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): June 22, 2015

 


 

BALL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Indiana

 

001-07349

 

35-0160610

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

10 Longs Peak Drive, P.O. Box 5000
Broomfield, Colorado

 

80021-2510

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 469-3131

 


 

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:

 

x                Written communication 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.

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

On June 22, 2015, Ball Corporation, an Indiana corporation (the “Company” or “Ball”), entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors (the “Guarantors”) and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), in connection with the Company’s previously announced underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of $1,000,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”). The 2025 Notes were offered and sold under a prospectus, dated June 15, 2015, within the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-204940) and prospectus supplement dated June 22, 2015.

 

The Underwriting Agreement includes customary representations, warranties, covenants and closing conditions. It also provides for customary indemnification by each of the Company, the Guarantors and the Underwriters against certain liabilities and customary contribution provisions in respect of those liabilities.

 

The Company used the net proceeds from the Offering to repay borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

 

An affiliate of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is the administrative agent and collateral agent under the Company’s revolving credit facility and the administrative agent under the Company’s bridge term loan facility, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Mizuho Securities USA Inc. and Rabo Securities USA, Inc. or their affiliates, are a joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner under these credit facilities. Affiliates of certain of the Underwriters are lenders under these credit facilities, and certain of the Underwriters or their affiliates have other lending or credit arrangements with the Company, including under the Company’s accounts receivable securitization facility and accounts receivable factoring program. Additionally, affiliates of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. have acted as joint financial advisers to the Company in connection with its proposed acquisitions of Rexam PLC, a public limited company registered in England and Wales (“Rexam”). We have also entered into certain derivative hedging transactions with some of the Underwriters. Because the proceeds of the Offering were used to repay borrowings under our revolving credit facility, affiliates of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Mizuho Securities USA Inc., Rabo Securities USA, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC, RB International Markets (USA) LLC, UniCredit Capital Markets LLC and Barclays Capital Inc. received their pro rata portion of proceeds from the Offering as lenders under the Company’s revolving credit facility.

 

A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein. The above description of the material terms of the Underwriting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Exhibit.

 

Indenture

 

On June 25, 2015, the Company completed the Offering of the 2025 Notes.

 

The 2025 Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated March 27, 2006 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated June 25, 2015, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Indenture and the form of the 2025 Notes, which is attached as an exhibit to the Tenth

 

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Supplemental Indenture, provide, among other things, that the 2025 Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company.

 

Interest is payable on the 2025 Notes on July 1 and January 1 of each year beginning on January 1, 2016 until their maturity date of July 1, 2025. The Company may redeem the 2025 Notes at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at its option at a price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the 2025 Notes redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such notes discounted to the date of redemption (excluding interest accrued to the date of redemption), on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), at a rate equal to the sum of the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the redemption date.

 

The Company’s payment obligations under the 2025 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by certain of its current domestic subsidiaries (and will be guaranteed by certain of its future domestic subsidiaries), other than certain excluded subsidiaries. The 2025 Notes are not guaranteed by any of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.

 

Subject to certain limitations, in the event of a change of control of the Company, the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase the 2025 Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the 2025 Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to but not including the date of repurchase.

 

A copy of the Base Indenture is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and a copy of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein. The above description of the material terms of the Indenture, the Tenth Supplemental Indenture and the 2025 Notes does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Exhibits.

 

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

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above with respect to the 2025 Notes and the Indenture is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03, insofar as it relates to the creation of a direct financial obligation.

 

Item 8.01.                 Other Events.

 

In connection with the Offering of the 2025 Notes, the Company is filing three legal opinions as Exhibit 5.1, Exhibit 5.2 and Exhibit 5.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01.                 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

1.1

 

Underwriting agreement, dated June 22, 2015

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture, dated March 27, 2006, between Ball Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.) (incorporated by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 27, 2006 and filed March 30, 2006)

 

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4.2

 

Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated June 25, 2015, among Ball Corporation, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.)

 

 

 

4.3

 

Form of Ball Corporation’s 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (included in Exhibit 4.2 hereto)

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Charles E. Baker

 

 

 

5.2

 

Opinion of Todd A. Mikesell

 

 

 

5.3

 

Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

 

Additional Information and Where to Find It

 

This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed acquisition of Rexam by Ball, including the issuance of shares of Ball common stock in respect of the proposed acquisition. On June 23, 2015, in connection with the foregoing proposed issuance of Ball common stock, Ball filed its definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Following the filing of the definitive proxy statement with the SEC, Ball will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each shareholder entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the proposed acquisition. To the extent Ball effects the acquisition of Rexam as a Scheme under English law, the issuance of Ball common stock in the acquisition would not be expected to require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), pursuant to an exemption provided by Section 3(a)(10) under the Act. In the event that Ball determines to conduct the acquisition pursuant to an offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the Act, it will file a registration statement with the SEC containing a prospectus with respect to the Ball common stock that would be issued in the acquisition. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF BALL ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION THAT BALL WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BALL, THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF BALL COMMON STOCK, AND THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION. The preliminary proxy statement, the definitive proxy statement, the registration statement/prospectus, in each case as applicable, and other relevant materials in connection with the proposed issuance of Ball common stock and the acquisition (when they become available), and any other documents filed by Ball with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC at Ball’s website, www.ball.com, or by contacting our Investor Relations department in writing at 10 Longs Peak Drive, P.O. Box 5000, Broomfield, CO 80021.

 

Ball and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Ball’s shareholders with respect to the proposed acquisition, including the proposed issuance of Ball common stock in respect of the proposed acquisition. Information about Ball’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Ball’s common stock is set forth in Ball’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, which was filed with the SEC on February 20, 2015 and Ball’s proxy statement for its 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015. Information regarding the identity of the potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests in the solicitation, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement and/or prospectus and other materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed acquisition and issuance of Ball common stock in the proposed acquisition.

 

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Forward-Looking Information

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K, and the documents incorporated by reference into this Current Report, contains “forward-looking” statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Ball undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include product demand fluctuations; availability/cost of raw materials; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve productivity improvements or cost reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; customer and supplier consolidation, power and supply chain influence; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; and changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; b) our aerospace segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) Ball as a whole include those listed plus: changes in senior management; regulatory action or issues including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions or public concerns affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; technological developments and innovations; litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return on assets of Ball’s defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget, sequestration and debt limit; reduced cash flow; ability to achieve cost-out initiatives; interest rates affecting our debt; and successful or unsuccessful acquisitions and divestitures, including, with respect to the proposed Rexam acquisition, the effect of the announcement of the acquisition on our business relationships, operating results and business generally; the occurrence of any event or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of our definitive agreement with Rexam in respect of the acquisition; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us related to the definitive agreement with Rexam; and the failure to satisfy conditions to completion of the acquisition of Rexam, including the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

BALL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

June 25, 2015

 

By:

/s/ Charles E. Baker

 

 

 

 

Charles E. Baker

 

 

 

 

Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

1.1

 

Underwriting agreement, dated June 22, 2015

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture, dated March 27, 2006, between Ball Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.) (incorporated by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 27, 2006 and filed March 30, 2006)

 

 

 

4.2

 

Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated June 25, 2015, among Ball Corporation, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.)

 

 

 

4.3

 

Form of Ball Corporation’s 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (included in Exhibit 4.2 hereto)

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Charles E. Baker

 

 

 

5.2

 

Opinion of Todd A. Mikesell

 

 

 

5.3

 

Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

 

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Exhibit 1.1

 

Ball Corporation

 

$1,000,000,000

 

5.25%  Senior Notes due 2025

 


 

Underwriting Agreement

 

June 22, 2015

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

As representative of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule I hereto,

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Ball Corporation, an Indiana Corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) for whom you are acting as representative (the “Representative” or “you”; the terms “your” and “yours” having correlative meanings), an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 principal amount of its 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”) pursuant to this agreement (the “Agreement”).  The Notes will be guaranteed (collectively, the “Guarantees”) by each of the subsidiary guarantors named in Schedule II hereto (the “Guarantors”).  The Notes and the Guarantees are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”  The Securities are to be issued pursuant to the provisions of a base indenture dated March 27, 2006 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by the tenth supplemental indenture with respect to the Notes among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, to be dated June 25, 2015.  The Base Indenture, as supplemented by the tenth supplemental indenture is referred to herein as the “Indenture.”

 

The Company hereby confirms its engagement of PNC Capital Markets LLC (“PNC Capital Markets”) as, and PNC Capital Markets hereby confirms its agreement with the Company to render services as, the “qualified independent underwriter,” within the meaning of NASD Conduct Rule 2720(f)(12) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) with respect to the offering and sale of the Notes. PNC Capital Markets, solely in its capacity as the qualified independent underwriter and not otherwise, is referred to herein as the “QIU.”

 

1.                                       The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to, and agree with, each of the Underwriters that:

 

(a)                                  An “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) on Form S-3 (File No. 333-204940) in respect of the Securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange

 



 

Commission (the “Commission”) not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, became effective on filing; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act has been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company (the base prospectus filed as part of such registration statement, in the form in which it has most recently been filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter called the “Base Prospectus”; any preliminary prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus supplement) relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; the various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits thereto but excluding the Form T-1 and including any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission and deemed by virtue of Rule 430B to be part of such registration statement, each as amended at the time such part of the registration statement became effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; the Base Prospectus, as amended and supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined in Section 1(c) hereof), is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus”; the form of the final prospectus relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; any reference herein to the Base Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, as of the date of such prospectus; any reference to any amendment or supplement to the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act and any documents filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and incorporated therein, in each case after the date of the Base Prospectus, such Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Securities is hereinafter called an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”);

 

(b)                                  No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”) and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by

 

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an Underwriter through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) expressly for use therein;

 

(c)                                   For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” is 2:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement; the Pricing Prospectus as supplemented by the final term sheet contemplated by Section 5(a) hereof, which will be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule III, taken together (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”) as of the Applicable Time, did not 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; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule IV hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus and each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not 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; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use therein;

 

(d)                                  The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the Time of Delivery, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by Merrill Lynch and included in Schedule III or IV hereto;

 

(e)                                   The documents incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and 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 not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use therein; and no such documents were filed with the Commission since the Commission’s close of business on the business day immediately prior to the date of this Agreement (or from the time of the filing of the Preliminary Prospectus, if later) and prior to the execution of this Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule IV hereto;

 

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(f)                                    The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”) and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to each part of the Registration Statement and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, 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 not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use therein;

 

(g)                                   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package any loss or interference with their business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package, which loss or interference has resulted in a Material Adverse Change (as defined below); and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto after the Applicable Time), there has not been any material adverse change in the capital stock or long term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any material adverse change, or development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Change”), otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package (exclusive of any amendment or supplement);

 

(h)                                  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the state of Indiana, with requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, and is duly qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(i)                                      Each of the Company’s subsidiaries is a corporation or limited liability company duly incorporated or formed, as the case may be, and validly existing and in good standing (except in those jurisdictions where the concept of good standing is not recognized) under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted, and is duly qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing (except in those jurisdictions where the concept of good standing is not recognized) as a foreign corporation or limited liability company in each jurisdiction where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

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(j)                                     The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and all of the shares of capital stock, membership or other equity interest of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and all of the issued shares of capital stock, partnership, membership or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and (except for directors’ qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such as are described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, granted pursuant to the existing credit facilities (as defined in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus) or such as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(k)                                  The Company and each of the Guarantors have all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors;

 

(l)                                      The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Notes; the Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, assuming due authentication, execution and delivery of the Notes by the Trustee, upon delivery to the Underwriters against payment therefore in accordance with the terms hereof, will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, under which they are to be issued, which is substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and each Guarantor and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, when executed and delivered by the Company, each Guarantor and the Trustee (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee), will constitute a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable against the Company and each Guarantor in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and the Securities and the Indenture will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in all material respects;

 

