizational documents); (ii) in breach of or default under (nor has any event occurred that, with notice or passage of time or both, would constitute a default under) or in violation of any of the terms or provisions of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease, license, franchise agreement, permit, certificate, contract or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or to which any of them or their respective properties or assets is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(s)            No Conflicts .  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the Securities and the Exchange Securities by the Company and the Guarantors and the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their respective obligations thereunder will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or (except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(t)            Accuracy of Disclosure .  The statements in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum under the captions “Risk Factors—Risks Related To Our Business—Our operations, and the operations of our customers, are subject to numerous government regulations, which could adversely limit our operating flexibility,” “Management,” “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,” “Our Business—Intellectual Property,” “Our Business—Regulatory Matters,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Overview—WesternGeco Legal Proceedings,”

 

7



 

“Description of Certain Indebtedness and Other Securities” and “Description of Notes,” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents and proceedings.

 

(u)           No Consents Required .  No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and the Guarantors of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture, the Collateral Documents, the Securities and the Exchange Securities by the Company and the Guarantors and the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their respective obligations thereunder, except (i) for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications that have been, or prior to the Closing Date will be, obtained, (ii) for the filing of a registration statement by the Issuers with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act and the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act as required by the Registration Rights Agreement, (iii) for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or “Blue Sky” laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers (iv) for such filings required to be made under the Exchange Act, (v) for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications that, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (vi) filings necessary to perfect the secured interests in the Collateral and (vii) as disclosed in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(v)           Legal Proceedings .  Except as described in each of the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and to the best knowledge of the Company, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or by others.  The Company believes it maintains adequate reserves for loss contingencies relating to pending legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings, and such reserves are maintained in conformity with GAAP and are based on assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable and accurate.  No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or with the employees of any principal supplier of the Company or any Guarantor, exists or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent.

 

(w)          Independent Accountants .  Ernst & Young LLP (the “ Independent Accountants ”),  who have audited certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and of INOVA, and supporting schedules filed with the Commission and included in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum are (i) independent public or certified public accountants as required by the Securities Act; (ii) in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X; and (iii) registered public accounting firms as defined by the Public Company

 

8



 

Accounting Oversight Board whose registration have not been suspended or revoked and who have not requested such registration to be withdrawn.

 

(x)           Reporting Compliance .  The Company is subject to, and is in compliance in all material respects with, the reporting requirements of Section 13 and Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Exchange Act.

 

(y)           Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley .  The Company and its subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors are in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder).

 

(z)           Disclosure Controls and Procedures .  The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made known to the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Company by others within the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably effective to perform the functions for which they were established subject to the limitations of any such control system; the Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of:  (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a role in the Company’s internal controls; and since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

(aa)         Internal Control Over Financial Reporting .  The Company and its subsidiaries maintain effective internal control over financial reporting (as defined under Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (iv) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.  Since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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(bb)         Intellectual Property Rights .  Except as described in each of the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, licenses, approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively, “ Intellectual Property Rights ”) reasonably necessary to conduct their businesses as now conducted, and the expected expiration of any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as described in each of the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.  None of the Intellectual Property Rights employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries have been obtained or are being used by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge or the Company, or any of its or its subsidiaries’ officers, directors or employees, otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons, except for such violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(cc)         Title to Real and Personal Property .  The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, all Collateral (as defined in the Indenture), in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) are created pursuant to the Indenture and the Collateral Documents and (iv) are Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture).

 

(dd)         No Undisclosed Relationships .  No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders or other affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that would be required by the Securities Act to be described in a registration statement to be filed with the Commission and that is not so described in each of the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(ee)         Investment Company Act .   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will be required to be, registered as an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(ff)          Environmental Laws .  Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) have received all

 

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permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval; (iv) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and (iv) there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to any Environmental Laws. There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(gg)         Taxes .  The Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof, except for those taxes that would not be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and except as otherwise disclosed in each of the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, there is no tax deficiency that has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets that would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(e) above in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries has not been finally determined, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(hh)         Compliance with Labor Laws .  Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there is (A) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements pending, or to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (B) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (C) no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no union organizing activities taking place; (ii) there has been no violation of any federal, state or local law relating to discrimination in hiring, promotion or pay of employees or of any applicable wage or hour laws; (iii) there is no worker’s compensation liability, experience or matter that could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) to the best of the Company’s knowledge, there is no threatened or pending liability against the Company or the Guarantors pursuant to the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act of 1988, as amended (“ WARN ”), or any similar state or local law; and (v) to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no employee or agent of the Company or the Guarantors has committed any act or omission giving rise to liability for any violation identified in subsection (i)(A), (ii) and (iv) above, other than such acts or omissions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(ii)           Licenses and Permits .  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries possesses all licenses, permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all federal, state, local and other foreign governmental authorities, all self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals, presently required or necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its respective properties and to carry on its respective businesses as now or proposed to be conducted as set forth in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum (“ Permits ”), except where the failure to obtain such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company and its subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect to such Permits and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit, except where such revocation or termination would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of any proceeding relating to revocation or modification of any such Permit, except as described in the Time of Sale Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum and except where such revocation or modification would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(jj)           Compliance with ERISA .  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any liability for any prohibited transaction or funding deficiency or any complete or partial withdrawal liability with respect to any pension, profit sharing or other plan that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries makes or ever has made a contribution and in which any employee of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries is or has ever been a participant.  With respect to such plans, the Company and each subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA.

 

(kk)         Insurance .  The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at a cost that is not materially higher than its existing insurance coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

 

(ll)           No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments .  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any director, officer, or employee, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent or representative of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to influence official action or

 

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secure an improper advantage; and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintained and will continue to maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.

 

(mm)      No Conflict with Anti-Money Laundering Laws .  The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Anti-Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(nn)         Compliance with OFAC .  Neither the Company, any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”), and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

(oo)         Statistical and Market Data .  The statistical and market-related data included in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum are based on or derived from sources that the Company and its subsidiaries believe to be reliable and accurate.

 

(pp)         Regulations T, U, X .  Neither the Company nor any Guarantor nor any of their respective subsidiaries nor any agent thereof acting on their behalf has taken, and none of them will take, any action that might cause this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Securities to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

(qq)         Solvency .  Each of the Company and the Guarantors is, and immediately after the Closing Date will be, Solvent.  As used herein, the term “Solvent” means, with respect to any person on a particular date, that on such date (i) the fair market value of the assets of such person is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of such person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets of such person is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities of such person on its debts as they become absolute and mature, (iii) such person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, including contingent obligations, as they mature and (iv) such person does not have unreasonably small capital.

 

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(rr)           No Restrictions on Subsidiaries .  No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company except as set forth in the Senior Secured Credit Facility or as described in or contemplated by the Time of Sale Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(ss)          No Broker’s Fees .  There is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company or any Guarantor any brokerage or finder’s fee or other similar payment as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(tt)           No Registration Required .  Subject to compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2(b) hereof, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers and to each subsequent purchaser in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum to register the Securities under the Securities Act or, until such time as the Exchange Securities are issued pursuant to an effective registration statement, to qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(uu)         No Stabilization .  Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(vv)         Eligibility for Resale under Rule 144A .  The Securities are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“ Rule 144A ”) and will not be, at the Closing Date, of the same class as securities listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S. automated interdealer quotation system.

 

(ww)       Integration .  Neither the Company nor any affiliate (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act, an “ Affiliate ”) of the Company has directly, or through any agent, (i) sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any security (as defined in the Securities Act) which is or will be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities or (ii) offered, solicited offers to buy or sold the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Securities Act) or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

(xx)         No General Solicitation or Directed Selling Efforts .  Neither the Company, its Affiliates nor any person acting on its or their behalf has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (within the meaning of Regulation S) with respect to the Securities; and the Company and its Affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S, except no

 

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representation, warranty or agreement is made by the Company in this paragraph with respect to the Initial Purchasers.

 

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company or any Guarantor and delivered to the Initial Purchasers or to counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company or such Guarantor to each Initial Purchaser as to the matters set forth therein.

 

2.             Purchase and Resale of the Securities .  (a)  The Company hereby agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the several Initial Purchasers as provided in this Agreement, and each Initial Purchaser, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amount of Securities set forth opposite such Initial Purchaser’s name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price equal to 97.5% of the principal amount thereof (the “ Purchase Price ”) plus accrued interest, if any, from May 13, 2013.

 

(b)           The Company understands that the Initial Purchasers intend to offer the Securities for resale on the terms set forth in the Time of Sale Memorandum.  Each Initial Purchaser, severally and not jointly, represents, warrants and agrees that:

 

(i)            it is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A (a “ QIB ”) and an accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act;

 

(ii)           it has not solicited offers for, or offered or sold, such Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Securities Act) or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act; and

 

(iii)          it has not solicited offers for, or offered or sold, and will not solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Securities as part of their initial offering except:

 

(A)          within the United States, to persons whom it reasonably believes to be QIBs in transactions pursuant to Rule 144A and in connection with each such sale, it has taken or will take reasonable steps to ensure that the purchaser of the Securities is aware that such sale is being made in reliance on Rule 144A; and

 

(B)          in the case of offers outside the United States, to persons other than U.S. persons (“foreign purchasers,” which term shall include dealers or other professional fiduciaries in the United States acting on a discretionary basis for foreign beneficial owners (other than an estate or trust)) in reliance upon Regulation S under the Securities Act;

 

that, in each case, in purchasing such Securities are deemed to have represented and agreed as provided in the Offering Memorandum under the caption “ Notice to Investors ”.

 

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(c)           Each Initial Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Company and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 5(f) and 5(g), counsel for the Company and counsel for the Initial Purchasers, respectively, may rely upon the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers, and compliance by the Initial Purchasers with their agreements, contained in paragraph (b) above, and each Initial Purchaser hereby consents to such reliance.

 

(d)           The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Initial Purchasers may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Initial Purchaser and that any such affiliate may offer and sell Securities purchased by it to or through any Initial Purchaser.

 

3.             Payment and Delivery .  (a)  Payment for and delivery of the Securities will be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of the Securities for the respective accounts of the several Initial Purchasers at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP at 811 Main Street, Suite 3700, Houston, TX 77002 at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on May 13, 2013, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing.  The time and date of such payment and delivery is referred to herein as the “ Closing Date .”  The Company hereby acknowledges that circumstances under which the Representatives may provide notice to postpone the Closing Date as originally scheduled include, but are in no way limited to, any determination by the Company or the Initial Purchasers to recirculate to investors copies of an amended or supplemented Offering Memorandum or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section 8 hereof.

 

(b)           The Securities shall be in definitive form or global form, as specified by the Initial Purchasers, and registered in such names and in such denominations, as the Initial Purchasers shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date.  The Securities shall be delivered to the Initial Purchasers on the Closing Date for the respective accounts of the several Initial Purchasers, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor plus accrued interest, if any, to the date of payment and delivery.

 

4.             Further Agreements of the Company .  Each of the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, covenants and agrees with each Initial Purchaser that:

 

(a)           Offering Memorandum, Amendments or Supplements .  Before finalizing the Offering Memorandum or making or distributing any amendment or supplement to any of the Time of Sale Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum or filing with the Commission any document that will be incorporated by reference therein, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Initial Purchasers a copy of the proposed Offering Memorandum or such amendment or supplement or document to be incorporated by reference therein for review, and will not distribute any such proposed Offering Memorandum, amendment or supplement or file any such document with the Commission to which the Representatives reasonably object.

 

(b)           Additional Written Communications .  Before using, authorizing, approving or referring to any written communication (as defined in the Securities Act) that constitutes an

 

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offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (a “ Company Written Communication ”) (other than written communications that are listed on Exhibit A hereto and the Offering Memorandum), the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Initial Purchasers a copy of such written communication for review and will not use, authorize, approve or refer to any such written communication to which the Representatives reasonably object.

 

(c)           Ongoing Compliance of the Offering Memorandum and Time of Sale Memorandum .  If at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Memorandum as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Memorandum to comply with law, the Company and the Guarantors will immediately notify the Initial Purchasers thereof and forthwith prepare and (subject to Section 4(a) and (b) hereof) furnish to the Initial Purchasers such amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Memorandum as may be necessary so that the statements in the Time of Sale Memorandum as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Memorandum will comply with all applicable law.

 

(d)           Delivery of Copies .  The Company will deliver to the Initial Purchasers as many copies of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum (including all amendments and supplements thereto) as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request.

 

(e)           Notice to the Representative s.  The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) of the issuance by any governmental or regulatory authority of any order preventing or suspending the use of any of the Time of Sale Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose; (ii) of the occurrence of any event at any time prior to the completion of the initial offering of the Securities as a result of which any of the Time of Sale Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when such Time of Sale Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any of the Time of Sale Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

 

(f)            Blue Sky Compliance .  The Company will cooperate with the Initial Purchasers in arranging for the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the Initial Purchasers may designate and  will continue such qualifications in effect for as long as may be necessary to complete the resale

 

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of the Securities; provided , however , that in connection therewith, the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(g)           Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Securities .  During the period from the date hereof through and including the date that is 60 days after the date hereof, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company and having a tenor of more than one year.

 

(h)           Use of Proceeds .  The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as set forth under “Use of Proceeds” in the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(i)            Supplying Information .  While the Securities remain outstanding and are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, the Company will, during any period in which the Company is not subject to and in compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, furnish to holders of the Securities, prospective purchasers of the Securities designated by such holders and securities analysts, in each case upon request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

(j)            Updating Information .  If, prior to the completion of the placement of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum, as then amended or supplemented, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Offering Memorandum is delivered to a subsequent purchaser, not misleading, or if in the judgment of the Representatives or counsel for the Initial Purchasers it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum to comply with law, the Company and the Guarantors agree to promptly prepare (subject to this Section 4) and furnish at its own expense to the Initial Purchasers, amendments or supplements to the Offering Memorandum so that the statements in the Offering Memorandum as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances at the Closing Date and at the time of sale of Securities, be misleading or so that the Offering Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, will comply with all applicable law.

 

(k)           The Depositary .  The Company will cooperate with the Initial Purchasers and use its best efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”).

 

(l)            Indenture Qualification .  Prior to any registration of the Securities pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, or at such earlier time as may be so required, the Company shall qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and to enter into any necessary supplemental indentures in connection therewith.

 

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(m)          No Resales by the Company .  During the one-year period after the Closing Date, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) will resell any of the Securities that have been reacquired by any of them.

 

(n)           No Integration .  Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D) will sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the Securities Act) which could be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner which would require registration under the Securities Act.

 

(o)           No General Solicitation or Directed Selling Efforts .  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Securities Act) in connection with the offering of the Securities or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

(p)           No Stabilization .  The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities and will not take any action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act in connection with the distribution of the Securities contemplated hereby.

 

(q)           Legended Securities .  Each certificate for a Security will bear the legend contained in “Transfer Restrictions” in the Time of Sale Memorandum for the time period and upon the other terms stated in the Time of Sale Memorandum.

 

(r)            Collateral Filings .  The Company will, and will cause each Guarantor to, deliver to the Collateral Agent on or prior to the Closing Date all UCC financing statements required in connection with the perfection of security interests as and to the extent contemplated by the Collateral Documents to have been have been completed by the Closing Date.

 

5.             Conditions of Initial Purchasers’ Obligations .  The obligation of each Initial Purchaser to purchase Securities on the Closing Date as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

 

(a)           Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date, and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.

 

(b)           No Downgrade .  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their securities or indebtedness by any “nationally recognized statistical

 

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rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 15c3-1 under the Exchange Act.

 

(c)           No Material Adverse Effect .  There shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect, which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(d)           Officer’s Certificate .  On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company and each Guarantor and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company and each Guarantor, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Section 5(b) hereof, and further to the effect that:

 

(i)            for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date there has not occurred any Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)           the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in Section 1 hereof were true and correct as of the date hereof and are true and correct as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of the Closing Date;

 

(iii)          the Company believes it maintains adequate reserves for loss contingencies relating to pending legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings, and such reserves are maintained in conformity with GAAP and are based on assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable and accurate; and

 

(iv)          the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(e)           Comfort Letters .  On the date hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from the Independent Accountants a comfort letter dated the date hereof, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers with respect to the audited financial information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.  On the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from the Independent Accountants a comfort letter dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, which shall extend to the financial information, if any, contained in the Offering Memorandum and not contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.