(m)                              Each Guarantor has all requisite power (corporate or otherwise) and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Guarantees; the Guarantees to be endorsed on the Notes have been duly authorized by each Guarantor and, if and when executed and delivered by each Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and, assuming due authentication of the Notes and Guarantees by the Trustee, upon delivery of the notes to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, have been validly issued and delivered, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of each of the Guarantors, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, enforceable against each of the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and the Guarantees will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in all material respects;

 

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(n)                                  Other than as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company does not own capital stock or other equity interests of any corporation or entity which would be required by the Indenture to be a Guarantor thereunder.  All of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries that guarantee any other Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company as of the date of the tenth supplemental indenture other than Ball Capital Corp. II and the Excluded Subsidiaries (as defined in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) are Guarantors under the Indenture; and as of the date hereof, the Excluded Subsidiaries have aggregate net sales of not more than $35 million in any twelve-month period and aggregate assets, including capitalization, of not more than $35 million;

 

(o)                                  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes by the Company, the issuance of the Guarantees by the Guarantors, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described under “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) 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, 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 Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or similar organizational documents of the Company or the Guarantors, (iii) impose any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, except for such as are described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, granted pursuant to the existing credit facilities, or (iv) violate any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties except, in the case of clauses (i), (iii) and (iv), for such matters as would not result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(p)                                  No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets is required for the issue and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture except such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, 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 Underwriters, except to the extent that such consent, approval, authorization, order registration or qualification would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to issue and sell the Securities or consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture;

 

(q)                                  Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and to the Company’s knowledge, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being

 

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registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Act;

 

(r)                                     Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors have sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Act, the rules and regulations or the interpretations thereof by the Commission;

 

(s)                                    The statements set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Notes” and “Description of Other Indebtedness,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities and under the Caption “Underwriting”, insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects;

 

(t)                                     Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of the Guarantors, expressly contemplated by, or threatened, against the Company or any of the Guarantors or to which any of its properties are subject, that are not disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package or incorporated by reference therein, and would result in a Material Adverse Change or materially and adversely affect the issuance of the Securities or the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby;

 

(u)                                  Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package, neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors is involved in any strike, job action or labor dispute with any group of employees that is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change and, to the knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, no such action or dispute is threatened;

 

(v)                                  The Company and the Guarantors are not, and as of the Time of Delivery (as defined below) and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under the “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Disclosure Package, will not be an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

 

(w)                                (A) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), and (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Act, the Company was a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; and (B) at the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Securities, the Company was not an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act;

 

(x)                                  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, and have audited the Company’s internal

 

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control over financial reporting are, to the knowledge of the Company, independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and the rules and regulations of the Public Accounting Oversight Board;

 

(y)                                  The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that complies in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and that the preparation of financial statements for external purposes is in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective in all material respects and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting;

 

(z)                                   There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith;

 

(aa)                           The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects;

 

(bb)                           Except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package, subsequent to the date as of which such information was given, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, or entered into any transaction, in each case not in the ordinary course of business, that has resulted in a Material Adverse Change and (ii) since the date of the latest audited combined financial statements of the Company included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, there has been no (A) dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock (other than the payment of regular quarterly cash dividends), (B) issuance of securities (other than pursuant to the Company’s or such subsidiary’s employee benefit plans and agreements and the issuance of the Securities offered hereby) or (C) material increase in short-term or long-term debt of the Company or such subsidiary;

 

(cc)                             The consolidated historical financial statements, together with the related notes thereto, set forth or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Act applicable to registration statements on Form S-3 under the Act.  Such historical financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, of Rexam PLC, a public limited company registered in England and Wales (“Rexam”) and its consolidated subsidiaries, present fairly in all material

 

8



 

respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or of Rexam and its consolidated subsidiaries, as applicable, at the respective dates indicated and the results of operations and cash flows for the respective periods indicated, in accordance with U.S. GAAP in the case of the Company and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board in the case of Rexam, consistently applied throughout such periods. The other financial information and data included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package are, in all material respects, accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and records of the Company.  The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package presents fairly in all material respects the information contained therein, has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been appropriately determined on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.  The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto in all material respects;

 

(dd)                           The market-related and industry data included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package are based on estimates by the Company derived from sources which the Company believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects;

 

(ee)                             Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, no material relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of the Guarantors on the one hand, and the directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of the Guarantors on the other hand, that would be required to be described in the Pricing Disclosure Package pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the Act, which is not so described;

 

(ff)                               The Company and each of its significant subsidiaries has filed all Federal, state and local income and franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof (other than those the nonfiling of which would not result in a Material Adverse Change) and has paid all taxes due thereon, other than those being contested in good faith and for which reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP currently payable without penalty or interest, or the nonpayment of which would not result in a Material Adverse Change.  No tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company which would, nor does the Company have any knowledge of any tax deficiency which, if determined adversely to the Company, would, in either such case, result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(gg)                             The Company and each of its subsidiaries together maintain or are entitled to the benefits of insurance covering their properties, operations, personnel and businesses.  Such insurance insures against such losses and risks as are reasonably

 

9



 

adequate in accordance with customary industry practice to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their businesses taken as a whole;

 

(hh)                           Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is in violation of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents, (ii) is in default in any material respect in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject to the Company’s consolidated financial condition or prospects or (iii) is in violation of any law, statute or ordinance or any rule, regulation, injunction or decree of any court or governmental agency to which their property or assets may be subject or has failed to obtain any material license, permit, certificate, franchise, or other governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business, except in the case of (ii) or (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(ii)                                   The Company and each of its subsidiaries will, on or prior to the Time of Delivery, have such permits, licenses, franchises, certificates, consents, orders and other approvals or authorizations of any governmental or regulatory authority (“Permits”) as are necessary under applicable law to own its properties and to conduct its businesses in the manner described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, except to the extent that the failure to have such Permits would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all its obligations with respect to the Permits, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit, subject in each case to such qualification as may be set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and except to the extent that any such revocation, termination or impairment would not result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(jj)                                 Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, the Company and each of its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, know-how, software, systems and technology (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses and have no reason to believe that the conduct of their respective businesses will conflict with, and have not received any notice of any claim of conflict with, any such rights of others;

 

(kk)                           Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, there has been no storage, disposal, generation, transportation, handling or treatment of toxic wastes, medical wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances by the Company at, upon or from any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation or order, or which would require remedial action under any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation or order, except for any violation or remedial action which would not be reasonably likely to result in, singularly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Change; except as set forth in, or specifically contemplated by, the Pricing Disclosure Package, there has been no material

 

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spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release of any kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic wastes, solid wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances due to or caused by the Company or with respect to which the Company has knowledge, except for any such spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release which would not be reasonably likely to result in, singularly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Change; and the terms “hazardous wastes,” “medical wastes,” “toxic wastes,” and “hazardous substances” shall have the meanings specified in any applicable local, state, federal and foreign laws or regulations with respect to environmental protection;

 

(ll)                                   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company or the Guarantors, any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment, except, in the case of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), for such matters as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(mm)                   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, applicable money laundering statutes and applicable rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “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 Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(nn)                           Neither the Company nor 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. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, 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; and

 

(oo)                           Prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has taken any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which reasonably would have been expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any debt security of the Company or its subsidiaries in connection with the offering of the Securities.

 

2.                                       Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 98.75% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued interest, if any, from June 25, 2015 to the Time of Delivery hereunder, the

 

11



 

principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.

 

3.                                       Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

 

4.                                       (a)  The Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder will be represented by one or more definitive global Securities in book-entry form which will be deposited by or on behalf of the Company with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its designated custodian.  The Company will deliver the Securities to Merrill Lynch, for the account of each Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to Merrill Lynch at least forty-eight hours in advance, by causing DTC to credit the Securities to the account of Merrill Lynch at DTC.  The Company will cause the certificates representing the Securities to be made available to Merrill Lynch for checking at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”).  The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on June 25, 2015 or such other time and date as Merrill Lynch and the Company may agree upon in writing.  Such time and date are herein called the “Time of Delivery”.

 

(b)                                  The documents to be delivered at the Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 8 hereof, including the cross-receipt for the Securities and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8(j) hereof, will be delivered at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 885 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022 (the “Closing Location”), and the Securities will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at the Time of Delivery.  A meeting will be held at the Closing Location and via teleconference at 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding the Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto.  For the purposes of this Section 4, “New York Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

5.                                       The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:

 

(a)                                  To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the date of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus prior to the Time of Delivery which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of the Securities, in a form approved by you and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act within the time required by such Rule; to file promptly all other material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as

 

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the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Securities, of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act, of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Act, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order; and in the event of any such issuance of a notice of objection, promptly to take such steps including, without limitation, amending the Registration Statement or filing a new registration statement, at its own expense, as may be necessary to permit offers and sales of the Securities by the Underwriters (references herein to the Registration Statement shall include any such amendment or new registration statement);

 

(b)                                  If required by Rule 430B(h) under the Act, to prepare a form of prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such form of prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than may be required by Rule 424(b) under the Act; and to make no further amendment or supplement to such form of prospectus which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof;

 

(c)                                   Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may reasonably request to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of any state as you may reasonably request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction, (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be subject and (iv) comply with any other requirements in connection with such qualifications that the company reasonably believes to be unduly burdensome;

 

(d)                                  Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the third New York Business Day succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with written and electronic copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as you may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an 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 when such Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify you and upon your request to file such

 

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document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many written and electronic copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales of any of the Securities at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many written and electronic copies as you may reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;

 

(e)                                   To make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than sixteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

 

(f)                                    During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the later of the Time of Delivery and such earlier time as you may notify the Company, not to offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise dispose of, except as provided hereunder of, any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Securities;

 

(g)                                   To pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Act; and

 

(h)                                  To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds” and to comply with the relevant provisions of the Revolving Credit Facility regarding repayment of indebtedness thereunder with the net proceeds of the sale of the Securities.

 

6.

 

(a)                                  (i)                                      The Company represents and agrees that, other than the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof, without the prior consent of Merrill Lynch, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act;

 

(ii)                                   each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Company and Merrill Lynch other than (x) one or more term sheets relating to the Securities containing customary information and conveyed to prospective purchasers of Securities, (y) ordinary course communications with prospective purchasers of Securities that (i) do not contain “issuer information” within the meaning of Rule 433, (ii) do not contain information that conflicts with information in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (iii) otherwise satisfy the requirements of Rule 433 or (z) a free writing prospectus conveyed to prospective purchasers in the ordinary course that is not required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; and

 

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(iii)                                any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and Merrill Lynch (including the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof) is listed on Schedule II(a) hereto;

 

(b)                                  The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending; and

 

(c)                                   The Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or would include an 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 then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to Merrill Lynch and, if requested by Merrill Lynch, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use therein.

 

7.                                       The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, covenant and agree with the several Underwriters to pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, reproduction and filing of the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the Indenture, the Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(d) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey, which fees and disbursements of counsel will be approximately $15,000; (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities; (v) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vi) the fee of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. in connection with any required review by it of the terms of the sale of the Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities; (viii) the investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with any electronic roadshow, travel and lodging expenses of Merrill Lynch and officers of the Company and the reasonable cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show; (ix) all fees and expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel) of the Company in connection with approval of the Notes by DTC for “book-entry” transfer; and (x) all other reasonable costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section.  It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 9 and 12 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of

 

15



 

their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

8.                                       The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company and the Guarantors herein are, at and as of the Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company and the Guarantors shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

 

(a)                                  The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; the final term sheet contemplated by Section 5(a) hereof, and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Act shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act shall have been received; no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;

 

(b)                                  The Underwriters shall have received from Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion letter and negative assurance letter, each dated the Time of Delivery in form and substance satisfactory to you and addressed to the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Underwriters may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters;

 

(c)                                   Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, special counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to you their written opinion and negative assurance letter (a draft of such opinion is attached as Annex I(a) hereto), dated the Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you;

 

(d)                                  Charles E. Baker, general counsel to the Company, shall have furnished to you his written opinion and negative assurance letter (a draft of such opinion is attached as Annex I(b) hereto), dated the Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you;

 

(e)                                   (i) On the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement, (ii) at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any post effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also (iii) at the Time of Delivery, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have furnished to you a letter or letters with respect to the Company and a letter or letters with respect to Rexam, in each case dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to you, substantially in the form attached as Annex II(a) and Annex II(b) hereto, respectively;

 

(f)                                    (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing

 

16



 

Disclosure Package, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto after the Applicable Time) and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Disclosure Package there shall not have been any material adverse change in the capital stock or long term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto after the Applicable Time), the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in your good faith judgment so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering, sale or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;

 

(g)                                   On or after the Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is used by the Commission in Section 15E under the Exchange Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities;

 

(h)                                  On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the New York Stock Exchange; or (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in your judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering, sale or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;

 

(i)                                      The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(d) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on or prior to the third New York Business Day succeeding the date of this Agreement; and

 

(j)                                     The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at the Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to you as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors herein at and as of such time, as to the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of all of their obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such time, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (f) of this Section and as to such other matters as you may reasonably request.

 

9.                                       (a)                                  The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates who participate in the sale of the Notes, its directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter, director, officer, or controlling person may become

 

17



 

subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based (i) upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter and each such affiliate who participates in the sale of the Notes, director, officer, or controlling person for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by such Underwriter or such affiliate who participates in the sale of the Notes, director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use therein.

 

(b)                                  Each Underwriter, severally, but not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Guarantor, each of their respective directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company, any Guarantor or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based (i) upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company, any Guarantor or such director, officer or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.

 

(c)                                   Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the

 

18



 

indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure by the indemnified party to so notify the indemnifying party shall relieve it from the obligations to indemnify the indemnified party under such subsection only to the extent the indemnifying party suffers actual prejudice as a result of such failure, but shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection.  In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  No indemnifying party shall, (i) without the written consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (1) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (2) 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 or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

 

(d)                                  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein other than by its terms, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities.  If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent,

 

19



 

knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The Company, the Guarantors and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d).  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter 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 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

 

(e)                                   The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company and the Guarantors may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act and each broker-dealer affiliate of any Underwriter; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer of the Company and the Guarantors and each director of the Company and the Guarantors and to each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of the Act.

 

(f)                                    Subject to the limitations of this Section 9, and without limitation and in addition to its obligation under the other subsections of this Section 9, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the QIU, its directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls the QIU within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any loss, claim, damage, liabilities or expense, as incurred, arising out of or based upon the QIU’s acting as a “qualified independent underwriter” (within the meaning of NASD Conduct Rule 2720(f)(12) of FINRA) in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified person for any legal or other expense reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however , that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the QIU.

 

10.                                (a)  If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Securities which it has agreed to purchase hereunder, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase such Securities on the terms contained herein.  If within thirty six hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Securities on such terms.  In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, or the Company notifies you that it has

 

20



 

so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary.  The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Securities.

 

(b)            If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one twelfth of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

(c)            If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one twelfth of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 7 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

11.          The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, the Guarantors and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the QIU, or any controlling person of any Underwriter or the QIU, or the Company, the Guarantors, each officer of the Company and the Guarantors and each director or controlling person of the Company and the Guarantors, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.

 

12.          If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof; but, if for any other reason, the Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will reimburse the Underwriters for all out of pocket expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities, but the Company and the Guarantors shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof.

 

21



 

13.          In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by you or by Merrill Lynch on behalf of you as the representative.

 

All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as the Representative at One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036 (Fax: (212) 901-7897), Attention: Legal Department; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by you upon request.  Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

 

In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

14.          This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the QIU, the Company, the Guarantors and, to the extent provided in Sections 9 and 11 hereof, the officers, employees and directors of the Company, the Guarantors, any Underwriter, the QIU and each person who controls the Company, any Underwriter or the QIU and any affiliate of an Underwriter who participates in the sale of the Notes, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

 

15.          Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.  As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

 

16.          The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company and the Guarantors, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or the Guarantors on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company and the Guarantors except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Company and the Guarantors have consulted their own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.  The Company and the Guarantors agree that they will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, 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.

 

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17.          This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

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

 

19.          The Company, the Guarantors and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

20.          This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

21.          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company is authorized to disclose to any persons the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the potential transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) provided to the Company relating to that treatment and structure, without the Underwriters, imposing any limitation of any kind. However, any information relating to the tax treatment and tax structure shall remain confidential (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent necessary to enable any person to comply with securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” is limited to any facts that may be relevant to that treatment.

 

23



 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company and the Guarantors.  It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

Ball Corporation

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeff A. Knobel

 

 

Name: Jeff A. Knobel

 

 

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Holding Corporation

 

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Inc.

 

Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp.

 

Latas de Aluminio Ball, Inc.

 

USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc.

 

Ball Advanced Aluminum Technologies Corp.

 

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

 

Ball Technologies Holdings Corp.

 

Ball Holdings Corp.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeff A. Knobel

 

 

Name: Jeff A. Knobel

 

 

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

Ball Corporation, a Nevada corporation

 

Ball Glass Containers, Inc.

 

Ball Container LLC

 

Ball Holdings LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles E. Baker

 

 

Name: Charles E. Baker

 

 

Title: President and Secretary

 

 

[ Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement ]

 



 

 

Ball Metal Container Corporation

 

Ball Metal Food Container (Oakdale), LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles E. Baker

 

 

Name: Charles E. Baker

 

 

Title: Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

Ball Pan-European Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles E. Baker

 

 

Name: Charles E. Baker

 

 

Title: Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

Ball Metal Food Container, LLC

 

Ball Delaware Holdings, LLC

 

Ball Asia Services Limited

 

Ball Packaging, LLC

 

Ball Global Business Services Corp.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles E. Baker

 

 

Name: Charles E. Baker

 

 

Title: Vice President and Secretary

 

 

 

[ Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement ]

 



 

Accepted as of the date hereof:

 

 

 

 

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Matthew A. Curtin

 

 

Name: Matthew A. Curtin

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

On behalf of each of the Underwriters

 

 

 

[ Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement ]

 



 

SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

 

Principal Amount of 
Notes to be 
Purchased

 

 

 

 

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

 

$

127,137,900.00

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

 

$

127,137,900.00

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 

$

100,650,900.00

 

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

 

$

100,650,900.00

 

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

 

$

79,461,200.00

 

Rabo Securities USA, Inc.

 

$

79,461,200.00

 

ANZ Securities, Inc.

 

$

34,500,000.00

 

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

 

$

34,500,000.00

 

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

 

$

34,500,000.00

 

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

 

$

34,500,000.00

 

PNC Capital Markets LLC

 

$

34,500,000.00

 

Santander Investments Securities Inc.

 

$

34,500,000.00

 

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

 

$

34,500,000.00

 

TD Securities (USA) LLC

 

$

34,500,000.00

 

UniCredit Capital Markets LLC

 

$

34,500,000.00

 

RB International Markets (USA) LLC

 

$

27,000,000.00

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

$

24,000,000.00

 

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

 

$

24,000,000.00

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

1,000,000,000

 

 



 

SCHEDULE II

 

Guarantors

 

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Holding Corporation

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Inc.

Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp.

Ball Metal Food Container (Oakdale), LLC

Ball Packaging, LLC

Latas de Aluminio Ball, Inc.

USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc.

Ball Advanced Aluminum Technologies Corp.

Ball Corporation, a Nevada corporation

Ball Global Business Services Corp.

Ball Glass Containers, Inc.

Ball Metal Container Corporation

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

Ball Technologies Holdings Corp.

Ball Holdings Corp.

Ball Delaware Holdings, LLC

Ball Asia Services Limited

Ball Metal Food Container, LLC

Ball Pan-European Holdings, Inc.

Ball Container LLC

Ball Holdings LLC

 



 

SCHEDULE III

 

PRICING TERM SHEET

 

$1,000,000,000

 

Ball Corporation

 

5.25% Senior Notes due 2025

 

Pricing Supplement, dated June 22, 2015, to the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated June 22, 2015 of Ball Corporation (“Ball”).  This Pricing Supplement relates only to the securities described below and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.  The information in this Pricing Supplement supplements the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement only to the extent it is inconsistent with the information contained in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.  Capitalized terms used in this Pricing Supplement but not defined have the meanings given them in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

 

Issuer:

Ball Corporation

 

 

Title of Securities:

5.25% Senior Notes due 2025

 

 

Principal Amount:

$1,000,000,000

 

 

Maturity Date:

July 1, 2025

 

 

Coupon:

5.25%

 

 

Price to Public:

100%

 

 

Yield to Maturity:

5.25%

 

 

Spread to Benchmark Treasury:

+290 basis points

 

 

Benchmark Treasury:

2.125% UST due May 15, 2025

 

 

Interest Payment Dates:

July 1 and January 1

 

 

First Interest Payment Date:

January 1, 2016

 

 

Record Dates:

June 15 and December 15

 

 

Optional Redemption:

Ball may redeem the notes at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, in each case, at Ball’s option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such notes discounted to the date of redemption (excluding interest accrued to the date of redemption), on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), at a rate equal to the sum of the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if

 



 

 

any, to but excluding the redemption date.

 

 

Change of Control Repurchase Event:

If a change of control repurchase event occurs, Ball will be required to make an offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at a price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to but not including the repurchase date.

 

 

Trade Date:

June 22, 2015

 

 

Settlement Date:

June 25, 2015 (T+3)

 

 

Net Proceeds:

Approximately $986 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses related to the offering.

 

 

Use of Proceeds:

Ball intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers:

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

Rabo Securities USA, Inc.

 

 

Co-managers:

ANZ Securities, Inc.

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

Santander Investment Securities Inc.

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

TD Securities (USA) LLC

UniCredit Capital Markets LLC

RB International Markets (USA) LLC

Barclays Capital Inc.

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

 

 

CUSIP/ISIN Numbers:

CUSIP: 058498 AT3.

ISIN: US058498AT38.

 

*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.

 

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus dated June 15, 2015) and a preliminary prospectus supplement dated June 22, 2015 with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the preliminary prospectus supplement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer

 



 

participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated toll-free at (800) 294-1322.

 



 

SCHEDULE IV

 

(a) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not included in the Pricing Disclosure Package

 

(b) Additional Documents Incorporated by Reference

 


Exhibit 4.2

 

BALL CORPORATION

 

And

 

GUARANTORS

 

Parties Hereto

 

$1,000,000,000

 

5.25%% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2025

 

TENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of June 25, 2015

 

To

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of March 27, 2006

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(f/k/a The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee

 



 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

Trust Indenture

 

 

Act Section

 

 

Indenture Section

 

Supplemental

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)

 

12.03

(c)

 

12.03

313(a)

 

7.06

(b)(2)

 

7.06; 7.07

(c)

 

7.06; 12.02

(d)

 

7.06

314(a)

 

4.03; 12.05

(b)

 

N.A.

(c)(1)

 

N.A.

(c)(2)

 

N.A.

(c)(3)

 

N.A.

(e)

 

12.05

(f)

 

N.A.

315(a)

 

N.A.

(b)

 

7.05, 12.02

(c)

 

N.A.

(d)

 

N.A.

(e)

 

N.A.

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)

 

N.A.

(a)(2)

 

N.A.

(b)

 

N.A.

318(a)

 

N.A.

(b)

 

N.A.

(c)

 

12.01

 


N.A. means not applicable.

*This Cross-Reference Table is not part of this Supplemental Indenture.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE 1.

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01

Definitions

1

Section 1.02

Other Definitions

12

Section 1.03

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

12

Section 1.04

Rules of Construction

12

Section 1.05

Relationship with Base Indenture

13

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2. THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01

Form and Dating

13

Section 2.02

Execution and Authentication

14

Section 2.03

Registrar and Paying Agent

14

Section 2.04

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

14

Section 2.05

Holder Lists

15

Section 2.06

Transfer and Exchange

15

Section 2.07

Replacement Notes

18

Section 2.08

Outstanding Notes

18

Section 2.09

Treasury Notes

19

Section 2.10

Temporary Notes

19

Section 2.11

Cancellation

19

Section 2.12

Defaulted Interest

19

Section 2.13

CUSIP Number

19

Section 2.14

Issuance of Additional Notes

20

Section 2.15

FATCA

20

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3.