 

(f)            Opinion of Counsel for the Company and the Guarantors .  The Initial Purchasers shall have received on and as of the Closing Date favorable opinions from (i) Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, (ii) David L. Roland, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company, and (iii) any additional local counsel opinions, in each case, addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and

 

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substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, and collectively covering the opinions set forth in Exhibit D hereto.

 

(g)           Opinion of Counsel for the Initial Purchasers .  The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

(h)           Senior Secured Credit Facility Consent .  Concurrently with or prior to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Company shall have entered into a consent agreement relating to the Senior Secured Credit Facility, by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and CMB, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, which consent agreement permits the issuance and sale of the Securities, and the Representatives shall have received conformed counterparts thereof.

 

(i)            No Legal Impediment to Issuance .  No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities.

 

(j)            Good Standing .  The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication, from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

 

(k)           Indenture and Registration Rights Agreement .  The Initial Purchasers shall have received a counterpart of the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement that shall have been executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company.

 

(l)            Collateral Documents .  Subject to Exhibit C, at the Closing Date, the Collateral Documents shall have been executed and delivered by all the parties thereto, and the Collateral Agent shall have a valid security interest in all Collateral (as described in the Collateral Documents), in each case to the extent required by the Collateral Documents.

 

(m)          Additional Documents .  On or prior to the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

 

(n)           Solvency Certificate .  On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received a written certificate of solvency executed by the Chief Financial Officer or Chief

 

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Accounting Officer of the Company and each Guarantor, dated as of the Closing Date, in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto.

 

(o)           Deliverables to Collateral Agent .  The Collateral Agent shall have received (with a copy for the Representatives) on or prior to the Closing Date:

 

(i)            copies of all material Loan Documents relating to and as defined under the Senior Secured Credit Facility;

 

(ii)           details of the legal and capital structure of the Company and its subsidiaries, which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

 

(iii)          copies of all membership and stock certificates of the Company and its subsidiaries currently in the possession of CMB constituting Collateral, as collateral agent under the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facility, together with copies of the related stock and membership powers executed in blank;

 

(iv)          copies of insurance policies or certificates and endorsements of insurance evidencing liability, casualty, property and business interruption insurance meeting the requirements set forth herein or in the Collateral Documents.  The Collateral Agent shall be named (i) as loss payee, as its interest may appear, with respect to any such insurance providing coverage in respect of any Collateral and (ii) as additional insured, as its interest may appear, with respect to any such insurance providing liability coverage, and the Company and its subsidiaries will use their commercially reasonable efforts to have each provider of any such insurance agree, by endorsement upon the policy or policies issued by it or by independent instruments to be furnished to the Collateral Agent, that it will give the Collateral Agent thirty (30) days (ten (10) days for non-payment) prior written notice before any such policy or policies shall be altered or cancelled;

 

(v)           appropriately completed copies, which have been duly authorized for filing by the appropriate person, of UCC-1 financing statements or equivalent filings naming the Company and each Guarantor as debtor and the Collateral Agent as the secured party covering the Collateral to be filed under the UCC of all jurisdictions as may be necessary to perfect the security interests of the Collateral Agent in any Collateral held by the Company or the Guarantors to the extent that such security interests can be perfected by the filing of a UCC-1 financing statement, securing the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the Securities;

 

(vi)          appropriately completed copies of Uniform Commercial Code Form UCC-3 termination statements, if any, necessary to release all Liens (as defined in the Indenture) (other than Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture)) of any Person in any of the Collateral and previously granted by any Person shall have been delivered to CT Corporation System or another similar filing service company reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent;

 

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(vii)         reports of UCC, tax and judgment lien searches conducted by a reputable search firm with respect to each of the Company and the Guarantors in each location reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent and the information disclosed in such reports shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (none of which shall cover any collateral described in any Collateral Document, other than such financing statements that evidence Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture));

 

(viii)        all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001) the “ PATRIOT Act ”);

 

(ix)          such other approvals, opinions, or documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in advance in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; and

 

(x)           the Collateral Agent and its counsel shall be reasonably satisfied that (a) the lien granted to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Security Agreement) in the Collateral will be, upon proper filing of the UCC financing statements described in clause (v) above, of the priority described in the Time of Sale Document and the Final Offering Memorandum ; and (b) no Lien exists on any of the Collateral other than the Lien created in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Security Agreement), pursuant to the Collateral Documents, in each case subject to the Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture).

 

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to comply with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers.

 

6.             Indemnification and Contribution .

 

(a)           Indemnification of the Initial Purchasers .  Each of the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, its agents, affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Time of Sale Memorandum, any Company Written Communication or the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state, in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Time of

 

23



 

Sale Memorandum, any Company Written Communication prepared by or on behalf of, used by or referred to by the Company or the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading in each case, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company in writing by such Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use therein, which information consists solely of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

 

(b)           Indemnification of the Company and the Guarantors .  Each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Guarantor, each of their directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with reference to information relating to such Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company in writing by such Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Time of Sale Memorandum, any Company Written Communication prepared by or on behalf of, used by or referred to by the Company, or the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the following: under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, the third paragraph, the fourth sentence of the seventh paragraph, the ninth paragraph and the tenth paragraph.

 

(c)           Notifications and Procedures .  If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 6, such person (the “ Indemnified Party ”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 6 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure; and provided , further , that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Party otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) under this Section 6, as applicable.  If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Party and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Party thereof, the Indemnifying Party shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party and any others the Indemnifying Party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party; (iii) the defendants in any such proceeding include both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified Parties that are different from or

 

24



 

additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party, or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.  It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b).

 

(d)           Settlements .  The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Party shall have requested that an Indemnifying Party reimburse the Indemnified Party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 6(c), the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Party of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.  No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include any statements as to or any findings of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

 

(e)           Contribution .  If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Party under such paragraph shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Initial Purchasers on the other from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Initial Purchasers on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Initial Purchasers on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Guarantors from the sale of the Securities and the total discounts and commissions received by the Initial Purchasers in

 

25



 

connection therewith, as provided in this Agreement, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities.  The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Initial Purchasers on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, or the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or inaccuracy.

 

(f)            Limitation on Liability .  The Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (e) above.  The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (e) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, in no event shall an Initial Purchaser be required to contribute any amount in excess of the total discounts and commissions received by such Initial Purchaser in connection with the Securities distributed by it.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Initial Purchasers’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 6 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

 

(g)           Non-Exclusive Remedies .  The remedies provided for in this Section 6 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Party at law or in equity.

 

7.             Termination .  This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Global Market, (ii)  trading of any securities of the Company or the Guarantors shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities, (iv) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.  Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7 shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 6 hereof and that the Company and the Guarantors shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Section 9(b).

 

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8.             Defaulting Initial Purchaser .  (a)  If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Initial Purchasers defaults on its obligation to purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on the Closing Date, the other Initial Purchasers shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule 1 bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Initial Purchasers with the consent of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase on the Closing Date; provided that in no event shall the principal amount of Securities that any Initial Purchaser has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 8 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such principal amount of Securities without the written consent of such Initial Purchaser.

 

(b)           If any one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities hereunder and the aggregate principal amount of Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on Closing Date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and the Company for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Initial Purchaser or of the Company.  In any such case either the Initial Purchasers or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Time of Sale Memorandum, the Offering Memorandum or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

 

(c)           Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Initial Purchaser of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Initial Purchaser for damages caused by its default.

 

9.             Payment of Expenses .  (a)  The Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents, whether or not the transactions contemplated herein are consummated or this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7 or Section 8(b) hereof, including all costs and expenses incident to (i) the cost of production and printing of documents with respect to the transactions  contemplated hereby, including any costs of printing the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Time of Sale Memorandum and any Offering Memorandum and any amendment or supplement thereto, and any “Blue Sky” memoranda,  (ii) all arrangements relating to the delivery to the Initial Purchasers of copies of the foregoing documents, (iii) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Independent Accountants in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities, (iv) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (v) the qualification of the Securities under state securities and “Blue Sky” laws, including filing fees and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Initial Purchasers relating thereto,  (vi) any fees charged by rating agencies for the rating of the Securities, (vii) all fees and expenses (including reasonable

 

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fees and expenses of counsel) of the Company and the Guarantors in connection with approval of the Securities by the DTC for “book-entry” transfer, and the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their respective other obligations under this Agreement, (viii) the costs and charges of the Trustee and Collateral Agent including fees and expenses of counsel, (ix) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and one-half the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (x) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement, (xi) all costs and expenses in connection with the creation and perfection of liens pursuant to the Collateral Documents (including without limitation, filing and recording fees, search fees, taxes, costs of title policies and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Initial Purchasers, with respect to such matters), and (xii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section.  The Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to pay for any of the Initial Purchasers’ costs and expenses, other than as set forth in this Section 9(a) or as otherwise described in this Agreement.

 

(b)           It is understood, however, that if (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7 or Section 8(b), (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Initial Purchasers or (iii) the Initial Purchasers decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Initial Purchasers for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.

 

10.          Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement .  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates, officers and directors of the Company, each Guarantor and each Initial Purchaser referred to in Section 6 hereof.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein.  No purchaser of Securities from any Initial Purchaser shall be deemed a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

 

11.          Survival .  The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Initial Purchasers contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Initial Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Initial Purchasers.

 

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12.          No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility .  The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Initial Purchaser is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) no Initial Purchaser has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Initial Purchaser has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.  The Company agrees that it will not claim that any Initial Purchaser has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company, the Guarantors and the several Initial Purchasers, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.  The Company and the Guarantors hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company and the Guarantors may have against the several Initial Purchasers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty.

 

13.          Authority of the Representative s .  Any action by the Initial Purchasers hereunder may be taken by the Representatives on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, and any such action taken by the Representatives shall be binding upon the Initial Purchasers.

 

14.          Partial Unenforceability .  The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof.  If any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

15.          Notices .  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication.

 

If to the Initial Purchasers:

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Three World Financial Center

388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

Facsimile: (212) 816-7912
Attention: Citigroup General Counsel

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

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550 S. Tryon Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

Facsimile: (704) 410-4874
Attention: High Yield Syndicate

 

with a copy to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP

811 Main Street, Suite 3700

Houston, Texas 77002

Counsel for the Initial Purchasers
Facsimile: (713) 546-5401
Attention: J. Michael Chambers

 

If to the Company or the Guarantors:

 

ION Geophysical Corporation
2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400

Houston, Texas 77042
Facsimile: 281-879-3600
Attention: General Counsel

 

with a copy to:

 

Mayer Brown LLP
700 Louisiana Street, Suite 3400

Houston, Texas 77002

Counsel for the Company and the Guarantors
Facsimile: 713-238-4888
Attention: Marc H. Folladori

 

16.          Governing Law .  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED WHOLLY THEREIN.

 

17.          Definition of the Terms “Business Day” and “Subsidiary” .   For purposes of this Agreement, (a) “business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close and (b) “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405.

 

18.          Counterparts .  This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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19.          Headings .  The headings of the sections of this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows.]

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

THE COMPANY :

 

 

 

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name:

David L. Roland

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

 

 

 

and Corporate Secretary

 

 

 

GUARANTORS :

 

 

 

GX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name:

David L. Roland

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

ION EXPLORATION PRODUCTS (U.S.A.), INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name:

David L. Roland

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

I/O MARINE SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name:

David L. Roland

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]

 



 

Accepted: May 8, 2013

 

 

 

 

By CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Robert Waldron

 

 

 

Name:

Robert Waldron

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

By WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Jeff Gore

 

 

 

 

Name:

Jeff Gore

 

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

Acting on behalf of themselves
and as the Representatives of the

several Initial Purchasers listed
in Schedule 1 hereto.

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]

 



 

SCHEDULE 1

 

Initial Purchasers

 

Aggregate
Principal Amount
of Securities

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

$

56,980,000

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

56,980,000

 

Pareto Securities AS(1)

 

40,040,000

 

Dougherty & Company

 

5,250,000

 

Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.

 

5,250,000

 

PNC Capital Markets LLC

 

5,250,000

 

Westlake Securities, LLC

 

5,250,000

 

Total

 

$

175,000,000

 

 


(1)          The activities of Pareto Securities AS in the United States will be effected through Pareto Securities Inc. in accordance with Rule 15a-6 under the Exchange Act.

 



 

SCHEDULE 2

 

GX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, a Texas corporation

ION EXPLORATION PRODUCTS (U.S.A.), Inc., a Delaware corporation

I/O MARINE SYSTEMS, INC., a Louisiana corporation

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

Additional Time of Sale Memorandum

 

1.         Pricing Supplement containing the terms of the securities, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

 



 

EXHIBIT B

 

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

 

$175,000,000 8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018

 

Pricing Supplement

 

Pricing Supplement, dated May 8, 2013, to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, dated May 1, 2013, of ION Geophysical Corporation (the “Preliminary Offering Memorandum”).  This Pricing Supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.  The information in this Pricing Supplement supplements the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum to the extent it is inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.

 

Issuer:

 

ION Geophysical Corporation

 

 

 

Notes Offered:

 

8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018 (the “notes”)

 

 

 

Issue Price:

 

100% of principal amount

 

 

 

Principal Amount:

 

$175,000,000

 

 

 

Interest:

 

8.125%

 

 

 

Yield to Maturity

 

8.125%

 

 

 

Maturity Date:

 

May 15, 2018

 

 

 

Treasury Benchmark:

 

0.625% UST due 4/30/2018

 

 

 

Spread to Treasury:

 

738 bps

 

 

 

Interest Payment Dates:

 

May 15 and November 15, commencing November 15, 2013.

 

 

 

Record Dates:

 

May 1 and November 1

 

 

 

Use of Proceeds:

 

The Issuer intends to use approximately $97.3 million of the net proceeds from this offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under its senior secured credit facility and the remainder to pay the fees and expenses incurred in connection with this offering and for general corporate purposes including for potential additional capital contributions to the Issuer’s GeoRXT joint venture.

 

 

 

Guarantors:

 

The payment of the notes will initially be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by each of the Issuer’s material domestic subsidiaries.

 

 

 

Security:

 

The notes and the guarantees will be secured on a second-priority basis by liens, subject to certain exceptions and permitted liens, on substantially all of the Issuer’s personal property and the personal property of the guarantors and proceeds thereof, including liens on the Issuer’s and the guarantors’ seismic equipment and proprietary data libraries, to the extent such assets constitute collateral under the Issuer’s

 



 

 

 

senior secured credit facility. Pursuant to the terms of an intercreditor agreement, the liens on the assets securing the notes and the guarantees will be contractually subordinated and junior to liens securing the Issuer’s senior secured credit facility, additional permitted first lien indebtedness and future indebtedness incurred to replace or refinance the Issuer’s senior secured credit facility and such other indebtedness.

 

 

 

Make-Whole Redemption:

 

Prior to May 15, 2015, the Issuer may, at its option, redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at the “make-whole” redemption price, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.

 

 

 

Optional Redemption:

 

On or after May 15, 2015, the Issuer may, at its option, redeem all or part of the notes at the applicable redemption prices set forth below plus accrued but unpaid interest, and Special Interest, if any, if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on May 15 th  of the years indicated below.

 

 

 

 

Year 

 

Redemption Price

 

 

 

2015

 

104.063

%

 

 

2016

 

102.031

%

 

 

2017 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Clawback:

 

Prior to May 15, 2015, the Issuer may, at its option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes using the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at a price equal to 108.125% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.

 

 

 

Distribution:

 

144A/Regulation S

 

 

 

Ratings of the Notes*:

 

B3/B+

 

 

 

Initial Purchasers:

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Pareto Securities AS

Dougherty & Company

Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

Westlake Securities, LLC

 

 

 

Trade Date:

 

May 8, 2013

 

 

 

Settlement Date:

 

May 13, 2013 (“T+3”)

 

 

 

CUSIP:

 

144A: 462044 AD0

Regulation S: U4608C AC2

 

 

 

ISIN:

 

144A: US462044AD05

Regulation S: USU4608CAC20

 


*Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.

 



 

Modifications to “Description of Notes” in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum

 

The summary of certain material provisions of the indenture appearing in the attached Exhibit A supersedes and replaces in their entirety those provisions as appearing in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.  Deletions from those provisions as appearing in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum will appear in strikethrough and provisions and language that will be added to the indenture as summarized in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum are in bold and underlined .