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

Section 3.01

Notice to Trustee

20

Section 3.02

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

20

Section 3.03

Notice of Redemption

21

Section 3.04

Effect of Notice of Redemption

21

Section 3.05

Deposit of Redemption Price

22

Section 3.06

Notes Redeemed in Part

22

Section 3.07

Optional Redemption

22

Section 3.08

Mandatory Redemption

23

 

 

 

ARTICLE 4.

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01

Payment of Notes

23

Section 4.02

Maintenance of Office or Agency

23

Section 4.03

Reports

24

Section 4.04

Compliance Certificate

24

Section 4.05

Taxes

25

Section 4.06

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

25

Section 4.07

Limitation on Liens

25

Section 4.08

Corporate Existence

25

Section 4.09

Offer to Purchase Upon Change of Control

26

Section 4.10

Additional Guarantees

27

Section 4.11

Sale and Leaseback Transactions

27

 

i



 

ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

27

Section 5.02

Successor Corporation Substituted

28

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6.

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01

Events of Default

28

Section 6.02

Acceleration

29

Section 6.03

Other Remedies

30

Section 6.04

Waiver of Past Defaults

30

Section 6.05

Control by Majority

30

Section 6.06

Limitation on Suits

30

Section 6.07

Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment

31

Section 6.08

Collection Suit by Trustee

31

Section 6.09

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

31

Section 6.10

Priorities

32

Section 6.11

Undertaking for Costs

32

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7.

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01

Duties of Trustee

32

Section 7.02

Rights of Trustee

33

Section 7.03

Individual Rights of Trustee

34

Section 7.04

Trustee’s Disclaimer

34

Section 7.05

Notice of Defaults

34

Section 7.06

Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes

34

Section 7.07

Compensation and Indemnity

35

Section 7.08

Replacement of Trustee

35

Section 7.09

Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

36

Section 7.10

Eligibility; Disqualification

36

Section 7.11

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

36

 

 

 

ARTICLE 8.

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

37

Section 8.02

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

37

Section 8.03

Covenant Defeasance

37

Section 8.04

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

37

Section 8.05

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

38

Section 8.06

Repayment to Company

39

Section 8.07

Reinstatement

39

 

 

 

ARTICLE 9.

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.01

Without Consent of Holders of Notes

39

Section 9.02

With Consent of Holders of Notes

40

Section 9.03

Compliance With Trust Indenture Act

41

Section 9.04

Revocation and Effect of Consents

41

Section 9.05

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

41

Section 9.06

Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.

42

 

ii



 

ARTICLE 10.

NOTE GUARANTEES

 

Section 10.01

Guarantee

42

Section 10.02

Limitation on Guarantor Liability

43

Section 10.03

Execution and Delivery of Guarantee

43

Section 10.04

Guarantors May Consolidate, etc. on Certain Terms

43

Section 10.05

Releases Following Sale of Assets, Etc.

44

 

 

 

ARTICLE 11.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 11.01

Satisfaction and Discharge

44

 

 

 

ARTICLE 12.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01

Trust Indenture Act Controls

45

Section 12.02

Notices

45

Section 12.03

Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes

46

Section 12.04

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

46

Section 12.05

Statements Required in Certificate and Opinion

47

Section 12.06

Rules by Trustee and Agents

47

Section 12.07

Calculation of Foreign Currency Amounts

47

Section 12.08

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

47

Section 12.09

Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial

47

Section 12.10

Force Majeure

48

Section 12.11

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

48

Section 12.12

Successors

48

Section 12.13

Severability

48

Section 12.14

Counterpart Originals

48

Section 12.15

Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

48

 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

FORM OF NOTE

Exhibit B

FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

Exhibit C

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

 

iii



 

TENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of June 25, 2015, by and among Ball Corporation, an Indiana corporation (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors (as defined below) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (f/k/a The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), a national banking association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

 

The Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture, dated as of March 27, 2006 (the “ Base Indenture ”), providing for the issuance from time to time of one or more series of the Company’s securities.

 

The Company and the Guarantors desire and have requested the Trustee pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Base Indenture to join with them in the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture in order to supplement the Base Indenture to the extent set forth herein to provide for the issuance and the terms of the Notes (as defined below).

 

Section 9.01(6) of the Base Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee, without the consent of any holders of the Company’s Securities, may provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Notes of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 2.02 thereof.  The provisions contained in this Tenth Supplemental Indenture shall govern only the 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 issued hereunder.

 

The execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized by a board resolution of the Company and each of the Guarantors.

 

All conditions and requirements necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal instrument in accordance with its terms have been performed and fulfilled by the Company and the Guarantors and the execution and delivery thereof have been in all respects duly authorized by the Company and the Guarantors.

 

The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) of the 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “ Notes ”):

 

ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01                             Definitions .

 

“Additional Notes” means any Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this Supplemental Indenture in accordance with Section 2.14 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes.

 

Agent ” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.

 

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

 

Attributable Debt ” means, with respect to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, at the time of determination, the lesser of (1) the sale price of the property so leased multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the remaining portion of the base term of the lease included in such transaction and the denominator of which is the base term of such lease, and (2) the total obligation (discounted to the present value at the implicit interest factor, determined in accordance with GAAP, included in the rental payments) of the lessee for rental payments (other than amounts required to be paid on account of property taxes as well as maintenance, repairs, insurance, water rates and other items which do not constitute payments for property rights) during the remaining portion of the base term of the lease included in such transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Sale and Leaseback Transaction results in a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of Indebtedness represented thereby will 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.

 

1



 

Base Indenture ” means has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Supplemental Indenture, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition.  The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

 

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 or managers thereof; and

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2



 

(3)                                  the consummation of any transaction, including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation, the result of which is that 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; provided that any holding company that conducts no material activities other than holding Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company and has no other material assets or liabilities other than such Capital Stock will not itself be considered a “person” for purposes of this clause (3);

 

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

 

(5)                                  the Company consolidates with or merges with or into any Person, or sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock of the surviving or transferee Person constituting a majority of the outstanding shares of such Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person (immediately after giving effect to such issuance).

 

Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Ratings Event.

 

Company ” means Ball Corporation, and any and all successors thereto.

 

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

 

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

 

(2)                                  consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, 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 receivables financings, and net payments, if any, pursuant to Hedging Obligations, to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

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

 

(4)                                  non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in

 

3



 

accordance with GAAP; provided, that the following items shall be excluded in computing Consolidated Net Income (without duplication):

 

(1)                                  the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person (other than the Company) that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Subsidiary of the Person;

 

(2)                                  the Net Income of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that 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 Subsidiary or its stockholders;

 

(3)                                  the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition;

 

(4)                                  the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;

 

(5)                                  any gains or losses (on an after-tax basis) attributable to asset dispositions;

 

(6)                                  all extraordinary, unusual, or non-recurring gains, charges, expenses or losses;

 

(7)                                  any non-cash compensation expenses recorded from grants of stock options, restricted stock and other equity equivalents to officers, directors and employees;

 

(8)                                  any impairment charge or asset write off;

 

(9)                                  net charges associated with or related to any restructurings;

 

(10)                           all financial advisory fees, accounting fees, legal fees and similar advisory and consulting fees and related costs and expenses of the Company and its Subsidiaries incurred as a result of asset acquisitions, investments, asset sales and the issuance of Capital Stock or Indebtedness, all determined in accordance with GAAP and in each case eliminating any increase or decrease in income resulting from non-cash accounting adjustments made in connection with the related asset acquisition, investment or asset sale;

 

(11)                           expenses incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary to the extent reimbursed in cash by a third party;

 

(12)                           all other non-cash charges, including unrealized gains or losses on agreements with respect to Hedging Obligations and all non-cash charges associated with announced restructurings, whether announced previously or in the future; and

 

(13)                           income or loss attributable to discontinued operations (including, without limitation, operations disposed of during such period whether or not such operations were classified as discontinued).

 

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, with respect to any specified Person as of any date, the total assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries as of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries is available as of that date, minus (a) all current liabilities of such Person and its Subsidiaries reflected on such balance sheet (excluding any current liabilities for borrowed money having a maturity of less than 12 months but by its terms being renewable or extendible beyond 12 months from such date at the option of the borrower) and (b) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangible assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries reflected on such balance sheet, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

4



 

Consolidated Secured Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person as of any date, (a) the total amount of Indebtedness of such Person and its Subsidiaries as of the most recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries that is available as of that date that is secured by a Lien on the assets or property of such specified Person or upon shares of Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any of its Subsidiaries, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, plus (b) the total amount of Capital Lease Obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries as of the most recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries that is available as of that date, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, plus (c) the total amount of Attributable Debt in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions of such Person and its Subsidiaries as of such date.

 

Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any specified Person as of any date, the ratio of (a) the Consolidated Secured Indebtedness of such Person as of such date to (b) the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for the four most recent full fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on Principal Property of such Person or upon shares of stock or Indebtedness of any of its Subsidiaries (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) subsequent to the commencement of the period for which such Consolidated Cash Flow is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, 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 Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio:

 

(1)                                  acquisitions and dispositions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations, or any Person or any of its Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any of its Subsidiaries, and including any related financing transactions and giving effect to the application of proceeds from any dispositions, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date will be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference period will be calculated without giving effect to clause (3) of the proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Income; and

 

(2)                                  the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded,

 

provided that to the extent that clause (1) or (2) of this paragraph requires that pro forma effect be given to an acquisition, disposition or discontinued operations, as applicable, such pro forma calculation shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt and without duplication, cost savings, synergies and operating expense resulting from such acquisition whether or not such cost savings, synergies or operating expense reductions would be allowed under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC or any other regulation or policy of the SEC).

 

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 the Board of Directors on the date of this Supplemental Indenture; or

 

(2)                                  was nominated for election, elected or appointed to the Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of the Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by specific action by the Board of Directors or by approval by the Board of Directors of the Company’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director).

 

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Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee ” will be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

 

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

 

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 will not bear the Global Note Legend.

 

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 Supplemental Indenture.

 

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.

 

Description of Notes ” means the description of notes section of the Company’s prospectus supplement, dated June 22, 2015, relating to the offering of the Initial Notes.

 

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any 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 or its Domestic Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

Excluded Subsidiary ” means such Subsidiaries of the Company as may from time to time be designated by the Company as “Excluded Subsidiaries” pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee; provided , that each such Subsidiary shall be an Excluded Subsidiary only if and only for so long as:

 

(1)                                  the aggregate of the net sales of all such Subsidiaries shall not exceed $35 million in any twelve-month period; and

 

(2)                                  the aggregate of the assets, including capitalization, of all such Subsidiaries as of any date shall not exceed $35 million.

 

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 and such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are applicable as of the date of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

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

 

Global Notes ” means, individually and collectively, each of the Global Notes, in the form of Exhibit A hereto issued in accordance with Section 2.01 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

 

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assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness.

 

Guarantors ” means:

 

(1)                                  each Domestic Subsidiary of the Company as of the date of this Supplemental Indenture that Guarantees any other Indebtedness of the Company (other than Ball Capital Corp. II and the Excluded Subsidiaries); and

 

(2)                                  any other Subsidiary of the Company that executes a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit C and becomes a Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(3)                                  and, in each case, their respective successors and assigns.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, in respect of borrowed money, whether evidenced by credit agreements, bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit, or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any Principal Property of the specified Person or upon the shares of Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary 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 or any liability of any person, whether or not contingent and whether or not it appears on the balance sheet of such Person.

 

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 that does not require the current payment of interest;

 

(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 (as determined in good faith by the Company) of such assets at the date of determination; and

 

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

 

For avoidance of doubt, a letter of credit or analogous instrument will not constitute Indebtedness until it has been drawn upon.

 

Indenture ” means the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, governing the Notes, in each case, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

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

 

“Initial Notes” means the first $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Supplemental Indenture on the date hereof.

 

Investment Grade ” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s), a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) and the equivalent Investment Grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.

 

Legal Holiday ” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York, the city in which the principal office of the Trustee is located 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 will accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

 

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or any lease in the nature thereof; provided that in no event will an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Services, Inc., and its successors.

 

Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income or loss of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

 

(1)                                  any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(2)                                  any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss; and

 

(3)                                  any one-time noncash charges (including legal, accounting, debt issuance and debt retirement costs) resulting from the offering of the Initial Notes, the application of the net proceeds therefrom and the payment of related fees and expenses.

 

Notes ” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Supplemental Indenture.  The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes will be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Supplemental Indenture, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes will include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

 

Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.

 

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be a vice-president, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Sections 12.04 and 12.05 hereof.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Sections 12.04 and 12.05 hereof.  The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

 

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

 

Permitted Liens ” means:

 

(1)                                  Liens securing Indebtedness on any Principal Property existing at the time of its acquisition and Liens created contemporaneously with or within 270 days after (or created pursuant to firm commitment financing arrangements obtained within that period) the later of (a) the acquisition or completion of construction or completion of substantial reconstruction, renovation, remodeling, expansion or improvement (each, a “substantial improvement”) of such Principal Property or (y) the placing in operation of such Principal Property after the acquisition or completion of any such construction or substantial improvement;

 

(2)                                  Liens on property or assets or shares of Capital Stock or Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time it is merged, combined or amalgamated with or into or consolidated with, or its assets or Capital Stock are acquired by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or it otherwise becomes a Subsidiary of the Company; provided, however, that in each case (a) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien was not incurred in contemplation of such merger, combination, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or transaction in which such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company and (b) such Lien extends only to the Capital Stock and assets of such Person (and Subsidiaries of such Person) and/or to property other than Principal Property or the Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(3)                                  Liens securing Indebtedness in favor of the Company and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries;

 

(4)                                  Liens in favor of or required by a governmental unit in any relevant jurisdiction, including any departments or instrumentality thereof, to secure payments under any contract or statute, or to secure debts incurred in financing the acquisition or construction of or improvements or alterations to property subject thereto;

 

(5)                                  Liens in favor of any customer arising in respect of and not exceeding the amount of performance deposits and partial, progress, advance or other payments by that customer for goods produced or services rendered to that customer in the ordinary course of business and consignment arrangements (whether as consignor or as consignee) or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6)                                  Liens existing on the date of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(7)                                  Liens to secure any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals, refinancings, refundings or replacements), in whole or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by Liens referred to in the foregoing clauses (1) through (6) or the following clauses (10) or (11) or Liens created in connection with any amendment, consent or waiver relating to such Indebtedness, so long as (a) such Lien is limited to (i) all or part of substantially the same property which secured the Lien extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced and/or (ii) property other than Principal Property or the Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company and (b) the amount of Indebtedness secured is not increased (other than by the amount equal to any costs, expenses, premiums, fees or prepayment penalties incurred in connection with any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement);

 

(8)                                  Liens in respect of cash in connection with the operation of cash management programs and Liens associated with the discounting or sale of letters of credit and customary rights of set off, banker’s Lien, revocation, refund or chargeback or similar rights under deposit disbursement, concentration account agreements or under the Uniform Commercial Code or arising by operation of law;

 

(9)                                  Liens resulting from the deposit of funds or evidences of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and legal or equitable encumbrances deemed to exist by reason of negative pledges;

 

9



 

(10)                           Liens securing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, as of the date such Indebtedness is incurred, the amount that would cause the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio of the Company to be greater than 3.00 to 1.00 as of such date of incurrence; or

 

(11)                           other Liens, in addition to those permitted in the foregoing clauses (1) through (10), securing Indebtedness having an aggregate principal amount (including all outstanding Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the foregoing clause (7) to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (11)), measured as of the date of the incurrence of any such Indebtedness (after giving pro forma effect to the application of the proceeds therefrom), taken together with the amount of all Attributable Debt of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries at that time outstanding relating to Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted under Section 4.11  not to exceed 15% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company measured as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred (after giving pro forma effect to the application of the proceeds therefrom and any transaction in connection with which such Indebtedness is being incurred).

 

For purposes of the foregoing clauses (10) and (11), (a) with respect to any revolving credit facility secured by a Lien, the full amount of Indebtedness that may be borrowed thereunder will be deemed to be incurred at the time any revolving credit commitment thereunder is first extended or increased and will not be deemed to be incurred when such revolving credit facility is drawn upon and (b) if a Lien by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is granted to secure Indebtedness that was previously unsecured, such Indebtedness will be deemed to be incurred as of the date such Indebtedness is secured.

 

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

 

Principal Property ” means any manufacturing plant or manufacturing facility owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries located within the continental United States that has a net book value in excess of 1.5% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company.  For purposes of this definition, net book value will be measured at the time the relevant Lien is being created, at the time the relevant secured Indebtedness is incurred or at the time the relevant Sale and Leaseback Transaction is entered into, as applicable.

 

Rating Agency ” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if either Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Company as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both, as the case may be.

 

Rating Date ” means the date that is 60 days prior to the earlier of (a) a Change of Control or (b) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the intention by the Company to affect a Change of Control.

 

Ratings Event ” means the occurrence of the events described in (1) or (2) of this definition on, or within 60 days after the earlier of, (i) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (ii) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the intention by the Company to effect a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies):

 

(1)                                  if the Notes are rated by one or both Rating Agencies on the Rating Date as Investment Grade, the rating of the Notes shall be reduced so that the Notes are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies; or

 

(2)                                  if the Notes are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies on the Rating Date, the rating of the Notes shall remain rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies.

 

Responsible Officer ” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant

 

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treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time will be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who will have direct responsibility for the administration of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Domestic Subsidiary (other than Ball Capital Corp. II or any other receivables securitization entity).

 

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of the McGraw Hill Corporation, Inc., and its successors.

 

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

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

 

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 original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

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

 

(2)                                  any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or an entity described in clause (1) and related to such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or one or more entities described in clause (1) and related to such Person, or any combination thereof.

 

For avoidance of doubt, neither Latapack-Ball Embalagens Ltda nor Rocky Mountain Metal Container LLC will be deemed to be a Subsidiary of the Company, in each case for so long as the Company’s ownership percentage of the Voting Stock (measured by voting power) of the applicable entity as of the date of the Supplemental Indenture does not materially increase.

 

Supplemental Indenture ” means this Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, governing the Notes, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the Base Indenture and the terms hereof.

 

TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Supplemental Indenture is qualified under the TIA.

 

U.S. Person ” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(o) under the Securities Act.

 

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

 

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Section 1.02                             Other Definitions .

 

Term

 

Defined in
Section

 

 

 

“Applicable Law”

 

2.15

“Authentication Order”

 

2.02

“Calculation Date”

 

1.01

“Change of Control Offer”

 

4.09

“Change of Control Payment”

 

4.09

“Change of Control Payment Date”

 

4.09

“Comparable Treasury Issue”

 

3.07

“Comparable Treasury Price”

 

3.07

“Covenant Defeasance”

 

8.03

“DTC”

 

2.03

“Event of Default”

 

6.01

“Independent Investment Banker”

 

3.07

“Legal Defeasance”

 

8.02

“Paying Agent”

 

2.03

“Payment Default”

 

6.01

“Reference Treasury Dealer”

 

3.07

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations”

 

3.07

“Registrar”

 

2.03

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction”

 

4.11

“Treasury Rate”

 

3.07

 

Section 1.03                             Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .

 

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

 

The following TIA terms used in this Supplemental 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 Supplemental Indenture;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 1.04                             Rules of Construction .

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

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(3)                                  “or” is not exclusive;

 

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

 

(5)                                  provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

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

 

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

 

(8)                                  references to sections of the Indenture refer to sections of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 1.05                             Relationship with Base Indenture .

 

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

 

The Trustee accepts the amendment of the Base Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture and agrees to execute the trust created by the Base Indenture as hereby amended, but only upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Supplemental Indenture, including the terms and provisions defining and limiting the liabilities and responsibilities of the Trustee in the performance of the trust created by the Base Indenture, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee will not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to any of the recitals or statements contained herein, all of which recitals or statements are made solely by the Company and the Guarantors, or for or with respect to (1) the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or any of the terms or provisions hereof, (2) the proper authorization hereof by the Company and the Guarantors, (3) the due execution hereof by the Company and the Guarantors or (4) the consequences (direct or indirect and whether deliberate or inadvertent) of any amendment herein provided for, and the Trustee makes no representation with respect to any such matters.

 

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 will be in 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 Supplemental Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Supplemental 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 the Base Indenture, the provisions of the Note will govern and be controlling, and to the extent any provision of the Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture will govern and be controlling.

 

(b)                                  Global Notes .  Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon).  Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon).  Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each will provide that it will represent 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.

 

Section 2.02                             Execution and Authentication .

 

One Officer will sign the Notes for the Company and the Guarantees for the Guarantors by manual or facsimile signature or a signature by the means of an electronic transmission (including a pdf).  If an Officer whose signature is on a Note and/or a Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time such Note and/or Guarantee is authenticated, such Note and/or Guarantee will nevertheless be valid.

 

A Note and/or a Guarantee will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.  The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note or Guarantee, as applicable, has been authenticated under this Supplemental Indenture.

 

The Trustee will, upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer (an “ Authentication Order ”), authenticate Notes and Guarantees for original issue in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture, including any Additional Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.14 hereof.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes.  An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes and Guarantees whenever the Trustee may do so.  Each reference in this Supplemental 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, the Company 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 Supplemental Indenture.  If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee will 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.

 

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, premium, if any, or interest 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

 

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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 will otherwise comply with TIA Section 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 will otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).

 

Section 2.06                             Transfer and Exchange .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (1) or (2) above, Definitive Notes will be issued in such names and in any approved denominations as the Depositary will instruct the Trustee.  Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof.  Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, will be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and will 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 Sections 2.06(b), (c) or (g) hereof.

 

(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 Supplemental Indenture and the Applicable Procedures.  Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

 

(1)                                  Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note .  Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note.  No written orders or instructions will be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(1).

 

(2)                                  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)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

 

(A)                                (i) 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 (ii) instructions given in accordance with

 

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the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase.

 

Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee will adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof.

 

(c)                                   Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes .  If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will 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) 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.

 

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

 

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to the previous paragraph at a time when a Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of the Company’s order, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

 

A Holder of Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note.

 

(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 will 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 his attorney, duly authorized in writing.  In addition, the requesting Holder will provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, reasonably requested by the Registrar or the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

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CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.  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.”

 

(g)                                   Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes .  At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note 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 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.

 

(h)                                  General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

 

(1)                                  To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon the Company’s order or at the Registrar’s request.

 

(2)                                  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, 4.09 and 9.05 hereof).

 

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

 

(4)                                  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 sa m e benefits under this Supplemental Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(5)                                  The Company will not be required:

 

(A)                                to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period of 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;

 

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

 

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

 

(6)                                  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 will be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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

 

(8)                                  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 or electronic transmission (including a pdf).

 

(9)                                  The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Supplemental Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any 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 Supplemental Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

(10)                           Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

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.  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 and the Trustee 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 Supplemental 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 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.

 

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

 

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

 

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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 by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, 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 a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned will be so disregarded.

 

Section 2.10                             Temporary Notes .

 

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, 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 will be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.  Without unreasonable delay, the Company will prepare and the Trustee will authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

Holders of temporary Notes will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Supplemental 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 in accordance with its customary procedures and will return such canceled Notes to the Company at the Company’s written request.  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 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 will 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 deliver or cause to be delivered to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

Section 2.13                             CUSIP Number .

 

The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee will use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption will not be affected by any defect in or the omission of such numbers.  The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

 

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Section 2.14                             Issuance of Additional Notes .

 

The Company will be entitled, upon delivery of an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, to issue Additional Notes under this Supplemental Indenture which will have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the date hereof, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price.  The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof and any Additional Notes issued will be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Supplemental Indenture.

 

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company will set forth in a resolution of its Board of Directors and an Officer’s Certificate, a copy of each which will be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

 

(a)                                  the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(b)                                  the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number of such Additional Notes.