 

This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.  No offer to buy securities described herein can be accepted, and no part of the purchase price thereof can be received, unless the person making such investment decision has received and reviewed the information contained in the relevant prospectus or offering memorandum in making their investment decisions.  This communication is not intended to be a confirmation as required under Rule 10b-10 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  A formal confirmation will be delivered to you separately.  This notice shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.  The notes will be offered and sold to qualified institutional buyers in the United States in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to persons in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.  The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement.

 

ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED.  SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.

 



 

Exhibit A

 

Description of Notes—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments

 

Clause (10) appearing under the caption “Description of Notes—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments” on page 120 of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum is revised in its entirety to read as follows:

 

(10)                           so long as no Default (other than a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the payment to the holder(s) of repurchase of up to $40.0 million in shares of Series D Preferred Stock outstanding on the date of the indenture in a total amount of up to $10.0 million in connection with the conversion or repurchase of the shares of Series D Preferred Stock outstanding on such date and the payment of dividends thereon ; provided that if ION or a Restricted Subsidiary directly or indirectly uses the proceeds of any Indebtedness to make such repurchase, then at the time of, and immediately after giving effect to, any such repurchase pursuant to this clause (10), the Total Leverage Ratio is less than 1.00 to 1.00 ;

 


Exhibit 10.2

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

SECOND LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of May  13, 2013

 

among

 

CHINA MERCHANTS BANK CO., LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH

as First Lien Representative and First Lien Collateral Agent for the First Lien Secured Parties,

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Second Lien Representative for the Second Lien Secured Parties,

 

and

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Second Lien Collateral Agent for the Second Lien Secured Parties,

 

and acknowledged and agreed to by

 

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION,

as the Company and the other

Grantors referred to herein

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

SECTION 1.

Definitions

2

 

 

 

1.1

Defined Terms

2

1.2

Terms Generally

12

 

 

 

SECTION 2.

Lien Priorities

12

 

 

 

2.1

Relative Priorities

12

2.2

Prohibition on Contesting Liens; No Marshalling

13

2.3

No New Liens

14

2.4

Similar Liens and Agreements

15

2.5

Perfection of Liens

16

 

 

 

SECTION 3.

Enforcement

16

 

 

 

3.1

Exercise of Remedies

16

3.2

Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance

20

 

 

 

SECTION 4.

Payments

21

 

 

 

4.1

Application of Proceeds

21

4.2

Payments Over

22

 

 

 

SECTION 5.

Other Agreements

23

 

 

 

5.1

Releases

23

5.2

Insurance

25

5.3

Amendments to First Lien Documents and Second Lien Documents

26

5.4

Confirmation of Subordination in Second Lien Collateral Documents

27

5.5

Gratuitous Bailee/Agent for Perfection

27

5.6

When Discharge of Obligations Deemed to Not Have Occurred

29

 

 

 

SECTION 6.

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings

29

 

 

 

6.1

Finance and Sale Issues

29

6.2

Relief from the Automatic Stay

31

6.3

Adequate Protection

31

6.4

No Waiver

33

6.5

Avoidance Issues

33

6.6

Reorganization Securities

33

6.7

Post-Petition Interest

33

6.8

Waiver

34

6.9

Separate Grants of Security and Separate Classification

34

6.10

Effectiveness in Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings

35

 

 

 

SECTION 7.

Reliance ; Waivers; Etc.

35

 

 

 

7.1

Reliance

35

7.2

No Warranties or Liability

35

7.3

No Waiver of Lien Priorities

36

 

i



 

7.4

Obligations Unconditional

38

 

 

 

SECTION 8.

Miscellaneous

39

 

 

 

8.1

Integration/Conflicts

39

8.2

Effectiveness; Continuing Nature of this Agreement; Severability

39

8.3

Amendments; Waivers

40

8.4

Information Concerning Financial Condition of the Grantors and their Subsidiaries

40

8.5

Subrogation

41

8.6

Application of Payments

41

8.7

Additional Debt Facilities

42

8.8

Submission to Jurisdiction; Certain Waivers

44

8.9

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

45

8.10

Notices

46

8.11

Further Assurances

46

8.12

Agency Capacities

46

8.13

GOVERNING LAW

46

8.14

Binding on Successors and Assigns

46

8.15

Section Headings

47

8.16

Counterparts

47

8.17

Authorization

47

8.18

No Third Party Beneficiaries/ Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights

47

8.19

No Indirect Actions

47

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

Exhibit I - Joinder Agreement (Additional First Lien Debt)

 

 

Exhibit II - Joinder Agreement (Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement)

 

 

Exhibit III - Additional Debt Designation

 

 

ii



 

SECOND LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

 

SECOND LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT dated as of May 13, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), among CHINA MERCHANTS BANK CO., LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH (“ CMB ”), as administrative agent, as first lien representative for the First Lien Secured Parties (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, and together with any Replacement First Lien Representative, the “ First Lien Representative ) and collateral agent, (or the equivalent) for the First Lien Secured Parties (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, and together with any Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent, the “ First Lien Collateral Agent ) , WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee, as second lien representative for the Second Lien Secured Parties (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Second Lien Representative ”), U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent for the Second Lien Secured Parties (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Second Lien Collateral Agent ”) and each First Lien Representative and First Lien Collateral Agent that from time to time becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.7, and acknowledged and agreed to by ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) and the other Grantors referred to below.  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings assigned to them in Section 1 below.

 

WHEREAS , the Company intends to issue 8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018 (including any related exchange notes, the “ Notes ”) in an aggregate principal amount of $175,000,000 pursuant to an Indenture dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and the Second Lien Representative;

 

WHEREAS , the Company and the other Grantors also intend to enter into the Second Lien Collateral Documents pursuant to which the Second Lien Collateral Agent will be granted a second priority security interest in the Second Lien Collateral, which security interest is subordinate to the security interest of the First Lien Representative; and

 

WHEREAS , the Company and the other Grantors have secured the First Lien Obligations under the First Lien Credit Agreement on a priority basis and, subject to such priority, intend to secure the Second Lien Obligations under the Indenture, with Liens on all present and future Collateral to the extent that such Liens have been provided for in the applicable Collateral Documents, and the Secured Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to confirm their relative rights with respect to the Collateral as provided in this Agreement.

 

In consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants and obligations herein set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the First Lien Representative (for itself and on behalf of the First Lien Secured Parties), the Second Lien Representative (for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties), and the Second Lien Collateral Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties), intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 



 

SECTION 1.                          Definitions .

 

1.1                                Defined Terms .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Additional First Lien Collateral Agent ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “First Lien Collateral Agent”.

 

Additional First Lien Debt ” means any Indebtedness and guarantees thereof that is incurred, issued or guaranteed by the Company and/or any Grantor (other than the Initial First Lien Debt) which Indebtedness and guarantees are secured by the First Lien Collateral (or a portion thereof) on a basis senior to the Second Lien Obligations; provided , however, that with respect to any such Indebtedness incurred after the date hereof (i) such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred, secured and guaranteed on such basis by each First Lien Document and Second Lien Document, (ii) unless already a party with respect to that Series of Additional First Lien Debt, each of the First Lien Representative and the First Lien Collateral Agent for the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to (A) this Agreement pursuant to, and by satisfying the conditions set forth in, Section 8.7 hereof and (B) the First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to, and by satisfying the conditions set forth in, Section 5.14 thereof; provided , further , that, if such Indebtedness will be the initial Additional First Lien Debt incurred by the Company or any other Grantor after the date hereof, then the Grantors, the Initial First Lien Representative, the Initial First Lien Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Representative for such Indebtedness and the Second Lien Collateral Agent for such Indebtedness shall have executed and delivered the First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) each of the other requirements of Section 8.7 shall have been complied with.  The requirements of clause (i) shall be tested only as of (x) the date of execution of such Joinder Agreement, if pursuant to a commitment entered into at the time of such Joinder Agreement and (y) with respect to any later commitment or amendment to those terms to permit such Indebtedness, as of the date of such commitment and/or amendment.  Additional First Lien Debt shall include any Registered Equivalent Notes and guarantees thereof by the Grantors issued in exchange therefor.

 

Additional First Lien Documents ” means, with respect to any Series of Additional First Lien Debt, the loan agreements, promissory notes, indentures and other operative agreements evidencing or governing such Indebtedness, and the First Lien Collateral Documents securing such Series of Additional First Lien Debt.

 

Additional First Lien Obligations ” means, with respect to any Series of Additional First Lien Debt, (a) principal, interest (including without limitation any Post-Petition Interest), premium (if any), penalties, fees, expenses (including, without limitation, fees, expenses and disbursements of agents, professional advisors and legal counsel), indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of the foregoing amounts, in each case whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, payable with respect to such Additional First Lien Debt, (b) all other amounts payable to the related Additional First Lien Secured Parties under the related Additional First Lien Documents (other than in respect of any Indebtedness not constituting Additional First Lien Debt), and (c) any renewals or extensions of the foregoing.

 

2



 

Additional First Lien Representative ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “First Lien Representative”.

 

Additional First Lien Secured Parties ” means, with respect to any Series of Additional First Lien Debt, the holders of such Indebtedness, the First Lien Representative with respect thereto, the First Lien Collateral Agent with respect thereto, any trustee or agent therefor under any related Additional First Lien Documents and the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by the Company or any other Grantor under any related Additional First Lien Documents and the holders of any other Additional First Lien Obligations secured by the First Lien Collateral Documents for such Series of Additional First Lien Debt.

 

Affiliate ” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common control with such Person or is a director or officer of such Person.

 

Bank Product Obligations ” means, all obligations and liabilities (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due or now existing or hereafter incurred) of the Company or any other Grantor, whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with any treasury, investment, depository, clearing house, wire transfer, cash management or automated clearing house transfers of funds services or any related services, to any Person permitted to be a secured party in respect of such obligations under the applicable First Lien Documents.

 

Bankruptcy Case ” means a case under the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law.

 

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

 

Bankruptcy Law ” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

 

Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Cap Amount ” has the meaning assigned to that term in the definition of First Lien Obligations.

 

Collateral ” means, at any time, all properties and assets at any time owned or acquired by the Company or any other Grantor in which the holders of First Lien Obligations under at least one Series of First Lien Obligations (or their Collateral Agents or Representatives) and the holders of Second Lien Obligations (or their Collateral Agent or Representative) hold, or purport to hold, a security interest at such time (or, in the case of the First Lien Obligations, are deemed pursuant to Article II to hold a security interest), including any property subject to Liens granted pursuant to Section 6.1, and shall exclude any properties and assets in which any Collateral Agent is required to release its Liens pursuant to Section 5.1; provided , that, if such Liens are required to be released as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition of any

 

3



 

properties or assets of the Company or any other Grantor, such assets or properties will cease to be excluded from the Collateral if the Borrower or any other Grantor thereafter acquires or reacquires such assets or properties.

 

Collateral Agent ” means any First Lien Collateral Agent and/or the Second Lien Collateral Agent, as the context may require.

 

Collateral Documents ” means the First Lien Collateral Documents and the Second Lien Collateral Documents.

 

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Designated First Lien Collateral Agent ” means (i) if at any time there is only one Series of First Lien Obligations with respect to which the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has not occurred, the First Lien Collateral Agent for the First Lien Secured Parties in such Series and (ii) at any time when clause (i) does not apply, the “Applicable Collateral Agent” (as defined in the First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) at such time.

 

Designated First Lien Representative ” means (i) if at any time there is only one Series of First Lien Obligations with respect to which the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has not occurred, the First Lien Representative for the First Lien Secured Parties in such Series and (ii) at any time when clause (i) does not apply, the “Applicable Representative” (as defined in the First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) at such time.

 

Designation ” means a designation of Additional First Lien Indebtedness or Indebtedness under a Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit II attached hereto.

 

DIP Financing ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

 

Discharge ” means, with respect to any Series of First Lien Obligations or the Second Lien Obligations, as the case may be, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 5.6:

 

(a)                                  payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest (including interest accruing on or after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not such interest would be allowed in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) on all Indebtedness outstanding under the applicable First Lien Documents and constituting First Lien Obligations with respect to such Series of First Lien Obligations or the applicable Second Lien Documents and constituting Second Lien Obligations, as the case may be;

 

(b)                                  payment in full in cash of all Hedging Obligations constituting First Lien Obligations secured by the First Lien Collateral Documents or the cash collateralization of all

 

4



 

such Hedging Obligations on terms satisfactory to each applicable counterparty (or the making of other arrangements satisfactory to the applicable counterparty);

 

(c)                                   payment in full in cash of all other First Lien Obligations or Second Lien Obligations under the applicable First Lien Documents of such Series or the applicable Second Lien Documents, as the case may be, that are due and payable or otherwise accrued and owing at or prior to the time such principal and interest are paid (other than any indemnification obligations for which no claim or demand for payment, whether oral or written, has been made at such time);

 

(d)                                  termination or expiration of all commitments, if any, to extend credit that would constitute First Lien Obligations under such Series or Second Lien Obligations, as the case may be; and

 

(e)                                   termination or cash collateralization (in an amount and manner reasonably satisfactory to the applicable letter of credit issuer, but in no event in an amount greater than 105% of the aggregate undrawn face amount), or the making of other arrangements satisfactory to the applicable letter of credit issuer of all letters of credit issued under the applicable First Lien Documents constituting First Lien Obligations of such Series.

 

The term “ Discharged ” shall have a corresponding meaning.

 

Discharge of First Lien Obligations ” means, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 5.6, the date on which the Discharge of each Series of First Lien Obligations has occurred; provided , that the Discharge of First Lien Obligations shall be deemed not to have occurred if a Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement is entered into.

 

Discharge of Second Lien Obligations ” means the date on which the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred.

 

Disposition ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b).

 

Enforcement Action ” means any action to:

 

(a)                                  foreclose, execute, levy, or collect on, take possession or control of, sell or otherwise realize upon (judicially or non-judicially), or lease, license, or otherwise dispose of (whether publicly or privately), Collateral, or otherwise exercise or enforce remedial rights with respect to Collateral under the First Lien Documents or the Second Lien Documents (including by way of setoff, recoupment, notification of a public or private sale or other disposition pursuant to the UCC or other applicable law, notification to account debtors, notification to depositary banks under deposit account control agreements, or exercise of rights under landlord consents, if applicable);

 

(b)                                  solicit bids from third Persons, approve bid procedures for any proposed disposition of Collateral, conduct the liquidation or disposition of Collateral or engage or retain sales brokers, marketing agents, investment bankers, accountants, appraisers, auctioneers, or other third Persons for the purposes of valuing, marketing, promoting, and selling Collateral;

 

5



 

(c)                                   receive a transfer of Collateral in satisfaction of Indebtedness or any other Obligation secured thereby;

 

(d)                                  otherwise enforce a security interest or exercise another right or remedy, as a secured creditor or otherwise, pertaining to the Collateral at law, in equity, or pursuant to the First Lien Documents or Second Lien Documents (including the commencement of applicable legal proceedings or other actions with respect to all or any portion of the Collateral to facilitate the actions described in the preceding clauses, and exercising voting rights in respect of equity interests comprising Collateral); or

 

(e)                                   the Disposition of Collateral by any Grantor after the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default under any of the First Lien Documents or the Second Lien Documents with the consent of the applicable First Lien Collateral Agent or Second Lien Collateral Agent.

 

Excess First Lien Obligations ” means any Obligations that would constitute First Lien Obligations if not for the Cap Amount.

 

Excluded Assets ” has the meaning given to such term in the Indenture as in effect on the date hereof.

 

First Lien Collateral ” means any “Collateral” as defined in any First Lien Document or any other assets of the Company or any other Grantor with respect to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted or required to be granted pursuant to a First Lien Document as security for any First Lien Obligations and shall include any property or assets subject to replacement Liens or adequate protection Liens in favor of any First Lien Secured Party.

 

First Lien Collateral Agent ” means (i) in the case of any Initial First Lien Obligations or the Initial First Lien Secured Parties, the Initial First Lien Representative, acting in the capacity of a collateral agent under the First Lien Collateral Documents, together with its successors in such capacity and (ii) in the case of any Additional First Lien Obligations and the Additional First Lien Secured Parties thereunder, the Person serving as collateral agent (or the equivalent) for such Additional First Lien Obligations and that is named as the First Lien Collateral Agent in respect of such Additional First Lien Obligations in the applicable Joinder Agreement (each, an “ Additional First Lien Collateral Agent ”).