 

Section 2.15                             FATCA .

 

In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”) a foreign financial institution, issuer, trustee, paying agent, holder or other institution that is or has agreed to be subject to the Supplemental Indenture, and the Company agrees (i) to the extent available to such Person, to provide to the Trustee sufficient information about holders or other applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so the Trustee can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law, (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under the Supplemental Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law for which the Trustee shall not have any liability.  The terms of this section shall survive the termination of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 3.
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

Section 3.01                             Notice to Trustee .

 

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it will 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 provision of this Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which the redemption will occur;

 

(ii)                                   the Redemption Date;

 

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

 

(iv)                               the redemption price; and

 

(v)                                  the CUSIP numbers of the Notes to be redeemed.

 

Section 3.02                             Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed .

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, Depositary will select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes (a) in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, (b) if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis (unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange or depositary requirements).  In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, (a) in the

 

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case of Global Notes, in accordance with the Depositary’s Applicable Procedures or (b) in the case of Definitive Notes, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

 

The Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.  Notes and portions of Notes selected 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, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, will be redeemed.  Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Supplemental Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

Section 3.03                             Notice of Redemption .

 

At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date, the Company will deliver or cause to be delivered a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed.

 

The notice will identify the Notes to be redeemed, including the CUSIP numbers, and will state:

 

(1)                                  the Redemption Date;

 

(2)                                  the redemption price;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

At the Company’s written request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however , that the Company will have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date (or such shorter period as the Trustee in its sole discretion may allow), 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 delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price; provided , that any redemption of Notes pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent.

 

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Section 3.05                             Deposit of Redemption Price .

 

One Business Day prior to the Redemption Date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date.  The Trustee or the Paying Agent 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 price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.

 

If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption.  If a Note is redeemed on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest will 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 will not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest will be paid on the unpaid principal, from the Redemption Date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

 

Section 3.06                             Notes Redeemed in Part .

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company will issue and, upon the Company’s written request, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

 

No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part.

 

Section 3.07                             Optional Redemption .

 

The Company may redeem the Notes at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, in each case, at its option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such Notes discounted to the date of redemption (excluding interest accrued to the date of redemption), on a semiannual basis, at a rate equal to the sum of the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the redemption date.  The redemption prices will be calculated assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on the interest payment date to the registered holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the Notes and this Supplemental Indenture.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, the following definitions apply:

 

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (as measured from the date of redemption) of the Notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

 

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations obtained by the Company for that redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, (ii) if we are unable to obtain at least four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations obtained by the Company, or (iii) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is received, such quotation.

 

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Independent Investment Banker ” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, or, if such firm is unwilling or unable to select the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means (i) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (or its affiliates that are Primary Treasury Dealers) and their respective successors; provided, however , that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company may substitute another institution to act as a Primary Treasury Dealer, and (ii) at least two other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Company.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date for the Notes, an average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue for the Notes, expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount, quoted in writing to the Company by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding the redemption date.

 

Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date applicable to the Notes, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity, computed as of the third business day immediately preceding the redemption date, of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue, expressed as a percentage of its principal amount, equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for the redemption date.

 

Section 3.08                             Mandatory Redemption .

 

The Company is not required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

ARTICLE 4.
COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01                             Payment of Notes .

 

The Company or a Guarantor will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes.  Principal, premium, if any, and interest will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the 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 then due.

 

The Company or a Guarantor will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 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 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 Supplemental 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.

 

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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 Trustee and the Holders of Notes or cause the Trustee to 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:

 

(1)                                  all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Company’s independent registered public accountants; and

 

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

 

In addition, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company will file a copy of all such information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations, unless the SEC will not accept such a filing, and make such information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request.  The Company will at all times comply with TIA Section 314(a).  Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such will not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

(b)                                  For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, 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.

 

(c)                                   If 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 of this Section 4.03 with the SEC within the time periods specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing.  The Company agrees that it 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 it was required to file those reports with the SEC.

 

Section 4.04                             Compliance Certificate .

 

(a)                                  The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) will deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Supplemental Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Supplemental Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Supplemental Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default will have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have

 

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

 

(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(a) above will be accompanied by a written statement of the Company’s independent registered public accountants (who will 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 will not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.

 

(c)                                   The Company will, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible, but in no event later than five days after 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 Supplemental 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                             Limitation on Liens .

 

The Company will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur or assume any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any Principal Property or upon the Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any of its Subsidiaries, in each case to secure Indebtedness of the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any other Person, without securing the Notes (together with, at the option of the Company, any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary ranking equally in right of payment with the Notes) equally and ratably with or, at the option of the Company, prior to, such other Indebtedness for so long as such other Indebtedness is so secured.  Any Lien that is granted to secure the Notes under this Section 4.07 shall be automatically released and discharged at the same time as the release of the Lien that gave rise to the obligation to secure the Notes under this Section 4.07.

 

Section 4.08                             Corporate Existence .

 

Subject to Articles 5 and 10 hereof, the Company will 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 with $20.0 million of net sales in the most recent twelve month period or assets of $20.0 million, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company, its Subsidiaries with $20.0 million of net sales in the most recent twelve month period or assets of $20.0 million; provided, however , that the

 

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Company will 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 will 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 4.09                             Offer to Purchase Upon Change of Control Repurchase Event .

 

(a)                                  If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described in Section 3.07 hereof within 60 days after the Change of Control, the Company will make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each Holder of Notes 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 repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to but excluding the date of repurchase (the “ Change of Control Payment ”).  Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event, or, at the Company’s option, prior to the consummation of the Change of Control transaction but after the public announcement thereof, the Company will send a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitutes the Change of Control and offering to repurchase Notes on the date specified in such notice (the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”), which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent, pursuant to the procedures required by this Supplemental Indenture and described in such notice.  If sent prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control transaction, the notice will state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.  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 Repurchase Event.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of this Supplemental Indenture by virtue of such compliance.

 

(b)                                  On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful,

 

(1)                                  accept for payment all Notes or portions of the Notes (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) properly tendered pursuant to a Change of Control Offer;

 

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

 

(3)                                  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 the Notes being repurchased by the Company.

 

The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail, or cause to be transferred by book entry, to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, this Supplemental Indenture does not contain provisions that permit the Holders of the Notes to require that the Company repurchase or redeem the Notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.09, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event 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 Supplemental Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes

 

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properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to Section 3.07, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

 

Section 4.10                             Additional Guarantees .

 

If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acquires or creates another Domestic Subsidiary after the date of this Supplemental Indenture and such newly acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary Guarantees (or is a guarantor of) any other Indebtedness of the Company, then that newly acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary will become a Guarantor and execute and deliver a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit C within 20 business days of the date on which it was acquired or created or such later date on which it guarantees (or is a guarantor of) such other Indebtedness of the Company; provided , that this Section 4.10 does not apply to any Excluded Subsidiary for so long as it continues to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary.

 

Section 4.11                             Sale and Leaseback Transactions .

 

(a)                                  The Company will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any arrangement with any other Person pursuant to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries leases any Principal Property that has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary to such other Person (a “ Sale and Leaseback Transaction ”), except that a Sale and Leaseback Transaction is permitted if the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Principal Property to be leased, without equally and ratably securing the Notes, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction.

 

(b)                                  In addition, the following Sale and Leaseback Transactions are not subject to the limitations of Section 4.11(a) and Section 4.07:

 

(1)                                  temporary leases for a term, including renewals at the option of the lessee, of not more than three years;

 

(2)                                  leases between only the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or only between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company;

 

(3)                                  leases where the proceeds from the sale of the subject property are at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of the subject property and the Company applies an amount equal to the net proceeds of the sale to the retirement of long term Indebtedness or the purchase, construction, development, expansion or improvement of other property or equipment used or useful in its business, within 270 days of the effective date of such sale; provided that in lieu of applying such amount to the retirement of long-term Indebtedness, the Company may deliver Notes or other debt securities to the Trustee for cancellation; and

 

(4)                                  leases of property executed by the time of, or within 270 days after the latest of, the acquisition, the completion of construction, development, expansion or improvement, or the commencement of commercial operation, of the subject property.

 

ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01                             Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets .

 

The Company will not, directly or indirectly:  (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person, or (2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its 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,

 

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transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is either a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or, if such Person 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 will have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Supplemental Indenture pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; and

 

(iii)                                immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists.

 

The provisions of this Section 5.01 will not apply to a merger, consolidation, sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 5.02                             Successor Corporation Substituted .

 

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

 

ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01                             Events of Default .

 

Each of the following is an “ Event of Default:

 

(a)                                  default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes;

 

(b)                                  default in the payment when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes;

 

(c)                                   the Company fails for 30 days after notice specifying the default from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with the provisions of Section 4.09 hereof;

 

(d)                                  the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails for 60 days after notice specifying the default from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with any of the other agreements in this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes;

 

(e)                                   the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a receivables securitization entity) defaults under any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a receivables securitization entity) (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a receivables securitization entity)) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Supplemental Indenture, if that default:

 

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

 

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(2)                                  results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity;

 

and in each case, (i) the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there is a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $75.0 million or more or its foreign currency equivalent and (ii) the Company has received notice specifying the default from the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding and thereafter does not cure the default within 30 days;

 

(f)                                    the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $75.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent, excluding amounts covered by insurance, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

 

(g)                                   any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary 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 that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Guarantee, in each case except as permitted by this Supplemental Indenture.

 

(h)                                  the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i)                                      commences a voluntary case,

 

(ii)                                   consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

 

(iii)                                consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

(iv)                               makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors,

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)                                   appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

 

(iii)                                orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; and

 

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

 

Section 6.02                             Acceleration .

 

If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (h) or (i) of Section 6.01 hereof) with respect to the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.  Upon any such declaration, the Notes will become due and payable immediately.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (h) or (i) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company, any of its

 

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Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will be due and payable without further action or notice.  Holders of the Notes may not enforce this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes except as provided in this Supplemental Indenture.

 

In the case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company with the intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the Company would have had to pay if the Company then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, an equivalent premium will also become and be immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the Notes.

 

The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with this Supplemental 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.

 

Section 6.03                             Other Remedies .

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Supplemental Indenture.

 

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding.  A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default will 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 Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Supplemental Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, 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 or Event of Default will cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom will be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Supplemental Indenture; but no such waiver will extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of 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 Supplemental 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 .

 

A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes only if:

 

(a)                                  the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

 

(b)                                  the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

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(c)                                   such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(d)                                  the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of such security or indemnity; and

 

(e)                                   during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

 

A Holder of a Note may not use this Supplemental Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to any Holder).

 

Section 6.07                             Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment .

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Supplemental Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, will not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.08                             Collection Suit by Trustee .

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as Trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as will be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

Section 6.09                             Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

 

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and will be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee will consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof.  To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, will be denied for any reason, payment of the same will be secured by a Lien on, and will 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 will be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

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Section 6.10                             Priorities .

 

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it will pay out the money in the following order:

 

First :  to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

Second :  to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

 

Third :  to the Company.

 

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 Supplemental Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant.  This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in 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 Supplemental 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 his or her 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 Supplemental Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Supplemental Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Supplemental Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)                                the Trustee 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 Supplemental Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) of this Section and Section 7.02.

 

(e)                                   No provision of this Supplemental 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 and powers under this Supplemental Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holders will have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability, cost or expense that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(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 of its selection and the 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 Supplemental Indenture.

 

(e)                                   Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Supplemental Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company or any Guarantor will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company or Guarantor issuing such demand, request or notice.

 

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

 

(g)                                   The Trustee will 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 or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Supplemental Indenture.

 

(h)                                  The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may

 

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make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

 

(i)                                      In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

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

 

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

 

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 the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as Trustee (if this Supplemental Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act) or resign.  Any Agent may exercise the same rights, with the same duties, as the Trustee under this Section 7.03.  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 Supplemental Indenture or the Notes, it will 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 Supplemental 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 Supplemental Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

 

Section 7.05                             Notice of Defaults .

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs.  Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal of or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice from Holders of the Notes if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 7.06                             Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes .

 

Within 60 days after each July 1 beginning with the July 1 following the date of this Supplemental 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 Section 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted).  The Trustee also will comply with TIA Section 313(b)(2).  The Trustee will also deliver all reports as required by TIA Section 313(c).

 

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A copy of each report at the time of its delivery to the Holders of Notes will be delivered to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA Section 313(d).  The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange or delisted therefrom.

 

Section 7.07                             Compensation and Indemnity .

 

The Company and the Guarantors will pay to the Trustee from time to time such reasonable compensation as agreed upon in writing for its acceptance of this Supplemental Indenture and services hereunder.  The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a Trustee of an express trust.  The Company and the Guarantors will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services.  Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

The Company and the Guarantors will, jointly and severally, indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (including taxes other than taxes based upon the income of the Trustee) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Supplemental Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Supplemental Indenture against the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company and the Guarantors or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct.  The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.  Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company and the Guarantors of its obligations hereunder.  The Company will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense.  The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel.  The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 shall be joint and several and will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

To secure the Company’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee will have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes.  Such Lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

The Trustee will comply with the provisions of TIA Section 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

 

Section 7.08                             Replacement of Trustee .

 

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

 

The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company.  The Holders of Notes 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:

 

(a)                                  the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

 

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(b)                                  the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

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

 

(d)                                  the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company 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.

 

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 Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who has been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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 Supplemental Indenture.  The successor Trustee will deliver a notice of its succession to Holders of the Notes.  The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee (including its agents and/or counsel) 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 Supplemental Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5).  The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 310(b).

 

Section 7.11                             Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b).  A Trustee who has resigned or been removed will be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

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ARTICLE 8.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01                             Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

 

The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

 

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 the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and to have each Guarantor’s obligation discharged with respect to its Guarantee 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, which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Supplemental Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Supplemental Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, will execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:  (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith and (d) 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 Restricted Subsidiary will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.07, 4.09, 4.10 and 4.11 and clause (iii) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes).  For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company, each Guarantor and each Restricted Subsidiary 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 Supplemental Indenture and such Notes 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 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(c) through 6.01(e) hereof will not constitute Events of Default.

 

Section 8.04                             Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance .

 

The following will be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

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(a)                                  the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, or interest and premium, if any, on the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date;

 

(b)                                  in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Supplemental Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;

 

(c)                                   in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company will have delivered 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 U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;

 

(d)                                  no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit, other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness all or a portion of the proceeds of which will be used to defease the Notes pursuant to this Article 8 concurrently with such incurrence, or insofar as Sections 6.01(h) or 6.01(i) hereof is concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness), and the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings;

 

(e)                                   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 Supplemental Indenture and the agreements governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

(f)                                    the Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Notes over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and

 

(g)                                   the Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

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 Supplemental Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent), to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company and the Guarantors 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

 

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hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, 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(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Section 8.06                             Repayment to Company .

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable will be paid to the Company on its written request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease.

 

Section 8.07                             Reinstatement .

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes 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, if any, or interest 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 Supplemental Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Supplemental Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes without the consent of any Holder or Holders of a Note:

 

(a)                                  to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(b)                                  to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, provided that such uncertificated notes are issued in registered form under Section 163(f)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

 

(c)                                   to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes in the case of merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s assets, applicable;

 

(d)                                  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 this Supplemental Indenture of any Holder of the Notes;

 

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(e)                                   to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Supplemental Indenture under the TIA;

 

(f)                                    to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(g)                                   to conform the text of this Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees to any provision of the Description of Notes to the extent that such provision in the Description of Notes was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees;

 

(h)                                  to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Guarantee with respect to the Notes;

 

(i)                                      to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee;

 

(j)                                     to add guarantees with respect to the Notes;

 

(k)                                  to secure the Notes; or

 

(l)                                      to release any Lien granted in favor of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.07 hereof upon release of the Lien securing the underlying obligation that gave rise to such Lien.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Supplemental 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 Supplemental Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.02                             With Consent of Holders of Notes .

 

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Supplemental Indenture (including Sections 3.07 and 4.09 hereof), the Guarantees and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes, and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof) and any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Supplemental Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes).  Section 2.08 hereof will determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for purposes of this Section 9.02.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Supplemental Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

 

It will not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it will be sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment or waiver.

 

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After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes effective, the Company will deliver to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver.  Any failure of the Company to deliver such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.  Subject to Sections 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 Supplemental Indenture or the Notes.  However, without the consent of each Holder of Notes affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

(a)                                  reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(b)                                  reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes except as provided above with respect to Sections 4.09 hereof;

 

(c)                                   reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Note;

 

(d)                                  waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration:

 

(e)                                   make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

 

(f)                                    make any change in the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of the Notes to receive payments of principal of or premium, interest on the Notes;

 

(g)                                   make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions; or

 

(h)                                  release any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary from any of its obligations under its Guarantee or this Supplemental Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 9.03                             Compliance With Trust Indenture Act .

 

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

 

Section 9.05                             Notation on or Exchange of Notes .

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated.  The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee will, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

41



 

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 amended, restated 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 approves it.  In executing any amended, restated 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 12.04 hereof, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended, restated or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Supplemental Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 10.
NOTE GUARANTEES

 

Section 10.01                      Guarantee .

 

Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:  (a) the principal of and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.  Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors 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.

 

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder will be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Supplemental 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 Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Supplemental Indenture.

 

If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, Trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

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 and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee.  The Guarantors will have the right to

 

42



 

seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.

 

Section 10.02                      Limitation on Guarantor Liability .

 

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the 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 Guarantee.  To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee and this Article 10 will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

Section 10.03                      Execution and Delivery of Guarantee .

 

To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Guarantee substantially in the form included in Exhibit C will be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Supplemental Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer.

 

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Guarantee.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on this Supplemental Indenture or on the Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which a Guarantee is endorsed, the Guarantee will be valid nevertheless.

 

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Supplemental Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

 

In the event that the Company creates or acquires any new Subsidiaries subsequent to the date of this Supplemental Indenture, if required by Section 4.10 hereof, the Company will cause such Subsidiaries to execute supplemental indentures to this Supplemental Indenture and Guarantees in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.

 

Section 10.04                      Guarantors May Consolidate, etc. on Certain Terms .

 

A Guarantor may not 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:

 

(a)                                  immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(b)                                  either:

 

(1)                                  the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger, if other than the Guarantor or the Company, assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Supplemental Indenture and its Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit C hereto; or

 

(2)                                  such sale or other disposition does not violate the applicable provisions of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

43



 

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 the form of Exhibit C to the Trustee, of the Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Supplemental 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 Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder.  All the Guarantees so issued will in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Supplemental Indenture as the Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Supplemental Indenture as though all of such Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

Except as set forth in Article 5 hereof, and notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Supplemental 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.  Upon any such consolidation or merger of any Guarantor with or into another Guarantor or with or into the Company, the Guarantee of the Guarantor that does not survive will no longer be of any force or effect.

 

Section 10.05                      Releases Following Sale of Assets, Etc. .

 

In the event of (a) any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor, including 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 Subsidiary of the Company; (b) any sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of a Guarantor, including by way of dividend of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor to the stockholders of the Company, to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company; (c) upon legal defeasance, covenant defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as provided in Article 8 and Article 11; or (d) upon release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee of all other Indebtedness of the Company, then such Guarantor or the corporation acquiring the property will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Guarantee; provided that in the case of clause (a) or (b) such sale or other disposition does not violate the applicable provisions of this Supplemental Indenture.  Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee will execute any documents (in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Trustee) reasonably required  in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Guarantee.

 

Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Guarantee will remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Supplemental Indenture as provided in this Article 10.

 

ARTICLE 11.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 11.01                      Satisfaction and Discharge .

 

This Supplemental Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, when:

 

(1)                                  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 theretofore 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 delivery of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will

 

44



 

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 of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, 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 and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

 

(2)                                  no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or will occur as a result of such deposit and such 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;

 

(3)                                  the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(4)                                  the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Supplemental Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or 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.

 

ARTICLE 12.
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01                      Trust Indenture Act Controls .

 

If any provision of this Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA Section 318(c), the imposed duties will control.

 

Section 12.02                      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 mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address.

 

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

 

Ball Corporation
10 Longs Peak Drive
Broomfield, Colorado 80021-2510
Telecopier No.:  (303) 460-2691
Attention:  Treasurer

 

With a copy to:

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
155 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Telecopier No.:  (312) 407-0411
Attention:  Joseph Miron, Esq.

 

If to the Trustee:

 

45



 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
400 South Hope Street, Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Telecopier No.:  (213) 630-6298
Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration

 

The Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) 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 telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

Any notice or communication to a Holder will be mailed by first class mail postage prepaid, certified or registered mail, 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 mailed to any Person described in TIA Section 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA.  Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it will mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods.  If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling.  The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction.  The party providing electronic instructions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties.

 

Section 12.03                      Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes .

 

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes.  The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else will have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).

 

Section 12.04                      Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Supplemental Indenture, the Company will furnish to the Trustee:

 

(a)                                  an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which will include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Supplemental Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

 

46



 

(b)                                  except with respect to the initial issuance of the Notes, an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which will include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

 

Section 12.05                      Statements Required in Certificate and Opinion .

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Supplemental Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) will comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and will include:

 

(a)                                  a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(b)                                  a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(c)                                   a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

(d)                                  a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

Section 12.06                      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 12.07                      Calculation of Foreign Currency Amounts .

 

The calculation of the U.S. dollar equivalent amount for any amount denominated in a foreign currency will be the noon buying rate in the City of New York as certified by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date on which such determination is required to be made or, if such day is not a day on which such rate is published, the rate most recently published prior to such day.

 

Section 12.08                      No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders .

 

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or such Guarantor under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes and the Guarantees.  The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

Section 12.09                      Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE 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 PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, CITY OF NEW YORK, OVER ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE.  TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVE AND AGREE NOT TO ASSERT, BY WAY OF MOTION, AS A DEFENSE OR

 

47



 

OTHERWISE, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE 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.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS  SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 12.10                      Force Majeure .

 

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

Section 12.11                      No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

 

This Supplemental 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 Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 12.12                      Successors .

 

All agreements of the Company in this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture will bind its successors.

 

Section 12.13                      Severability .

 

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

 

Section 12.14                      Counterpart Originals .

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture.  Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

Section 12.15                      Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Supplemental Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

[Signatures on following pages]

 

48



 

SIGNATURES

 

Dated as of June 25, 2015

 

 

Ball Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeff A. Knobel

 

 

Name: Jeff A. Knobel

 

 

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Holding Corporation

 

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Inc.

 

Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp.

 

Latas de Aluminio Ball, Inc.

 

USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc.

 

Ball Advanced Aluminum Technologies Corp.

 

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

 

Ball Technologies Holdings Corp.

 

Ball Holdings Corp.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeff A. Knobel

 

 

Name: Jeff A. Knobel

 

 

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

Ball Corporation, a Nevada corporation

 

Ball Glass Containers, Inc.

 

Ball Container LLC

 

Ball Holdings LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles E. Baker

 

 

Name: Charles E. Baker

 

 

Title: President and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ball Metal Container Corporation

 

Ball Metal Food Container (Oakdale), LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles E. Baker

 

 

Name: Charles E. Baker

 

 

Title: Secretary

 

[ Signature Page to Tenth Supplemental Indenture ]

 



 

 

Ball Pan-European Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles E. Baker

 

 

Name: Charles E. Baker

 

 

Title: Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ball Metal Food Container, LLC

 

Ball Delaware Holdings, LLC

 

Ball Asia Services Limited

 

Ball Packaging LLC

 

Ball Global Business Services Corp.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles E. Baker

 

 

Name: Charles E. Baker

 

 

Title: Vice President and Secretary

 

[ Signature Page to Tenth Supplemental Indenture ]

 



 

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Tanas

 

 

Name: R. Tanas

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Tenth Supplemental Indenture ]

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 


 

[FACE OF NOTE]

 

[INSERT THE GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND, IF APPLICABLE PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURE]

 


 

5.25% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2025

 

ISIN No.:

$                               

CUSIP No.:

 

BALL CORPORATION

 

promises to pay          or registered assigns, the principal sum of $             on July 1, 2025.