 

First Lien Collateral Documents ” means the “Security Documents” or “Collateral Documents” (as defined in the applicable First Lien Documents) and any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted securing any First Lien Obligations or pursuant to which any such Lien is perfected.

 

First Lien Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2010, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement and Loan Documents dated as of May 29, 2012, among, inter alios, the Company, the First Lien Representative, and the lenders party thereto, as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and shall also include any Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement.

 

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First Lien Debt ” means the Initial First Lien Debt and any Additional First Lien Debt.

 

First Lien Documents ” means the Initial First Lien Documents and any Additional First Lien Documents.

 

First Lien Obligations ” means the Initial First Lien Obligations and any Additional First Lien Obligations; provided , that if the sum of: (1) Indebtedness constituting principal outstanding under the First Lien Credit Agreement and all other First Lien Documents; plus (2) the aggregate face amount of any letters of credit issued and outstanding under the First Lien Credit Agreement and all other First Lien Documents (whether or not drawn, but without duplication of any amounts included in clause (1)), exceeds an aggregate principal amount equal to the greater of (i) $175,000,000 and (ii) 20% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as such term is defined in the Indenture and as calculated as of the date of the incurrence of such indebtedness after giving effect to the application of the proceeds therefrom) in the aggregate (the “ Cap Amount ”), then only that portion of such Indebtedness and such aggregate face amount of letters of credit (on a pro rata basis based on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness and face amount of letters of credit) equal to the Cap Amount shall be included in First Lien Obligations and interest and reimbursement obligations with respect to such Indebtedness and letters of credit shall only constitute First Lien Obligations to the extent related to Indebtedness and face amounts of letters of credit included in the First Lien Obligations.  For avoidance of doubt, (1) Hedging Obligations, (2) Bank Product Obligations, (3) costs, expenses, indemnities and other liabilities arising under the First Lien Documents and (4) accrued, unpaid interest, fees and premium accruing in respect of or attributable to the aggregate principal amount of the First Lien Obligations, which do not exceed the Cap Amount, including, without limitation, any interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Company or any Grantor of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding, including guarantees of the foregoing, shall be deemed First Lien Obligations and shall not be subject to the Cap Amount.

 

First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement ” means an agreement among each First Lien Representative and each First Lien Collateral Agent allocating rights among the various Series of First Lien Obligations.

 

First Lien Representative ” means (i) in the case of the Initial First Lien Obligations or the Initial First Lien Secured Parties, the Initial First Lien Representative and (ii) in the case of any Additional First Lien Obligations and the Additional First Lien Secured Parties thereunder, each trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent and similar agent that is named as the First Lien Representative in respect of such Additional First Lien Obligations in the applicable Joinder Agreement (each, an “ Additional First Lien Representative ”).

 

First Lien Secured Parties ” means the Initial First Lien Secured Parties and any Additional First Lien Secured Parties.

 

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Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state local or foreign court or governmental department, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body or other agency.

 

Grantors ” means the Company and each Subsidiary which has granted a security interest pursuant to any Collateral Document to secure any Secured Obligations.

 

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under:

 

(1)                                  interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;

 

(2)                                  other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk; and

 

(3)                                  other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or commodity prices.

 

Indebtedness ” means indebtedness in respect of borrowed money; for avoidance of doubt, “Indebtedness” shall not include reimbursement or other obligations in respect of letters of credit, Hedging Obligations or Bank Product Obligations.

 

Initial First Lien Agreement ” means the First Lien Credit Agreement.

 

Initial First Lien Debt ” means the Indebtedness and guarantees thereof now or hereafter incurred pursuant to the Initial First Lien Documents.

 

Initial First Lien Documents ” means that certain Initial First Lien Agreement and the other “Loan Documents” as defined in the Initial First Lien Agreement and any other document or agreement entered into for the purpose of evidencing, governing, securing or perfecting the Initial First Lien Obligations.

 

Initial First Lien Obligations ” means the “Obligations” as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement.

 

Initial First Lien Representative ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

Initial First Lien Secured Parties ” means the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Initial First Lien Documents.

 

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding ” means:

 

(a)          any case commenced by or against the Company or any other Grantor under Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Company or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Company or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative

 

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to the Company or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

(b)          any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Company or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(c)           any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Company or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims..

 

Joinder Agreement ” means a supplement to this Agreement in the form of Exhibit I or Exhibit II hereto, as applicable, required to be delivered by an Additional First Lien Representative, an Additional First Lien Collateral Agent or a Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent or Replacement First Lien Representative to each other then-existing Representative and Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 8.7 hereof in order to include Additional First Lien Debt or a Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement hereunder and to become the First Lien Representative or First Lien Collateral Agent, as the case may be, hereunder in respect thereof for the applicable Additional First Lien Secured Parties under such Additional First Lien Debt or the First Lien Secured Parties under such First Lien Debt.

 

Lien ” means any lien (including, judgment liens and liens arising by operation of law), mortgage, pledge, assignment, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease in the nature thereof) and any option, call, trust (whether contractual, statutory, deemed, equitable, constructive, resulting or otherwise), UCC financing statement or other preferential arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing, including any right of set-off or recoupment.

 

Obligations ” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations with respect to loans, advances and letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the First Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

Pledged Collateral ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5.

 

Post-Petition Interest ” means interest, fees, expenses and other charges that pursuant to the First Lien Documents or the Second Lien Documents, as applicable, continue to accrue after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not such interest, fees, expenses and other charges are allowed or allowable under the Bankruptcy Law or in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

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Recovery ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.

 

Refinance ” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, defease, amend, modify, supplement, restructure, refund, replace or repay, or to issue other Indebtedness whether of the same principal amount or greater or lesser principal amount in exchange or replacement for such Indebtedness. “ Refinanced ” and “ Refinancing ” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Registered Equivalent Notes ” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in a Rule 144A or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act of 1933, substantially identical notes (having the same guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.

 

Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent ” means, in respect of any Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement, the collateral agent or person serving in similar capacity under the Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement.

 

Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement ” means any loan agreement, indenture or other agreement that (i) Refinances the First Lien Credit Agreement so long as, after giving effect to such Refinancing, the agreement that was the First Lien Credit Agreement immediately prior to such Refinancing is no longer secured, or required to be secured, by any of the First Lien Collateral and (ii) becomes the First Lien Credit Agreement hereunder by designation as such pursuant to Section 8.7 .

 

Replacement First Lien Representative ” means, in respect of any Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement, the administrative agent, trustee or person serving in similar capacity under the Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement.

 

Representative ” means any First Lien Representative and/or the Second Lien Representative, as the context may require.

 

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer or treasurer of the Company or the applicable Grantor.

 

SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any successor agency thereto.

 

Second Lien Adequate Protection Payments ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(b)(2).

 

Second Lien Collateral ” means any “Collateral” as defined in any Second Lien Document or any other assets of the Company or any other Grantor with respect to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted or required to be granted pursuant to a Second Lien Document as security for any Second Lien Obligation and shall include any property or assets subject to replacement Liens or adequate protection Liens in favor of any Second Lien Secured Party.

 

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Second Lien Collateral Agent ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

Second Lien Collateral Documents ” means the “Security Documents” or “Collateral Documents” (as defined in the applicable Second Lien Documents) and any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted securing any Second Lien Obligations or pursuant to which any such Lien is perfected.

 

Second Lien Debt ” means the Indebtedness and guarantees thereof now or hereafter incurred pursuant to the Second Lien Documents.  Second Lien Debt shall include any Registered Equivalent Notes and guarantees thereof by the Grantor issued in exchange thereof.

 

Second Lien Default ” means any Event of Default under, and as defined in, any Second Lien Document.

 

Second Lien Documents ” means the Indenture and the other “Note Documents” as defined in the Indenture and any other document or agreement entered into for the purpose of evidencing, governing, securing or perfecting the Second Lien Obligations.

 

Second Lien Obligations ” means the “Parity Lien Obligations” or the “Secured Obligations”, as applicable and each as defined in the Second Lien Documents.

 

Second Lien Representative ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

Second Lien Secured Parties ” means the holders of the Second Lien Obligations and the Second Lien Representative.

 

Secured Obligations ” means the First Lien Obligations and/or the Second Lien Obligations, as the context may require.

 

Secured Parties ” means the First Lien Secured Parties and/or the Second Lien Secured Parties, as the context may require.

 

Series ” means, (x) with respect to First Lien Debt, all First Lien Debt represented by the same Representative acting in the same capacity and (y) with respect to First Lien Obligations, all such obligations secured by the same First Lien Collateral Documents.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of stock or other ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies thereof 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.

 

UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation) as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction.

 

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1.2                                Terms Generally .  The definitions of terms in this Agreement shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”  Unless the context requires otherwise:

 

(a)                                  any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented, modified, renewed or extended and any reference herein to any statute or regulations shall include any amendment, renewal, extension or replacement thereof;

 

(b)                                  any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns;

 

(c)                                   the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof;

 

(d)                                  all references herein to Sections shall be construed to refer to Sections of this Agreement; and

 

(e)                                   the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

SECTION 2.                          Lien Priorities .

 

2.1                                Relative Priorities .  Notwithstanding the date, time, method, manner or order of grant, attachment or perfection of any Liens securing the Second Lien Obligations granted on the Collateral or of any Liens securing the First Lien Obligations granted on the Collateral and notwithstanding any provision of the UCC, or any other applicable law or the Second Lien Documents or any defect or deficiencies in, or failure to perfect or lapse in perfection of, or avoidance as a fraudulent conveyance or otherwise of, the Liens securing the First Lien Obligations, the subordination of such Liens to any other Liens, or any other circumstance whatsoever, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against the Company or any other Grantor, the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, hereby agrees that:

 

(a)                                  any Lien on the Collateral securing any First Lien Obligations now or hereafter held by or on behalf of any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any First Lien Secured Parties or any agent or trustee therefor, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, possession, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall be senior in all respects and prior to any Lien on the Collateral securing any Second Lien Obligations; and

 

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(b)                                  any Lien on the Collateral securing any Second Lien Obligations now or hereafter held by or on behalf of the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent, any Second Lien Secured Parties or any agent or trustee therefor regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, possession, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall be junior and subordinate in all respects to all Liens on the Collateral securing any First Lien Obligations.  All Liens on the Collateral securing any First Lien Obligations shall be and remain senior in all respects and prior to all Liens on the Collateral securing any Second Lien Obligations for all purposes, whether or not such Liens securing any First Lien Obligations are subordinated to any Lien securing any other obligation of the Company, any other Grantor or any other Person; and

 

(c)                                   any Lien on the Collateral securing any Excess First Lien Obligations now or hereafter held by or on behalf of any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent, any First Lien Secured Parties or any agent or trustee therefor, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, possession, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall be junior and subordinate in all respects to any Lien on the Collateral securing any Second Lien Obligations.

 

It is acknowledged that, subject to the Cap Amount (as provided herein), (i) the aggregate amount of the First Lien Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the First Lien Documents, (ii) a portion of the First Lien Obligations consists or may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) subject to Section 8.7(b), the First Lien Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, all without affecting the subordination of the Liens securing the Second Lien Obligations hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the First Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

2.2                                Prohibition on Contesting Liens; No Marshalling .  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party represented by it, and each First Lien Representative and each First Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each First Lien Secured Party represented by it, agrees that it will not (and hereby waives any right to) directly or indirectly contest or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), the priority, validity, perfection, extent or enforceability of a Lien held, or purported to be held, by or on behalf of any of the First Lien Secured Parties in the First Lien Collateral or by or on behalf of any of the Second Lien Secured Parties in the Second Lien Collateral, as the case may be, or the provisions of this Agreement.  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party represented by it, agrees that it (i) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Liens pari passu with, or to give any Second Lien Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Lien securing the First Lien Obligations with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, (ii) will not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any First Lien Obligations or First Lien Document, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this Agreement, (iii) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or

 

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effect of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Collateral permitted under the First Lien Documents and this Agreement by any First Lien Secured Party or any First Lien Collateral Agent acting on their behalf, (iv) shall have no right to (A) direct any First Lien Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral or (B) consent to the exercise by any First Lien Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral, (v) except as permitted by this Agreement, will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against any First Lien Collateral Agent or other First Lien Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and neither any First Lien Collateral Agent nor any other First Lien Secured Party shall be liable for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the any First Lien Collateral Agent or other First Lien Secured Party with respect to any First Lien Collateral, (vi) will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, (vii) object to forbearance by any First Lien Collateral Agent or any First Lien Secured Party, and (viii) until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations, will not assert, and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshaling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may be available under applicable law with respect to the Collateral or any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any First Lien Secured Party to enforce this Agreement, including the provisions of this Agreement relating to the priority of the Liens securing the First Lien Obligations as provided in Sections 2.1 and 3.1.

 

2.3                                No New Liens .  So long as the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has not occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against the Company or any other Grantor, the parties hereto agree that the Company shall not, and shall not permit any other Grantor to:

 

(a)                                  grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset or property to secure any Second Lien Obligation unless it has granted or concurrently grants a Lien on such asset or property to secure the First Lien Obligations, the parties hereto agreeing that any such Lien shall be subject to Section 2.1 hereof; or

 

(b)                                  grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset or property to secure any First Lien Obligations (other than an Excluded Asset) unless it has granted or concurrently grants a Lien on such asset or property to secure the Second Lien Obligations.

 

If the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any Second Lien Secured Party shall hold any Lien on any assets or property of any Grantor securing any Second Lien Obligations that are not also subject to the first-priority Liens securing all First Lien Obligations under the First Lien Collateral Documents, such Second Lien Representative, Second Lien Collateral Agent or Second Lien Secured Party shall notify the Designated First Lien Representative promptly upon becoming aware thereof and, unless such Grantor shall promptly grant a similar Lien on such assets or property to each First Lien Collateral Agent as

 

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security for the First Lien Obligations represented by it, such Second Lien Representative, Second Lien Collateral Agent and Second Lien Secured Parties shall be deemed to hold and have held such Lien for the benefit of each First Lien Representative, each First Lien Collateral Agent and the other First Lien Secured Parties as security for the First Lien Obligations.  To the extent that the foregoing provisions are not complied with for any reason, without limiting any other rights and remedies available to any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent and/or the First Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, agrees that any amounts received by or distributed to any of them pursuant to or as a result of Liens granted in contravention of this Section 2.3 shall be subject to Section 4.2.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, cash and cash equivalents may be pledged to secure reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit without granting a Lien thereon to secure any other First Lien Obligations or any other Second Lien Obligations.

 

2.4                                Similar Liens and Agreements .  Except as provided in Section 2.3, except to the extent any asset constitutes an Excluded Asset, the parties hereto agree that it is their intention that the First Lien Collateral and the Second Lien Collateral be substantially identical.  In furtherance of the foregoing and of Section 8.11, the parties hereto agree, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  upon request by any First Lien Collateral Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Agent, to cooperate in good faith (and to direct their counsel to cooperate in good faith) from time to time in order to determine the specific items included in the First Lien Collateral and the Second Lien Collateral and the steps taken to perfect their respective Liens thereon and the identity of the respective parties obligated under the First Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents;

 

(b)                                  that the documents and agreements creating or evidencing the First Lien Collateral and the Second Lien Collateral and guarantees for the First Lien Obligations and the Second Lien Obligations, subject to Section 2.3, shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents other than (i) with respect to the priority nature of the Liens created thereunder in such Collateral, (ii) such other modifications to such Second Lien Security Documents which are less restrictive than the corresponding First Lien Security Documents and (iii) provisions in the Second Lien Security Documents which are solely applicable to the rights and duties of the Second Lien Representative and/or the Second Lien Collateral Agent, and

 

(c)                                   that at no time shall there be (i) any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Second Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the First Lien Obligations or (ii) any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the First Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Second Lien Obligations.

 

The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, it is understood by each of the parties that to the extent that (y) any Collateral constitutes an Excluded Asset, or (z) any Lien on any Second Lien Collateral is released pursuant to the terms of the Second Lien Documents, the Collateral

 

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securing the First Lien Obligations and the Second Lien Obligations will not be identical, and the provisions of the documents, agreements and instruments evidencing such Liens also will not be substantively similar, and any such difference in the scope or extent of perfection with respect to the Collateral resulting therefrom are hereby expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

2.5                                Perfection of Liens .  Except for the arrangements contemplated by Section 5.5, none of the First Lien Representatives, First Lien Collateral Agents or the First Lien Secured Parties shall be responsible for perfecting and maintaining the perfection of Liens with respect to the Collateral for the benefit of the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or the Second Lien Secured Parties, which shall be the responsibility of the Company.  The provisions of this Agreement are intended solely to govern the respective Lien priorities as between the First Lien Secured Parties on the one hand and the Second Lien Secured Parties on the other hand and such provisions shall not impose on the First Lien Representatives, First Lien Collateral Agents, the First Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Secured Parties or any agent or trustee therefor any obligations in respect of the disposition of proceeds of any Collateral which would conflict with prior-perfected claims therein in favor of any other Person or any order or decree of any court or governmental authority or any applicable law.

 

SECTION 3.                          Enforcement .

 

3.1                                Exercise of Remedies .

 

(a)                                  Until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against the Company or any other Grantor, the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent and the Second Lien Secured Parties:

 

(1)                                  will not commence or maintain, or seek to commence or maintain, any Enforcement Action or otherwise exercise any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral;

 

(2)                                  will not contest, protest or object to any foreclosure proceeding or action brought by any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any First Lien Secured Party or any other exercise by any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any First Lien Secured Party of any rights and remedies relating to the Collateral under the First Lien Documents or otherwise (including any Enforcement Action initiated by or supported by any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any First Lien Secured Party); and

 

(3)                                  will not object to (and will waive any and all claims with respect to) the forbearance by any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or the First Lien Secured Parties from bringing or pursuing any foreclosure proceeding or action or any other exercise of any rights or remedies relating to the Collateral,

 

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in each case so long as any proceeds received by any First Lien Representative in excess of those necessary to achieve a Discharge of First Lien Obligations are distributed in accordance with Section 4.1.

 

(b)                                  Until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against the Company or any other Grantor, subject to Section 3.1(a)(1), the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents and the First Lien Secured Parties shall have the exclusive right to commence and maintain an Enforcement Action or otherwise enforce rights, exercise remedies (including set-off, recoupment and the right to credit bid their debt (including debt related to any DIP Financing) in any sale, except that the Second Lien Representative shall have the credit bid rights set forth in Section 3.1(c)(5)), and subject to Section 5.1, make determinations regarding the release, disposition, or restrictions with respect to the Collateral without any consultation with or the consent of the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party; provided that any proceeds received by any First Lien Representative in excess of those necessary to achieve a Discharge of any First Lien Obligations are distributed in accordance with Section 4.1 hereof.  In commencing or maintaining any Enforcement Action or otherwise exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, the First Lien Representatives, First Lien Collateral Agents and the First Lien Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the First Lien Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in the exercise of their sole discretion in compliance with any applicable law and without consultation with the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party and regardless of whether any such exercise is adverse to the interest of any Second Lien Secured Party.  Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to sell or otherwise dispose of Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with such sale or disposition, and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the UCC and of a secured creditor under Bankruptcy Laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent and any Second Lien Secured Party may:

 

(1)                                  file a claim or statement of interest with respect to the Second Lien Obligations; provided that an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against the Company or any other Grantor;

 

(2)                                  take any action (not adverse to the priority status of the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations, or the rights of any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or the First Lien Secured Parties to exercise remedies in respect thereof) in order to create, perfect, preserve or protect its Lien on the Collateral;

 

(3)                                  file any necessary responsive or defensive pleadings in opposition to any motion, claim, adversary proceeding or other pleading made by any person objecting to or otherwise seeking the disallowance of the claims of the

 

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Second Lien Secured Parties, including any claims secured by the Collateral, if any, in each case in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

 

(4)                                  subject to Section 6.1(b), vote on any plan of reorganization, arrangement, compromise or liquidation, file any proof of claim, make other filings and make any arguments and motions that are, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, with respect to the Second Lien Obligations and the Collateral; provided that no filing of any claim or vote, or pleading related to such claim or vote, to accept or reject a disclosure statement, plan of reorganization, arrangement, compromise or liquidation, or any other document, agreement or proposal similar to the foregoing by the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party may be inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement;

 

(5)                                  bid for or purchase Collateral at any public, private or judicial foreclosure upon such Collateral initiated by any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party, or any sale of Collateral during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding; provided that such bid may not include a “credit bid” in respect of any Second Lien Obligations unless the cash proceeds of such bid are otherwise sufficient to cause the Discharge of First Lien Obligations; and

 

(6)                                  object to any proposed acceptance of Collateral by a First Lien Representative, a First Lien Collateral Agent or First Lien Secured Party pursuant to Section 9-620 of the UCC.

 

The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, agrees that it will not take or receive any Collateral or any proceeds of Collateral in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy (including set-off and recoupment) with respect to any Collateral in its capacity as a creditor, unless and until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, except in connection with any foreclosure expressly permitted by Section 3.1(a)(1) to the extent such Second Lien Representative or such Second Lien Collateral Agent and Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it are permitted to retain the proceeds thereof in accordance with Section 4.2 of this Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless and until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, except as expressly provided in Sections 3.1(a), 3.1(b) and this Section 3.1(c), the sole right of the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent and the other Second Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral is to hold a Lien on the Collateral pursuant to the Second Lien Collateral Documents for the period and to the extent granted therein and to receive a share of the proceeds thereof, if any, after the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred.

 

(d)                                  Subject to Sections 3.1(a) and (c):

 

(1)                                  the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, agrees that such Second Lien Representative or such Second

 

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Lien Collateral Agent and such Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it will not take any action that would hinder any exercise of remedies under the First Lien Documents or is otherwise prohibited hereunder, including any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of the Collateral, whether by foreclosure or otherwise;

 

(2)                                  the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, hereby waives any and all rights such Second Lien Representative or such Second Lien Collateral Agent or such Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it may have as a junior lien creditor or otherwise to object to the manner in which any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or other First Lien Secured Party seeks to enforce or collect the First Lien Obligations or Liens securing the First Lien Obligations granted in any of the First Lien Collateral undertaken in accordance with this Agreement, regardless of whether any action or failure to act by or on behalf of any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or other First Lien Secured Party is adverse to the interest of any Second Lien Secured Party; and

 

(3)                                  the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Second Lien Document (other than this Agreement) shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party with respect to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement and the First Lien Documents.

 

(e)                                   Except as specifically set forth in this Agreement, the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may exercise rights and remedies as unsecured creditors against the Company or any other Grantor that has guaranteed or granted Liens to secure the Second Lien Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Documents and applicable law (other than initiating or joining in an involuntary case or proceeding under any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding with respect to any Grantor); provided that in the event that any Second Lien Secured Party becomes a judgment Lien creditor in respect of Collateral as a result of its enforcement of its rights as an unsecured creditor with respect to the Second Lien Obligations, such judgment Lien shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including in relation to the First Lien Obligations) in the same manner as the other Liens securing the Second Lien Obligations are subject to this Agreement.

 

(f)                                    Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the receipt by the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party of the required payments of interest, principal and other amounts owed in respect of the Second Lien Obligations so long as such receipt is not the direct or indirect result of the exercise by the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any

 

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other Second Lien Secured Party of rights or remedies as a secured creditor (including set-off and recoupment) or enforcement in contravention of this Agreement of any Lien held by any of them or as a result of any other violation by any Second Lien Secured Party of the express terms of this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement impairs or otherwise adversely affects any rights or remedies any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or other First Lien Secured Party may have with respect to the First Lien Collateral.

 

(g)                                   The Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Second Lien Security Document or any other Second Lien Document shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the First Lien Collateral Agent or the other First Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement.

 

3.2                                Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance .

 

(a)                                  If any Second Lien Secured Party, in contravention of the terms of this Agreement, in any way takes, attempts to or threatens to take any action with respect to the Collateral (including, without limitation, any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement), or fails to take any action required by this Agreement, this Agreement shall create an irrebuttable presumption and admission by such Second Lien Secured Party that relief against such Second Lien Secured Party by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief is necessary to prevent irreparable harm to the First Lien Secured Parties, it being understood and agreed by the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party represented by it, that (i) the First Lien Secured Parties’ damages from actions of any Second Lien Secured Party may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable and (ii) each Second Lien Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the First Lien Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages.  Each of the First Lien Representatives and/or First Lien Collateral Agents may demand specific performance of this Agreement.  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, hereby irrevocably waives any defense based on the adequacy of a remedy at law and any other defense which might be asserted to bar the remedy of specific performance in any action which may be brought by any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party.  No provision of this Agreement shall constitute or be deemed to constitute a waiver by any First Lien Representative or any First Lien Collateral Agent on behalf of itself and the First Lien Secured Parties represented by it of any right to seek damages from any Person in connection with any breach or alleged breach of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  If any First Lien Secured Party, in contravention of the terms of this Agreement, in any way takes, attempts to or threatens to take any action with respect to the Collateral (including, without limitation, any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement), or fails to take any action required by this

 

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Agreement, this Agreement shall create an irrebuttable presumption and admission by such First Lien Secured Party that relief against such First Lien Secured Party by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief is necessary to prevent irreparable harm to the Second Lien Secured Parties, it being understood and agreed by each First Lien Representative and each First Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of each First Lien Secured Party represented by it, that (i) the Second Lien Secured Parties’ damages from actions of any First Lien Secured Party may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable and (ii) each First Lien Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the Second Lien Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages.  Each of the Second Lien Representative and/or Second Lien Collateral Agent may demand specific performance of this Agreement.  Each First Lien Representative and each First Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the First Lien Secured Parties represented by it, hereby irrevocably waives any defense based on the adequacy of a remedy at law and any other defense which might be asserted to bar the remedy of specific performance in any action which may be brought by the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party.  No provision of this Agreement shall constitute or be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Second Lien Representative or any Second lien Collateral Agent on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it of any right to seek damages from any Person in connection with any breach or alleged breach of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.                          Payments .

 

4.1                                Application of Proceeds .

 

(a)                                  So long as the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has not occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against the Company or any other Grantor, any Collateral or any proceeds thereof received in connection with any Enforcement Action or other exercise of remedies by any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any First Lien Secured Party shall be applied by the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent and the other First Lien Collateral Agents or the First Lien Representatives, as applicable, to the First Lien Obligations in such order as specified in the relevant First Lien Documents and, if then in effect, the First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement; provided , that any non-cash Collateral or non-cash proceeds may be held by the applicable First Lien Collateral Agent, in its discretion, as Collateral.  Upon the Discharge of First Lien Obligations, each First Lien Collateral Agent shall (x) unless the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has already occurred, deliver any proceeds of Collateral held by it to the Second Lien Collateral Agent, to be applied by the Second Lien Collateral Agent and the Second Lien Representative, as applicable, to the applicable Second Lien Obligations in such order as specified in the applicable Second Lien Collateral Documents, (y) if the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has already occurred, apply such proceeds of Collateral to any Excess First Lien Obligations in such order as specified in the relevant First Lien Documents, and (z) if there are no Excess First Lien Obligations, deliver such proceeds of Collateral to the Grantors, their successors or assigns, or to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.  Without limiting the obligations of the Second Lien Secured

 

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Parties under Section 4.2 hereof, after the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, upon the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Agent shall deliver any proceeds of Collateral held by it, (x) if there are any Excess First Lien Obligations, to the First Lien Collateral Agent, for application by the First Lien Collateral Agent to the Excess First Lien Obligations in such order as specified in the relevant First Lien Documents until the payment in full in cash of all Excess First Lien Obligations, and (y) if there are no such Excess First Lien Obligations, to the Grantors, their successors or assigns, or to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.

 

(b)                                  Whenever a Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any First Lien Obligations (or the existence of any commitment to extend credit that would constitute First Lien Obligations) or Second Lien Obligations, or the existence of any Lien securing any such obligations, or the Collateral subject to any such Lien, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by the other Representative and shall be entitled to make such determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided, however, that if a Representative shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of the Company.  Each Representative may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to the Company, Grantors or any of their subsidiaries, any Secured Party or any other person as a result of such determination.

 

4.2                                Payments Over .

 

(a)                                  So long as the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has not occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against the Company or any other Grantor, any Collateral or any proceeds thereof (including assets or proceeds subject to Liens referred to in the final sentence of the second to last paragraph of Section 2.3 and any assets or proceeds subject to Liens that have been avoided or otherwise invalidated) received by the Second Lien Representative, Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party in connection with any Enforcement Action or other exercise of any right or remedy relating to the Collateral in contravention of this Agreement in all cases shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the First Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.  The Designated First Lien Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Second Lien Representative, Second Lien Collateral Agent or any such other Second Lien Secured Party.  This authorization is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations.

 

(b)                                  So long as the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has not occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced

 

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by or against the Company or any other Grantor, any Collateral or proceeds thereof (including assets or proceeds subject to Liens referred to in the final sentence of the second to last paragraph of Section 2.3 and assets or proceeds subject to Liens that have been avoided or otherwise invalidated) received by the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any Second Lien Secured Party in connection with any Enforcement Action or other exercise of any right or remedy relating to the Collateral not in contravention of this Agreement shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the First Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the First Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct in partial satisfaction of the First Lien Obligations.  The First Lien Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any such other Second Lien Secured Party.  This authorization is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations.

 

(c)                                   So long as the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has not occurred, if the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall receive Collateral or any distribution of money or other property in respect of the Collateral (including any assets or proceeds subject to Liens that have been avoided or otherwise invalidated) such money or other property shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the First Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the First Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements. Any Lien received by the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party in respect of any of the Second Lien Obligations in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 5.                          Other Agreements .

 

5.1                                Releases .

 

(a)                                  If in connection with any Enforcement Action by any First Lien Representative or any First Lien Collateral Agent or any other exercise of any First Lien Representative’s or any First Lien Collateral Agent’s remedies in respect of the Collateral, in each case prior to the Discharge of First Lien Obligations, such First Lien Collateral Agent, for itself or on behalf of any of the First Lien Secured Parties, releases any of its Liens on any part of the Collateral or such First Lien Representative, for itself or on behalf of any of the First Lien Secured Parties releases any Grantor from its obligations under its guaranty of the First Lien Obligations, then the Liens, if any, of the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself or for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties, on such Collateral, and the obligations of such Grantor under its guaranty of the Second Lien Obligations, shall be automatically, unconditionally and simultaneously released.  If in connection with any Enforcement Action or other exercise of rights and remedies by any First Lien Representative or any First Lien Collateral Agent, in each case prior to the Discharge of First Lien Obligations, the equity interests of any Person are foreclosed upon or otherwise disposed of and such First Lien Collateral Agent releases its Lien on the property or assets of such Person then the Liens of the Second

 

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Lien Collateral Agent with respect to the property or assets of such Person will be automatically released to the same extent as the Liens of such First Lien Collateral Agent.  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself or on behalf of any Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, shall promptly execute and deliver to the First Lien Representatives, First Lien Collateral Agents or such Grantor such termination statements, releases and other documents as any First Lien Representative, First Lien Collateral Agent or such Grantor may request, in writing, to effectively confirm the foregoing releases.

 

(b)                                  If any First Lien Collateral Agent, for itself or on behalf of any of the First Lien Secured Parties represented by it, releases any of its Liens on any part of the Collateral, or any First Lien Representative, for itself or on behalf of any of the First Lien Secured Parties represented by it, releases any Grantor from its obligations under its guaranty of the First Lien Obligations, (including, without limitation) in connection with any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of any Collateral by any Grantor (collectively, a “ Disposition ”) permitted under the terms of the First Lien Documents and not expressly prohibited under the terms of the Second Lien Documents (other than in connection with an Enforcement Action or other exercise of any First Lien Representative’s and/or First Lien Collateral Agent’s remedies in respect of the Collateral, which shall be governed by Section 5.1(a) above), in each case other than in connection with, or following, the Discharge of First Lien Obligations, then the Liens, if any, of the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself or for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, on such Collateral, and the obligations of such Grantor under its guaranty of the Second Lien Obligations, shall be automatically, unconditionally and simultaneously released.  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party represented by it, shall promptly execute and deliver to the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents or such Grantor such termination statements, releases and other documents as any First Lien Representative, First Lien Collateral Agent or such Grantor may request, in writing, to effectively confirm such release.

 

(c)                                   Until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations occurs, the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the First Lien Collateral Agent and any officer or agent of the First Lien Collateral Agent, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Second Lien Representative, such Second Lien Collateral Agent and such Second Lien Secured Parties or in the First Lien Collateral Agent’s own name, from time to time in the First Lien Collateral Agent’s discretion, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Section 5.1, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Section 5.1, including any endorsements or other instruments of transfer or release.  This power is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations.

 

(d)                                  Until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations occurs, to the extent that any First Lien Collateral Agent, any First Lien Representative or First Lien Secured

 

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Parties (i) have released any Lien on Collateral or any Grantor from its obligation under its guaranty and any such Liens or guaranty are later reinstated or (ii) obtain any new liens or additional guarantees from any Grantor, then the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and for the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, shall be granted a Lien on any such Collateral, subject to the lien subordination provisions of this Agreement, and the Second Lien Representative, for itself and for the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, shall be granted an additional guaranty, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                   In the event of a Discharge of First Lien Obligations or a voluntary release of Liens securing the First Lien Obligations by the First Lien Secured Parties on all or substantially all of the Collateral (other than when such release occurs in connection with the First Lien Secured Parties’ foreclosure upon or other exercise of rights and remedies with respect to such Collateral), no release of the Liens on such Collateral securing the Second Lien Obligations shall be made unless (A) consent to the release of such Liens securing the Second Lien Obligations has been given by the requisite percentage or number of the Second Lien Secured Parties at the time outstanding as provided for in the applicable Second Lien Documents and (B) the Company has delivered an officers’ certificate to the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Agent certifying that all such consents have been obtained.

 

5.2                                Insurance .  Unless and until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents and the other First Lien Secured Parties shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Grantors under the First Lien Documents, to adjust settlement for any insurance policy covering the Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding (or any deed in lieu of condemnation) affecting the Collateral.  Unless and until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, and subject to the rights of the Grantors under the First Lien Documents, all proceeds of any such policy and any such award (or any payments with respect to a deed in lieu of condemnation) if in respect of the Collateral shall be paid to the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the First Lien Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of the First Lien Documents and, if then in effect, the First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, (including for purposes of cash collateralization of letters of credit) and, thereafter, to the extent no First Lien Obligations are outstanding, and subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Second Lien Documents, to the Second Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties to the extent required under the Second Lien Documents and then, to the extent no Second Lien Obligations are outstanding, to the owner of the subject property, such other Person as may be entitled thereto or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.  Until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, if the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall, at any time, receive any proceeds of any such insurance policy or any such award or payment in contravention of this Agreement, it shall segregate and hold in trust and forthwith pay such proceeds over to the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of Section 4.2.  In addition, if by virtue of being named as an additional insured or loss payee of any insurance policy covering any of the Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have the right to adjust or settle any claim

 

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under any such insurance policy, then unless and until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, the Second Lien Collateral Agent and any such Second Lien Secured Party shall follow the instructions of the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent, or of the Grantors under the First Lien Documents to the extent the First Lien Documents grant such Grantors the right to adjust or settle such claims, with respect to such adjustment or settlement.

 

5.3                                Amendments to First Lien Documents and Second Lien Documents .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 5.3(c), the First Lien Documents of any Series may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with their terms and the First Lien Debt of any Series may be Refinanced subject to Section 5.6 and 8.7, in each case, without notice to, or the consent of, the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party, all without affecting the lien subordination or other provisions of this Agreement; provided that any such amendment, supplement or modification or Refinancing is not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  The Second Lien Documents may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with their terms, in each case, without notice to, or the consent of, any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party, all without affecting the lien subordination or other provisions of this Agreement, to the extent the terms and conditions of such amendment, supplement, modification meet any applicable requirements set forth in the First Lien Documents; provided that any such amendment, supplement or modification is not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, as certified by the Company in an Officer’s Certificate (as defined in the Indenture) delivered to the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent.

 

(c)                                   In the event any First Lien Collateral Agent or the applicable First Lien Secured Parties and the relevant Grantor enter into any amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the First Lien Collateral Documents for the purpose of adding to, or deleting from, or waiving or consenting to any departures from any provisions of, any First Lien Collateral Document or changing in any manner the rights of the applicable First Lien Collateral Agent, such First Lien Secured Parties, the Company or any other Grantor thereunder, then such amendment, waiver or consent shall apply automatically to any comparable provision of a Second Lien Collateral Document without the consent of the Second Lien Representative, Second Lien Collateral Agent or other Second Lien Secured Party and without any action by the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Company or any other Grantor, provided that:

 

(1)                                  no such amendment, waiver or consent shall have the effect of:

 

(A)                                removing assets subject to the Lien of the Second Lien Collateral Documents, except to the extent that a release of such Lien is permitted or required by Section 5.1 and provided that

 

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there is a corresponding release of the Liens securing the First Lien Obligations;

 

(B)                                imposing duties on, or adversely affecting the rights, protections and limitations of liability of, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or the Second Lien Representative without its prior written consent;

 

(C)                                permitting other Liens on the Collateral not permitted under the terms of the Second Lien Documents or Section 6 hereof; or

 

(D)                                being prejudicial to the interests of the Second Lien Secured Parties to a greater extent than the First Lien Secured Parties (other than by virtue of their relative priority and the rights and obligations hereunder); and

 

(2)                                  notice of such amendment, waiver or consent will be given to the Second Lien Collateral Agent by the applicable First Lien Collateral Agent no later than 30 days after its effectiveness, provided that the failure to give such notice will not affect the effectiveness and validity thereof nor create any liability of the applicable First Lien Collateral Agent.

 

5.4                                Confirmation of Subordination in Second Lien Collateral Documents .  The Company agrees that each Second Lien Collateral Document shall include the following language (or language to similar effect approved by the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent):

 

“Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the lien and security interest granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent hereunder are subject to the provisions of the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2013 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement ”), among ION Geophysical Corporation, the Grantors from time to time party thereto, China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., New York Branch, as First Lien Representative (as defined therein), China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., New York Branch, as First Lien Collateral Agent (as defined therein), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Representative (as defined therein), U.S. Bank National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Agent (as defined therein) and certain other persons party or that may become party thereto from time to time.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement, the terms of the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.”

 

5.5                                Gratuitous Bailee/Agent for Perfection .

 

(a)                                  Each First Lien Collateral Agent agrees to hold that part of the Collateral that is in its possession or control (or in the possession or control of its agents or bailees) to the extent that possession or control thereof is taken to perfect a Lien thereon under the UCC (such Collateral being the “ Pledged Collateral ”) as gratuitous

 

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bailee for the Second Lien Collateral Agent (such bailment being intended, among other things, to satisfy the requirements of Sections 8-106(d)(3), 8-301(a)(2) and 9-313(c) of the UCC) and any assignee thereof solely for the purpose of perfecting the security interest granted under the First Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents, respectively, subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 5.5.  Solely with respect to any deposit accounts under the control (within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the UCC) of any First Lien Collateral Agent, such First Lien Collateral Agent agrees to also hold control over such deposit accounts as gratuitous agent for the Second Lien Collateral Agent, subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 5.5.

 

(b)                                  No First Lien Collateral Agent shall have any obligation whatsoever to the other First Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or the Second Lien Secured Parties to ensure that the Pledged Collateral is genuine or owned by any of the Grantors or to preserve rights or benefits of any Person except as expressly set forth in this Section 5.5.  The duties or responsibilities of any First Lien Collateral Agent under this Section 5.5 shall be limited solely to holding the Pledged Collateral as bailee (and with respect to deposit accounts, agent) in accordance with this Section 5.5 and delivering the Pledged Collateral upon a Discharge of First Lien Obligations as provided in paragraph (d) below.

 

(c)                                   No First Lien Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party shall have by reason of the First Lien Collateral Documents, the Second Lien Collateral Documents, this Agreement or any other document a fiduciary relationship in respect of the Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party and the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent and the Second Lien Secured Parties hereby waive and release the First Lien Collateral Agents and the other First Lien Secured Parties from all claims and liabilities arising pursuant to any First Lien Collateral Agent’s role under this Section 5.5 as gratuitous bailee and gratuitous agent with respect to the Pledged Collateral.  It is understood and agreed that the interests of the First Lien Collateral Agents and the other First Lien Secured Parties, on the one hand, and the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent and the other Second Lien Secured Parties on the other hand, may differ and the First Lien Collateral Agents and the other First Lien Secured Parties shall be fully entitled to act in their own interest without taking into account the interests of the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or other Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

(d)                                  Upon the Discharge of First Lien Obligations, each First Lien Collateral Agent shall deliver the remaining Pledged Collateral in its possession (if any) together with any necessary endorsements (which endorsement shall be without recourse and without any representation or warranty), (x) unless the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has not already occurred, to the Second Lien Collateral Agent, (y) if the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has already occurred, to the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent to the extent Excess First Lien Obligations remain outstanding and (z), if there are no Excess First Lien Obligations, to the Company or to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.  Following the Discharge of First Lien Obligations, each First Lien Collateral Agent further agrees to take all other action reasonably requested by the Second Lien Collateral Agent at the expense of the Company in

 

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connection with the Second Lien Collateral Agent obtaining a first-priority security interest in the Collateral.  After the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, upon the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Agent shall deliver the remaining Pledged Collateral in its possession (if any) together with any necessary endorsements (which endorsement shall be without recourse and without any representation or warranty), (x) if there are then any Excess First Lien Obligations, to the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent and (y) to the extent no Excess First Lien Obligations remain outstanding, to the Company or to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.

 

5.6                                When Discharge of Obligations Deemed to Not Have Occurred . If, at any time after the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, the Company thereafter enters into any Refinancing of any First Lien Document evidencing a First Lien Obligation which Refinancing is permitted hereunder, by the First Lien Documents and by the Second Lien Documents, then such Discharge of First Lien Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of First Lien Obligations), and, from and after the date on which the Replacement First Lien Representative and Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent in respect of such Refinancing each becomes a party to this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.7(b), the obligations under such Refinancing of the applicable First Lien Document shall automatically be treated as First Lien Obligations for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth herein, and the Replacement First Lien Representative and the Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent under such new First Lien Documents shall be a First Lien Representative and First Lien Collateral Agent, respectively, for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 6.                          Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings .

 

6.1                                Finance and Sale Issues .

 

(a)                                  Until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, if the Company or any other Grantor shall be subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and any First Lien Representative shall desire to permit the use of “Cash Collateral” (as such term is defined in Section 363(a) of the Bankruptcy Code), on which such First Lien Representative, such First Lien Collateral Agent or any other creditor has a Lien or to permit the Company or any other Grantor to obtain financing, whether from the First Lien Secured Parties or any other Person under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar Bankruptcy Law (“ DIP Financing ”), then the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, will not object to such Cash Collateral use or DIP Financing, including any proposed orders for such Cash Collateral use and/or DIP Financing which are acceptable to any First Lien Representative) and to the extent the Liens securing the First Lien Obligations are discharged, subordinated to or pari passu with such DIP Financing, the Second Lien Collateral Agent will subordinate its Liens in the Collateral to the Liens securing such DIP Financing (and all Obligations relating thereto) and the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, will not request

 

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adequate protection or any other relief in connection therewith (except as expressly agreed by the Designated First Lien Representative or to the extent permitted by Section 6.3); provided that the aggregate principal amount of the DIP Financing, when taken together with any remaining First Lien Obligations, shall not exceed an amount equal to 115% of the aggregate principal amount of First Lien Obligations outstanding immediately prior to the commencement of such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and the Second Lien Representative and the other Second Lien Secured Parties retain the right to object to any ancillary agreements or arrangements regarding Cash Collateral use or the DIP Financing that are materially prejudicial to their interests.  No Second Lien Secured Party may provide DIP Financing to the Company or any other Grantor secured by Liens equal or senior in priority to the Liens securing any First Lien Obligations.  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, agrees that it will not seek consultation rights in connection with, and it will not object to or oppose, a motion to sell, liquidate or otherwise dispose of Collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code if the requisite First Lien Secured Parties have consented to such sale, liquidation or other disposition.  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, further agrees that it will not directly or indirectly oppose or impede entry of any order in connection with such sale, liquidation or other disposition, including orders to retain professionals or set bid procedures in connection with such sale, liquidation or disposition, if the requisite First Lien Secured Parties have consented to (i) such retention of professionals and bid procedures in connection with such sale, liquidation or disposition of such assets and (ii) the sale, liquidation or disposition of such assets, in which event the Second Lien Secured Parties will be deemed to have consented to the sale or disposition of Collateral pursuant to Section 363(f) of the Bankruptcy Code and such motion does not impair the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties under Section 363(k) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(b)                                  The Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Second Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall propose, support or vote for any plan of reorganization or disclosure statement of the Company or any other Grantor unless such plan is accepted by the class of First Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise provides for the payment in full in cash of all First Lien Obligations (including all post-petition interest, fees and expenses) on the effective date of such plan of reorganization.

 

(c)                                   So long as the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has not occurred, without the express written consent of the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent, neither Second Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by any of First Lien Secured Parties or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section

 

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506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) oppose the payment to the First Lien Secured Parties of interest, fees or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding a determination is made that any Lien encumbering any Collateral is not enforceable for any reason, then the Second Lien Collateral Agent for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that, any distribution or recovery they may receive with respect to, or allocable to, the value of the assets constituting Collateral subject to an enforceable Lien in favor of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any proceeds thereof shall (for so long as the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has not occurred) be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the First Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received without recourse, representation or warranty (other than a representation of the Second Lien Collateral Agent that it has not otherwise sold, assigned, transferred or pledged any right, title or interest in and to such distribution or recovery) but with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations occurs, the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, hereby appoints the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent, and any officer or agent of the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent, with full power of substitution, the attorney-in-fact of each Second Lien Secured Party for the limited purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section 6.1(e) and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 6.1(e), which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

 

6.2                                Relief from the Automatic Stay .  Until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, agrees that none of them shall: (i) seek (or support any other Person seeking) relief from the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Collateral, without the prior written consent of the First Lien Representatives or (ii) oppose (or support any other Person in opposing) any request by any First Lien Representative or First Lien Collateral Agent for relief from such stay.

 

6.3                                Adequate Protection and Other Agreements .

 

(a)                                  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Second Lien Secured Party will file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral, nor object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting):

 

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(1)                                  any request by any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or other First Lien Secured Party for adequate protection under any Bankruptcy Law; or

 

(2)                                  any objection by any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or other First Lien Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on such First Lien Representative, First Lien Collateral Agent or First Lien Secured Party claiming a lack of adequate protection.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding:

 

(1)                                  if the First Lien Secured Parties (or any subset thereof) are granted adequate protection in the form of additional collateral in connection with any DIP Financing or use of cash collateral under Section 363 or Section 364 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar Bankruptcy Law, then each Second Lien Representative, on behalf of itself and any applicable Second Lien Secured Party, (A) may seek or request adequate protection in the form of a replacement Lien on such additional collateral, which Lien is subordinated to the Liens securing the First Lien Debt and such DIP Financing (and all Obligations relating thereto) on the same basis as the Liens securing the Second Lien Debt are subordinated to the Liens securing First Lien Debt under this Agreement and (B) agrees that it will not seek or request, and will not accept, adequate protection in any other form, and

 

(2)                                  in the event any Second Lien Representative, on behalf of itself or any applicable Second Lien Secured Party, seeks or requests adequate protection and such adequate protection is granted in the form of additional collateral, then such Second Lien Representative, on behalf of itself or each such Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that the First Lien Representative shall also be granted a senior Lien on such additional collateral as security for the applicable First Lien Debt and any such DIP Financing and that any Lien on such additional collateral securing the Second Lien Debt shall be subordinated to the Liens on such collateral securing the First Lien Debt and any such DIP Financing (and all Obligations relating thereto) and any other Liens granted to the First Lien Secured Parties as adequate protection on the same basis as the other Liens securing the Second Lien Debt are subordinated to such Liens securing First Lien Debt under this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, agrees that notice of a hearing to approve DIP Financing or use of Cash Collateral on an interim basis shall be adequate if delivered to such Second Lien Representative and Second Lien Collateral Agent at least two (2) Business Days in advance of such hearing and that notice of a hearing to approve DIP Financing or use of Cash Collateral on a final

 

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basis shall be adequate if delivered to such Second Lien Representative and Second Lien Collateral Agent at least fifteen (15) days in advance of such hearing.

 

6.4                                No Waiver .  Subject to Section 6.7(b), nothing contained herein shall prohibit or in any way limit any First Lien Representative or any other First Lien Secured Party from objecting in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to any action taken by the Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party, including the seeking by the Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party of adequate protection or the asserting by the Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party of any of its rights and remedies under the Second Lien Documents or otherwise.

 

6.5                                Avoidance Issues .  If any First Lien Secured Party is required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of the Company or any other Grantor any amount paid, whether received as a payment from the proceeds of Collateral or other security, enforcement of set off rights, or otherwise, in respect of First Lien Obligations (a “ Recovery ) , then such First Lien Secured Party shall be entitled to a reinstatement of its First Lien Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts on the date of such Recovery, and from and after the date of such reinstatement the Discharge of First Lien Obligations shall be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes hereunder.  If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to such Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto from such date of reinstatement and to the extent the Cap Amount was decreased in connection with such payment of the First Lien Obligations, the Cap Amount shall be increased to such extent.

 

6.6                                Reorganization Securities .  If, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, debt obligations of the reorganized debtor secured by Liens upon any property of the reorganized debtor are distributed pursuant to a plan of reorganization, arrangement, compromise or liquidation or similar dispositive restructuring plan, both on account of First Lien Obligations and on account of Second Lien Obligations, then, to the extent the debt obligations distributed on account of the First Lien Obligations and on account of the Second Lien Obligations are secured by Liens upon the same property, the provisions of this Agreement will survive the distribution of such debt obligations pursuant to such plan and will apply with like effect to the Liens securing such debt obligations.

 

6.7                                Post-Petition Interest .

 

(a)                                  None of the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party for allowance in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of First Lien Obligations consisting of Post-Petition Interest to the extent of the value of the Lien of the First Lien Collateral Agents on behalf of the First Lien Secured Parties on the Collateral or any other First Lien Secured Party’s Lien, without regard to the existence of the Liens of the Second Lien Collateral Agent on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties on the Collateral.

 

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(b)                                  None of any First Lien Representative, First Lien Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Second Lien Representative, Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party for allowance in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Second Lien Obligations consisting of Post-Petition Interest to the extent of the value of the Lien of the Second Lien Collateral Agent on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties on the Collateral (after taking into account the value of the First Lien Obligations).

 

6.8                                Waivers .  Until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred, the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it:

 

(a)                                  waives the right to make an election under, and any claim it may hereafter have against any First Lien Secured Party arising out of the election of any First Lien Secured Party of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code, and/or out of any cash collateral or financing arrangement or out of any grant of a security interest in connection with the Collateral in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and agrees not to object to, oppose, support any objection or take any other action to impede, the right of any First Lien Secured Party to make an election under Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code, so long as such actions are not in express contravention of the terms of this Agreement; and

 

(b)                                  waives any right to serve and agrees that it will not serve on any official or ad hoc unsecured creditor committee or group of unsecured creditors in any Bankruptcy Case involving the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

6.9                                Separate Grants of Security and Separate Classification .  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, and each First Lien Representative and each First Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the First Lien Secured Parties represented by it, acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a)                                  the grants of Liens pursuant to the First Lien Collateral Documents and the Second Lien Collateral Documents constitute two separate and distinct grants of Liens; and

 

(b)                                  because of, among other things, their differing rights in the Collateral, the Second Lien Obligations are fundamentally different from the First Lien Obligations and must be separately classified in any plan of reorganization proposed or adopted in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

To further effectuate the intent of the parties as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, if it is held that the claims of the First Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties in respect of the Collateral constitute only one secured claim (rather than separate classes of senior and junior secured claims), then each of the parties hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that all distributions shall be made as if there were separate classes of senior and junior secured claims against the Grantors in respect of the Collateral (with the effect

 

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being that, to the extent that the aggregate value of the Collateral is sufficient (for this purpose ignoring all claims held by the Second Lien Secured Parties), the First Lien Secured Parties shall be entitled to receive, in addition to amounts distributed to them in respect of principal, pre-petition interest and other claims, all amounts owing (or that would be owing if there were such separate classes of senior and junior secured claims) in respect of Post-Petition Interest, including any additional interest payable pursuant to the First Lien Documents, arising from or related to a default, which is disallowed as a claim in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) before any distribution is made in respect of the claims held by the Second Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral, with the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, hereby acknowledging and agreeing to turn over to the Designated First Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the First Lien Secured Parties, Collateral or proceeds of Collateral otherwise received or receivable by them to the extent necessary to effectuate the intent of this sentence, even if such turnover has the effect of reducing the claim or recovery of the Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

6.10                         Effectiveness in Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings .  The Parties acknowledge that this Agreement is a “subordination agreement” under section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, which will be effective before, during and after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. All references in this Agreement to any Grantor will include such Person as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Person in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

SECTION 7.                          Reliance ; Waivers; Etc.

 

7.1                                Reliance .  Other than any reliance on the terms of this Agreement, each First Lien Representative and each First Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the First Lien Secured Parties represented by it, acknowledges that it and such First Lien Secured Parties have, independently and without reliance on the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party, and based on documents and information deemed by them appropriate, made their own credit analysis and decision to enter into each of the First Lien Documents and be bound by the terms of this Agreement and they will continue to make their own credit decision in taking or not taking any action under the First Lien Documents or this Agreement.  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, acknowledges that it and such Second Lien Secured Parties have, independently and without reliance on any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any other First Lien Secured Party, and based on documents and information deemed by them appropriate, made their own credit analysis and decision to enter into each of the Second Lien Documents and be bound by the terms of this Agreement and they will continue to make their own credit decision in taking or not taking any action under the Second Lien Documents or this Agreement.

 

7.2                                No Warranties or Liability .  Each First Lien Representative and each First Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the First Lien Secured Parties represented by it, acknowledges and agrees that no Second Lien Representative or other Second Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Second

 

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Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the Second Lien Secured Parties will be entitled to manage and supervise their respective extensions of credit under the Second Lien Documents in accordance with law and as they may otherwise, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate.  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, acknowledges and agrees that no First Lien Representative or other First Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the First Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the First Lien Secured Parties will be entitled to manage and supervise their respective loans and extensions of credit under the First Lien Documents in accordance with law and as they may otherwise, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate.  The Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent and the other Second Lien Secured Parties shall have no duty to the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents or any of the other First Lien Secured Parties, and the First Lien Representatives and the other First Lien Secured Parties shall have no duty to the Second Lien Representative or any of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, to act or refrain from acting in a manner which allows, or results in, the occurrence or continuance of an event of default or default under any agreements with the Company or any other Grantor (including the First Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents), regardless of any knowledge thereof which they may have or be charged with.

 

7.3                                No Waiver of Lien Priorities .

 

(a)                                  No right of the First Lien Secured Parties, the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents or any of them to enforce any provision of this Agreement or any First Lien Document shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or any other Grantor or by any act or failure to act by any First Lien Secured Party, First Lien Representative or First Lien Collateral Agent, or by any noncompliance by any Person with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Agreement, any of the First Lien Documents or any of the Second Lien Documents, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any other First Lien Representative, First Lien Collateral Agent or any First Lien Secured Party, or any of them, may have or be otherwise charged with.

 

(b)                                  Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph (but subject to the rights of the Company and the other Grantors under the First Lien Documents and subject to the provisions of Section 1.1(a)), the First Lien Secured Parties, the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents and any of them may, at any time and from time to time in accordance with the First Lien Documents and/or applicable law, without the consent of, or notice to, the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party, without incurring any liabilities to the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party and without impairing or releasing the Lien priorities and other benefits provided in this Agreement (even if any right of subrogation or other right or remedy of the Second Lien Representative, the

 

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Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party is affected, impaired or extinguished thereby) do any one or more of the following:

 

(1)                                  change the manner, place or terms of payment or change or extend the time of payment of, or amend, renew, exchange, increase or alter, the terms of any of the First Lien Obligations or any Lien on any First Lien Collateral or guaranty of any of the First Lien Obligations or any liability of the Company or any other Grantor, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof (including any increase in or extension of the First Lien Obligations, without any restriction as to the tenor or terms of any such increase or extension) or otherwise amend, renew, exchange, extend, modify or supplement in any manner any Liens held by any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent or any of the other First Lien Secured Parties, the First Lien Obligations or any of the First Lien Documents;

 

(2)                                  sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon, enforce or otherwise deal with in any manner and in any order any part of the First Lien Collateral or any liability of the Company or any other Grantor to any of the First Lien Secured Parties, the First Lien Representatives or the First Lien Collateral Agents, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof;

 

(3)                                  settle or compromise any First Lien Obligation or any other liability of the Company or any other Grantor or any security therefor or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof and apply any sums by whomsoever paid and however realized to any liability (including the First Lien Obligations) in any manner or order; and

 

(4)                                  exercise or delay in or refrain from exercising any right or remedy against the Company or any other Grantor or any other Person or any security, and elect any remedy and otherwise deal freely with the Company, any other Grantor or any First Lien Collateral and any security and any guarantor or any liability of the Company or any other Grantor to the First Lien Secured Parties or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, also agrees that the First Lien Secured Parties, the First Lien Representatives and the First Lien Collateral Agents shall have no liability to such Second Lien Representative, such Second Lien Collateral Agent or any such Second Lien Secured Parties, and such Second Lien Representative and such Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, hereby waives any claim against any First Lien Secured Party, any First Lien Representative or any First Lien Collateral Agent arising out of any and all actions which the First Lien Secured Parties, any First Lien Representative or any First Lien Collateral Agent may take or permit or omit to take with respect to:

 

(1)                                  the First Lien Documents (other than this Agreement);

 

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(2)                                  the collection of the First Lien Obligations; or

 

(3)                                  the foreclosure upon, or sale, liquidation or other disposition of, any First Lien Collateral.

 

The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, agrees that the First Lien Secured Parties, the First Lien Representatives and the First Lien Collateral Agents have no duty to them in respect of the maintenance or preservation of the First Lien Collateral, the First Lien Obligations or otherwise.

 

(d)                                  Until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, agrees not to assert and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or otherwise claim the benefit of, any marshaling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may otherwise be available under applicable law with respect to any First Lien Collateral or any other similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law.

 

7.4                                Obligations Unconditional .  All rights, interests, agreements and obligations of the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents and the other First Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent and the other Second Lien Secured Parties, respectively, hereunder shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:

 

(a)                                  any lack of validity or enforceability of any First Lien Documents or any Second Lien Documents;

 

(b)                                  except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other terms of, all or any of the First Lien Obligations or Second Lien Obligations, or any amendment or waiver or other modification, including any increase in the amount thereof, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of the terms of any First Lien Document or any Second Lien Document;

 

(c)                                   any exchange, voiding, avoidance or non-perfection of any security interest in any Collateral or any other collateral, or any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether in writing or by course of conduct or otherwise, of all or any of the First Lien Obligations or Second Lien Obligations or any guaranty thereof;

 

(d)                                  the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Company or any other Grantor; or

 

(e)                                   any other circumstances which otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Company or any other Grantor in respect of any First Lien Representative, any First Lien Collateral Agent, the First Lien Obligations, any First Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral

 

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Agent, the Second Lien Obligations or any Second Lien Secured Party in respect of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 8.                          Miscellaneous .

 

8.1                                Integration/Conflicts .  This Agreement, the First Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents represent the entire agreement of the Grantors, the First Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supercede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof.  There are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the First Lien Secured Parties or the Second Lien Secured Parties relative to the subject matter hereof and thereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or therein. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the First Lien Documents or the Second Lien Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern and control.

 

8.2                                Effectiveness; Continuing Nature of this Agreement; Severability .  This Agreement shall become effective when executed and delivered by the parties hereto.  This is a continuing agreement of lien subordination and the First Lien Secured Parties may continue, at any time and without notice to the Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party, to extend credit and other financial accommodations and lend monies to or for the benefit of the Company or any Grantor constituting First Lien Obligations in reliance hereon.  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, hereby waives any right it may have under applicable law to revoke this Agreement or any of the provisions of this Agreement.  The terms of this Agreement shall survive, and shall continue in full force and effect, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.  Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to those of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.  All references to the Company or any other Grantor shall include the Company or such Grantor as debtor and debtor-in-possession and any receiver, trustee or similar person for the Company or any other Grantor (as the case may be) in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.  This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect:

 

(a)                                  with respect to any First Lien Representative and any First Lien Collateral Agent, the First Lien Secured Parties represented by it and their First Lien Obligations, on the date on which no First Lien Obligations of such First Lien Secured Parties are any longer secured by, or required to be secured by, any of the First Lien Collateral pursuant to the terms of the applicable First Lien Documents, subject to the rights of the First Lien Secured Parties under Section 6.5; and

 

(b)                                  with respect to the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it and their

 

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Second Lien Obligations, on the date on which no Second Lien Obligations of such Second Lien Secured Parties are any longer secured by, or required to be secured by, any of the Second Lien Collateral pursuant to the terms of the applicable Second Lien Documents;

 

provided , however , that in each case, such termination shall not relieve any such party of its obligations incurred hereunder prior to the date of such termination.

 

8.3                                Amendments; Waivers (a).

 

(a)                                  No amendment, modification or waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be made unless the same shall be in writing signed on behalf of each party hereto or its authorized agent and each waiver, if any, shall be a waiver only with respect to the specific instance involved and shall in no way impair the rights of the parties making such waiver or the obligations of the other parties to such party in any other respect or at any other time.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the other Grantors shall not have any right to consent to or approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement except to the extent their rights are directly and adversely affected.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any First Lien Secured Party or Second Lien Secured Party, any Representative and Collateral Agent may become a party hereto by execution and delivery of a Joinder Agreement in accordance with Section 8.7 of this Agreement and upon such execution and delivery, such Representative and Collateral Agent and the First Lien Secured Parties and First Lien Obligations or Additional First Lien Secured Parties or Additional First Lien Obligations of the Series for which such Representative and Collateral Agent is acting shall be subject to the terms hereof.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any other Representative, Collateral Agent or First Lien Secured Party, the First Lien Representative may effect amendments and modifications to this Agreement to the extent necessary to reflect any incurrence of any First Lien Obligations or Additional First Lien Obligations in compliance with this Agreement.

 

8.4                                Information Concerning Financial Condition of the Grantors and their Subsidiaries .  The First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents and the First Lien Secured Parties, on the one hand, and the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent and the Second Lien Secured Parties, on the other hand, shall each be responsible for keeping themselves informed of (a) the financial condition of the Grantors and their Subsidiaries and all endorsers and/or guarantors of the First Lien Obligations or the Second Lien Obligations and (b) all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the First Lien Obligations or the Second Lien Obligations.  Except as set forth in Section 4.1(b), the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents and the other First Lien Secured Parties shall have no duty to advise the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party of information known to it or them regarding such condition or any such circumstances or otherwise.  In the event the First Lien Representatives,

 

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the First Lien Collateral Agents or any of the other First Lien Secured Parties, in its or their sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or any other Second Lien Secured Party, it or they shall be under no obligation:

 

(a)                                  to make, and the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents and the other First Lien Secured Parties shall not make, and shall be deemed not to have made, any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or validity of any such information so provided;

 

(b)                                  to provide any additional information or to provide any such information on any subsequent occasion;

 

(c)                                   to undertake any investigation; or

 

(d)                                  to disclose any information, which pursuant to accepted or reasonable commercial finance practices, such party wishes to maintain confidential or is otherwise required to maintain confidential.

 

8.5                                Subrogation .  With respect to the value of any payments or distributions in cash, property or other assets that any of the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent or the other Second Lien Secured Parties pays over to any of the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents or the other First Lien Secured Parties under the terms of this Agreement, such Second Lien Secured Parties, Second Lien Representative and Second Lien Collateral Agent shall be subrogated to the rights of such First Lien Representatives, First Lien Collateral Agents and First Lien Secured Parties; provided that the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, hereby agrees not to assert or enforce any such rights of subrogation it may acquire as a result of any payment hereunder until the Discharge of First Lien Obligations has occurred.  The Company and the other Grantors each acknowledges and agrees that the value of any payments or distributions in cash, property or other assets received by the Second Lien Representative, Second Lien Collateral Agent or other Second Lien Secured Party that are paid over to any First Lien Representative, First Lien Collateral Agent or other First Lien Secured Party pursuant to this Agreement shall not reduce any of the Second Lien Obligations.

 

8.6                                Application of Payments .  All payments received by any First Lien Representative, First Lien Collateral Agent or other First Lien Secured Party may be applied, reversed and reapplied, in whole or in part, to such part of the First Lien Obligations provided for in the First Lien Documents.  The Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, agrees to any extension or postponement of the time of payment of the First Lien Obligations or any part thereof and to any other indulgence with respect thereto, to any substitution, exchange or release of any security which may at any time secure any part of the First Lien Obligations and to the addition or release of any other Person primarily or secondarily liable therefor.

 

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8.7                                Additional Debt Facilities .

 

(a)                                  To the extent, but only to the extent, permitted by the provisions of the First Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents, the Company may (x) incur or issue and sell one or more series or classes of Indebtedness that the Company designates as Additional First Lien Debt or (y) incur Indebtedness under any Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement that is secured on an equal and ratable basis with the Liens securing the First Lien Obligations.

 

Any Indebtedness and other First Lien Obligations under any Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement may be secured by Liens on an equal and ratable basis, in each case under and pursuant to the First Lien Documents, if and subject to the condition that the Replacement First Lien Representative and Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent, acting on behalf of the holders of such First Lien Obligations, each becomes a party to this Agreement by satisfying the conditions set forth in clauses (1) through (3) of paragraph (b) of this Section 8.7.  Upon any Replacement First Lien Representative and Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent, as the case may be, so becoming a party hereto, all First Lien Obligations under any Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement shall also be entitled to be so secured by a senior Lien on the Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

 

Any such series or class of Additional First Lien Debt may be secured by a first-priority, superior Lien on the Collateral, in each case under and pursuant to the relevant First Lien Collateral Documents for such Series of Additional First Lien Debt, if and subject to the condition, unless such Indebtedness is part of an existing Series of Additional First Lien Debt represented by a First Lien Representative and First Lien Collateral Agent already party to this Agreement and the First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, the Additional First Lien Representative and Additional First Lien Collateral Agent of any such Additional First Lien Debt each becomes a party to this Agreement and the First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement by satisfying the conditions set forth in clauses (1) through (3) of paragraph (b) of this Section 8.7.  Upon any Additional First Lien Representative so becoming a party hereto and becoming a party to the First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof, all Additional First Lien Obligations of such Series shall also be entitled to be so secured by a superior Lien on the Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

 

(b)                                  In order for an Additional First Lien Representative and an Additional First Lien Collateral Agent, or, in the case of a Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement, in order for the Replacement First Lien Representative and the Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent in respect thereof, to become a party to this Agreement:

 

(1)                                  such Additional First Lien Representative and such Additional First Lien Collateral Agent or such Replacement First Lien Representative and such Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent shall have executed and delivered to each other then-existing Representative a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto (if such Representative is

 

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an Additional First Lien Representative and such Collateral Agent is an Additional First Lien Collateral Agent) or Exhibit II hereto (in the case of a Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement) (with such changes as may be reasonably approved by the First Lien Representative and such Representative and such Collateral Agent) pursuant to which such (x) such Additional First Lien Representative becomes a Representative hereunder, such Additional First Lien Collateral Agent becomes a Collateral Agent hereunder and the related First Lien Secured Parties become subject hereto and bound hereby or (y) Replacement First Lien Representative becomes the First Lien Representative hereunder, such Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement becomes the First Lien Credit Agreement hereunder and such First Lien Obligations and holders of such First Lien Obligations become subject hereto and bound hereby;

 

(2)                                  the Company shall have delivered a Designation to each other then-existing Collateral Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit III hereto, pursuant to which a Responsible Officer of the Company shall (A) identify the Indebtedness to be designated as Additional First Lien Obligations or First Lien Obligations, as applicable, and the initial aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, (B) specify the name and address of the applicable Additional First Lien Representative and Additional First Lien Collateral Agent or the Replacement First Lien Representative and Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent, (C) certify that such Additional First Lien Debt or First Lien Obligations are permitted to be incurred, secured and guaranteed by each First Lien Document and Second Lien Document and that the conditions set forth in this Section 8.7 are satisfied with respect to such Additional First Lien Debt or First Lien Obligations, as applicable, and (D) in the case of a Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement, expressly state that such agreement giving rise to the new Indebtedness satisfies the requirements of a Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement and is designated as a Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement; and

 

(3)                                  the Company shall have delivered to each other Collateral Agent true and complete copies of each of the First Lien Documents relating to such Additional First Lien Debt, or the Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement, as applicable, certified as being true and correct by a Responsible Officer of the Company.

 

(c)                                   The Additional First Lien Documents relating to such Additional First Lien Obligations shall provide that each of the applicable Secured Parties with respect to such Additional First Lien Obligations will be subject to and bound by the provisions of this Agreement in its capacity as a holder of such Additional First Lien Obligations.

 

(d)                                  Upon the execution and delivery of a Joinder Agreement by an Additional First Lien Representative and an Additional First Lien Collateral Agent or the Replacement First Lien Representative and the Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent, in each case, in accordance with this Section 8.7, each other Representative and Collateral Agent shall acknowledge receipt thereof by countersigning a copy thereof and

 

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returning the same to such Additional First Lien Representative and such Additional First Lien Collateral Agent or the Replacement First Lien Representative and the Replacement First Lien Collateral Agent, as the case may be; provided that the failure of any Representative or Collateral Agent to so acknowledge or return the same shall not affect the status of such Additional First Lien Obligations as Additional First Lien Obligations, or a Replacement First Lien Credit Agreement if the other requirements of this Section 8.7 are complied with.

 

(e)                                   With respect to any incurrence, issuance or sale of Indebtedness after the date hereof under the Additional First Lien Documents of a Series of Additional First Lien Debt whose Representative and Collateral Agent is already each a party to this Agreement or First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, the requirements of Section 8.7(b) shall not be applicable and such Indebtedness shall automatically constitute Additional First Lien Debt so long as (i) such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred, secured and guaranteed by each First Lien Document and Second Lien Document and (ii) the provisions of paragraph (c) above have been complied with; provided , further , however that with respect to any such Indebtedness incurred, issued or sold pursuant to the terms of any Additional First Lien Documents of such existing Series of Additional First Lien Debt as such terms existed on the date the Representative and Collateral Agent for such Series of Additional First Lien Debt executed the Joinder Agreement, the requirements of clause (i) of this paragraph (e) shall be tested only as of (x) the date of execution of such Joinder Agreement, if pursuant to a commitment entered into at the time of such Joinder Agreement and (y) with respect to any later commitment or amendment to those terms to permit such Indebtedness, as of the date of such commitment and/or amendment.

 

8.8                                Submission to Jurisdiction; Certain Waivers .  Each of the Company, each other Grantor, and each Representative and each Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Secured Parties for whom it is acting, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

(a)                                  submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the Collateral Documents (whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise) to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, and appellate courts from any thereof;

 

(b)                                  agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such New York state court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such federal court;

 

(c)                                   agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law and that nothing in this Agreement or any other First Lien Document shall affect any right that any Secured Party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other First Lien Document or

 

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Second Lien Document against such Grantor or any of its assets in the courts of any jurisdiction;

 

(d)                                  waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Collateral Document in any court referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 8.8 (and irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court);

 

(e)                                   consents to service of process in any such proceeding in any such court by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the applicable party at its address provided in accordance with Section 8.10 (and agrees that nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law);

 

(f)                                    agrees that service as provided in paragraph (e) above is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over the applicable party in any such proceeding in any such court, and otherwise constitutes effective and binding service in every respect; and

 

(g)                                   waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

 

8.9                                WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

 

EACH PARTY HERETO AND THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER GRANTORS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER FIRST LIEN DOCUMENT OR SECOND LIEN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, BREACH OF DUTY, COMMON LAW, STATUTE OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO AND THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER GRANTORS (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER FIRST LIEN DOCUMENTS AND SECOND LIEN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.  EACH PARTY HERETO AND THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER GRANTORS FURTHER REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES IT JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.

 

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8.10                         Notices .  All notices to the Second Lien Secured Parties and the First Lien Secured Parties permitted or required under this Agreement shall be sent to the applicable Second Lien Representative and the applicable First Lien Representative, respectively.  Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, any notice hereunder shall be in writing and may be personally served or sent by facsimile or United States mail or courier service and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by courier service and signed for against receipt thereof, upon receipt of facsimile, or three Business Days after depositing it in the United States mail with postage prepaid and properly addressed.  For the purposes hereof, the addresses of the parties hereto shall be as set forth below each party’s name on the signature pages hereto or in the Joinder Agreement pursuant to which it becomes a party hereto, or, as to each party, at such other address as may be designated by such party in a written notice to all of the other parties.

 

8.11                         Further Assurances .  Each First Lien Representative and each First Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the First Lien Secured Parties represented by it, the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Second Lien Secured Parties represented by it, and the Company and each other Grantor, agree that each of them shall take such further action and shall execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments (in recordable form, if requested) as any First Lien Representative and First Lien Collateral Agent or the Second Lien Representative and Second Lien Collateral Agent may reasonably request to effectuate the terms of and the Lien priorities contemplated by this Agreement.

 

8.12                         Agency Capacities .  Except as expressly provided herein, CMB is acting in the capacity of First Lien Representative solely for the First Lien Secured Parties.  Except as expressly provided herein, each other Representative and Collateral Agent is acting in the capacity of Representative and Collateral Agent, respectively, solely for the Secured Parties under the First Lien Documents or Second Lien Documents for which it is the named Representative or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, in the applicable Joinder Agreement.

 

8.13                         GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT, AND ANY DISPUTE, CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT (WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF A DIFFERENT GOVERNING LAW (OTHER THAN ANY MANDATORY PROVISIONS OF THE UCC RELATING TO THE LAW GOVERNING PERFECTION AND THE EFFECT OF PERFECTION OR PRIORITY OF THE SECURITY INTERESTS).

 

8.14                         Binding on Successors and Assigns .  This Agreement shall be binding upon the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Secured Parties, the other First Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Secured Parties, the other Second Lien Secured Parties, the Company and the other Grantors, and their respective successors and assigns.  If any of the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents, the Second Lien Representative or the Second Lien Collateral Agent resigns or is replaced pursuant to the First Lien Documents or the Second Lien Documents, as applicable, its successor shall be

 

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deemed to be a party to this Agreement and shall have all the rights of, and be subject to all the obligations of, this Agreement.  No provision of this Agreement will inure to the benefit of a trustee, debtor-in-possession, creditor trust or other representative of an estate or creditor of any Grantor, including where any such trustee, debtor-in-possession, creditor trust or other representative of an estate is the beneficiary of a Lien securing Collateral by virtue of the avoidance of such Lien in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

8.15                         Section Headings .  Section headings and the Table of Contents used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

 

8.16                         Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic imaging means), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.  Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission (e.g. “pdf” or “tif” format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

 

8.17                         Authorization .  By its signature, each Person executing this Agreement, on behalf of such party or Grantor but not in his or her personal capacity as a signatory, represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it is duly authorized to execute this Agreement.

 

8.18                         No Third Party Beneficiaries/ Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights .  This Agreement and the rights and benefits hereof shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and its respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of each of the First Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties.  The provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the First Lien Representatives, the First Lien Collateral Agents and the other First Lien Secured Parties on the one hand and the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Collateral Agent and the other Second Lien Secured Parties on the other hand.  Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the relative rights and obligations as among the First Lien Secured Parties or as among the Second Lien Secured Parties; and as among the First Lien Secured Parties, such rights and obligations are governed by, and any provisions herein regarding them are therefore subject to, the provisions of the First Lien Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement.  Other than as set forth in Section 8.3, none of the Company, any other Grantor or any other creditor thereof shall have any rights hereunder and neither the Company nor any Grantor may rely on the terms hereof.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Company or any other Grantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the First Lien Obligations and the Second Lien Obligations as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms.

 

8.19                         No Indirect Actions .  Unless otherwise expressly stated, if a party may not take an action under this Agreement, then it may not take that action indirectly, or support any other Person in taking that action directly or indirectly. “Taking an action indirectly” means taking an action that is not expressly prohibited for the party but is intended to have substantially the same effects as the prohibited action.

 

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[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

CHINA MERCHANTS BANK CO., LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH ,

 

as First Lien Representative and First Lien Collateral Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Edward W. Chin

 

 

Name:

Edward W. Chin

 

 

Title:

Chief Marketing Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Andrew Mao

 

 

Name:

Andrew Mao

 

 

Title:

Assistant General Manager

 

 

 

535 Madison Avenue 18th Floor

 

New York, New York 10022

 

Attention: Cynthia Fotheringham

 

Phone: (646) 843-6846

 

Fax: (212) 753-1319

 

[Signature Page - Intercreditor Agreement]

 



 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as Second Lien Representative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael G. Oller, Jr.

 

 

Name:

Michael G. Oller, Jr.

 

 

Title:

Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

Rodney Square North

 

1100 North Market Street

 

Wilmington, Delaware 19890

 

Attention: Corporate Markets and Agency Services

 

Fax:  (302) 636-4145

 

[Signature Page - Intercreditor Agreement]

 



 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as Second Lien Collateral Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Shazia Flores

 

 

Name:

Shazia Flores

 

 

Title:

Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Bank Corporate Trust Services

 

5555 San Felipe, Suite 1150

 

Houston, Texas 77056

 

Attention:  Shazia Flores

 

Phone:  (713) 235-9209

 

Fax:  (713) 235-9213

 

[Signature Page - Intercreditor Agreement]

 



 

Acknowledged and Agreed to by:

 

 

 

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name:

David L. Roland

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

2105 CityWest Blvd., Suite 400

 

Houston, Texas 77042-2839

 

Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

 

Phone:  (281) 781-1046

 

Fax: (281) 879-3674

 

 

 

 

 

GRANTORS:

 

 

 

GX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name:

David L. Roland

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

ION EXPLORATION PRODUCTS (U.S.A.), INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name:

David L. Roland

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

2105 CityWest Blvd., Suite 400

 

Houston, Texas 77042-2839

 

Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

 

Phone:  (281) 781-1046

 

Fax: (281) 879-3674

 

 

[Signature Page - Intercreditor Agreement]

 



 

I/O MARINE SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Roland

 

 

Name: David L. Roland

 

 

Title:   Vice President

 

 

 

5200 Toler Street

 

Harahan, Louisiana 70123

 

Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

 

Phone:  (281) 781-1046

 

Fax: (281) 879-3674

 

 

[Signature Page - Intercreditor Agreement]

 


Exhibit 99.1

 

 

ION Announces Pricing of $175 Million Private Offering
of Senior Secured Second Lien Notes Due 2018

 

HOUSTON — May 8, 2013 — ION Geophysical Corporation (NYSE: IO) today announced that it has priced its offering of $175 million aggregate principal amount of its senior secured second lien notes due 2018.  The notes will carry a coupon interest rate of 8.125%.  The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay existing debt and for general corporate purposes, including for potential additional capital contributions to the Company’s GeoRXT seabed seismic joint venture, thus improving its financial flexibility.  The Company’s obligations under the notes will be guaranteed by certain of its domestic subsidiaries.  The offering is expected to close on or about May 13, 2013, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

 

The notes will be sold to qualified institutional investors pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and to certain non-U.S. persons in transactions outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933.  Any offers of the notes will be made only by means of a confidential offering memorandum.  The notes will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or any applicable state securities law, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to available exemptions from such registration requirements.

 

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the notes, and there shall not be any sale of the notes in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

 

This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

About ION

 

ION Geophysical Corporation is a leading provider of geophysical technology, services, and solutions for the global oil & gas industry. ION’s offerings are designed to allow E&P companies to obtain higher resolution images of the subsurface to reduce the risk of exploration and reservoir development, and to enable seismic contractors to acquire geophysical data safely and efficiently. Additional information about ION is available at www.iongeo.com.

 



 

Contact

 

Greg Heinlein

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

+1.281.552.3011

 

The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding the Company’s proposed senior secured second lien notes offering, the expected closing date for the offering, the expected use of proceeds from the offering, and other statements that are not of historical fact.  Actual results may vary materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks regarding the satisfaction of the conditions to the closing of the proposed senior secured second lien notes offering, the Company’s ability to secure terms beneficial to it, and the timing of any such closing.  Additional risk factors, which could affect actual results, are disclosed by the Company from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed during 2013.