 

Interest Payment Dates: July 1 st  and January 1 st

 

Record Dates: June 15 th  and December 15 th

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

BALL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date of Authentication:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the Global Notes

 

 

referred to in the within-

 

 

mentioned Supplemental Indenture:

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

A- 1



 

[Back of Note]

 

5.25% Senior Notes due 2025

 

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Supplemental Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

1.                                       INTEREST .  Ball Corporation, an Indiana corporation (the “ Company ”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 5.25% per annum from the date hereof until maturity.  The Company will pay interest semi-annually on July 1 and January 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “ Interest Payment Date ”).  Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest will accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further , that the first Interest Payment Date will be                                .  The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 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 at the same rate to the extent lawful.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

2.                                       METHOD OF PAYMENT .  The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the June 15 or December 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Supplemental Indenture with respect to defaulted interest.  Principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders of the Notes at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders of Notes; provided that all payments of principal, premium and interest with respect to Notes the Holders of which have given wire transfer instructions to the Trustee will be required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders thereof.  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.

 

3.                                       PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR .  Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., the Trustee under the Supplemental Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder.  The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

4.                                       INDENTURE .  This Note is one of a duly authenticated series of securities of the Company issued and to be issued in one or more series under an indenture (the “ Base Indenture ”), dated as of March 27, 2006, between the Company and the Trustee, as amended by the Tenth Supplemental Indenture (the “ Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), dated as of June 25, 2015, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee.  The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Supplemental Indenture and those made part of the Supplemental Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb).  The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Supplemental Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms.  To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Base Indenture, the provisions of this Note will govern and be controlling, and to the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of the Supplemental Indenture will govern and be controlling.  The Company will be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.14 of the Supplemental Indenture.

 

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5.                                       OPTIONAL REDEMPTION .

 

The Company may redeem the Notes at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, in each case, at its option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such Notes discounted to the date of redemption (excluding interest accrued to the date of redemption), on a semiannual basis, at a rate equal to the sum of the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the redemption date.  The redemption prices will be calculated assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on the interest payment date to the registered holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the Notes and the Supplemental Indenture.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, the following definitions apply:

 

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (as measured from the date of redemption) of the Notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

 

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations obtained by the Company for that redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, (ii) if we are unable to obtain at least four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations obtained by the Company, or (iii) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is received, such quotation.

 

Independent Investment Banker ” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, or, if such firm is unwilling or unable to select the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means (i) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (or its affiliates that are Primary Treasury Dealers) and their respective successors; provided, however , that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), Ball may substitute another institution to act as a Primary Treasury Dealer, and (ii) at least two other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Company.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date for the Notes, an average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue for the Notes, expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount, quoted in writing to the Company by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding the redemption date.

 

Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date applicable to the Notes, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity, computed as of the third business day immediately preceding the redemption date, of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue, expressed as a percentage of its principal amount, equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for the redemption date.

 

6.                                       MANDATORY REDEMPTION .  The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.

 

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7.                                       REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL REPURCHASE EVENT .

 

(a)                                  If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described under clause (5) above within 60 days after the Change of Control, the Company will make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each holder of notes to repurchase all or any part, equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, of each Holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to but excluding the date of repurchase.  Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to the consummation of the Change of Control transaction, but after the public announcement thereof, the Company will send a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Supplemental Indenture.  If sent prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control transaction, the notice will state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

8.   NOTICE OF REDEMPTION .  Notice of redemption will be delivered at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed.  Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.  On and after the Redemption Date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

9.   DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE .  The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  Notes may be transferred or exchanged as provided in the Supplemental 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 Supplemental Indenture.  The Company need not exchange or transfer any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.  Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

10.   PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS .  The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

11.   AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER .  The Base Indenture may be amended as provided therein.  Subject to certain exceptions, the Supplemental Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes, voting as a single class, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Supplemental Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes, voting as a single class.  Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Supplemental Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; (ii) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, provided that such uncertificated notes are issued in registered form under Section 163(f)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; (iii) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or Guarantor’s assets, as applicable (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 under the Supplemental Indenture of any such Holder; (v) to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Supplemental Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; (vi) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the Supplemental Indenture; (vii) to conform the text of the Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees to any provision of the Description of Notes to the extent that such provision in the Description

 

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of Notes was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees; (viii) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Supplemental Indenture and/or a Guarantee with respect to the Notes; (ix) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee; (x) to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes; (xi) to secure the Notes; or (xii) to release any Lien granted in favor of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.07 of the Supplemental Indenture upon release of the Lien securing the underlying obligation that gave rise to such Lien.

 

12.                                DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES .  Each of the following is an “ EVENT OF DEFAULT ”:  (i) default for a period of 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes; (iii) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails for 30 days after notice specifying the default from the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding to comply with any of the provisions of Sections 4.09 of the Supplemental Indenture; (iv) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails for 60 days after notice specifying the default from the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding to comply with any of the other agreements in the Supplemental Indenture or the Notes; (v) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a receivables securitization entity) defaults under any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a receivables securitization entity) (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a receivables securitization entity)) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Supplemental Indenture, if that default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness on or before the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “ Payment Default ”) or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there is a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $75.0 million or more or its foreign currency equivalent, and in each case the Company has received notice specifying the default from the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding and thereafter does not cure the default within 30 days; (vi) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $75.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent, excluding amounts covered by insurance, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (vii) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary 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 that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, denies or disaffirms its obligations under such Guarantor’s Guarantee, in each case except as permitted by the Supplement Indenture; or (viii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency occur with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law.

 

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice.  Holders may not enforce the Supplemental Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Supplemental Indenture.  Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.  The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest, except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Supplemental Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes.  The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the

 

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Supplemental Indenture, and the Company is required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

13.                                TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY .  The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

14.                                NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS .  A director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees or the Supplemental Indenture 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 the issuance of the Notes.

 

15.                                AUTHENTICATION .  This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

16.                                ABBREVIATIONS .  Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as:  TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

17.                                CUSIP NUMBERS .  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders.  No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.  The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the Guarantees.  Requests may be made to:

 

Ball Corporation
10 Longs Peak Drive
Broomfield, Colorado 80021-2510
Telecopier No.:  (303) 460-2691
Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

 

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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 senior note)

 

 

 

 

 

Tax Identification No:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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Option of Holder to Elect Purchase

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Supplemental Indenture, check the box below:

 

o   Section 4.09

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Supplemental Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased: $

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Signature:

 

 

 

(sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this senior note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax Identification

 

 

 

No:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

 

Guarantee:

 

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

 

For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Supplemental Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Supplemental Indenture and subject to the provisions in the indenture (the “ Base Indenture “), dated as of March 27, 2006, between Ball Corporation, (the “Company” ) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (f/k/a The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee (the “ Trustee “), as amended by the Tenth Supplemental Indenture (the “ Tenth Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture “), dated as of June 25, 2015, among the Company, the Guarantors named on the signature pages thereto and the Trustee, (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes (as defined in the Tenth Supplemental Indenture), whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal and premium, and, to the extent permitted by law, interest, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Tenth Supplemental 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 Guarantee and the Tenth Supplemental Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 10 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Tenth Supplemental Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.  Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, agrees to and will be bound by such provisions and appoints the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such Holder for such purpose.

 

 

 

[Name of Guarantor(s)]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

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EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture “), dated as of                     , 20   , among                          (the “ Guaranteeing Subsidiary “), a subsidiary of Ball Corporation (or its permitted successor), an Indiana corporation (the “ Company “), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Tenth Supplemental Indenture referred to herein) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee under the Tenth Supplemental Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee “).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “ Base Indenture “), dated as of March 27, 2006, between the Company and the Trustee, as amended by a Tenth Supplemental Indenture (the “ Tenth Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), dated as of June 25, 2015, among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and the Trustee, providing for the original issuance of an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion of 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “ Notes ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Tenth Supplemental Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary will execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary will 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 Tenth Supplemental 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 will have the meanings assigned to them in the Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

 

2.                                       Agreement to Guarantee .  The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees as follows:

 

(a)                                  Along with all Guarantors named in the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, to jointly and severally Guarantee to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

(i)                                      the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

 

(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

 

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guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately.

 

(b)                                  The obligations hereunder will be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor.

 

(c)                                   The following is hereby waived:  diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever.

 

(d)                                  This Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary accepts all obligations of a Guarantor under the Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

 

(e)                                   If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

(f)                                    The Guaranteeing Subsidiary 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.

 

(g)                                   As between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee.

 

(h)                                  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.

 

(i)                                      Pursuant to Section 10.02 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, after giving effect to any maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities that are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or fraudulent conveyance laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under Article 10 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, this new Note Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount permissible such that the obligations of such Guarantor under this Note Guarantee will not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

3.                                       Execution and Delivery .  Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the Note Guarantees will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

 

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4.                                       Guaranteeing Subsidiary may Consolidate, etc. on Certain Terms.

 

(a)                                  The Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not sell or otherwise dispose of all 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

 

(ii)                                   either (A) subject to Sections 10.04 and 10.05 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, 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, pursuant to a supplemental indenture, under the Notes, the Tenth Supplemental Indenture and the Note Guarantee on the terms set forth herein or therein; or (B) such sale or other disposition does not violate the applicable provisions of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

 

(b)                                  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, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Tenth Supplemental 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 under the Tenth Supplemental Indenture which theretofore will 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 the Tenth Supplemental Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

(c)                                   Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 and Section 10.05 of Article 10 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, and notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in the Tenth Supplemental 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.

 

5.                                       Releases.

 

(a)                                  In the event of any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that such sale or other disposition does not violate the applicable provisions of the Supplemental Indenture.  Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee will execute any documents (in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Trustee) reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

 

C- 3



 

(b)                                  Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee will remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under the Tenth Supplemental Indenture as provided in Article 10 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

 

6.                                       No Recourse Against Others .  No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.  Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

7.                                       New York Law to Govern .  THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

8.                                       Counterparts .  The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture.  Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

9.                                       Effect of Headings .  The Section headings herein are for convenience only and will not affect the construction hereof.

 

10.                                The Trustee .  The Trustee will 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.

 

C- 4



 

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:                 , 20   

 

 

 

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

`

BALL CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

[EXISTING GUARANTORS]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST
COMPANY, N.A.,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

C- 5


Exhibit 5.1

 

[LETTERHEAD OF BALL CORPORATION]

 

June 25, 2015

 

Ball Corporation
10 Longs Peak Drive
Broomfield, Colorado 80021-2510

 

Re:

 

Ball Corporation
5.25% Senior Notes due 2025

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

I am General Counsel of Ball Corporation, an Indiana corporation (the “Company”), and have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the public offering of $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”) issued under the Indenture, dated March 27, 2006 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 25, 2015 (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Indenture provides that the Notes are guaranteed (collectively, the “Guarantees”) by the guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Guarantors”) (such Guarantees, together with the Notes, the “Securities”).

 

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

In rendering the opinions stated herein, I have examined and relied upon the following:

 

(a)                                  the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-204940) of the Company relating to the Securities and other securities of the Company filed on June 15, 2015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”), including the information deemed to be a part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations (such registration statement being hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”);

 

(b)                                  the prospectus, dated June 15, 2015 (the “Base Prospectus”), which forms a part of and is included in the Registration Statement;

 

(c)                                   the prospectus supplement, dated June 22, 2015 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), relating to the offering of the Securities, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

 



 

(d)                                  the pricing term sheet, dated June 22, 2015, relating to the offering of the Securities, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(ii) of the Rules and Regulations;

 

(e)                                   an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement, dated June 22, 2015 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the sale by the Company and the Guarantors to the Underwriters of the Securities;

 

(f)                                    an executed copy of the Indenture, including Article 10 thereof, containing the Guarantees;

 

(g)                                   the global certificate evidencing the Notes registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the “Note Certificates”) in the form delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication and delivery;

 

(h)                                  a copy of the certificate of incorporation of each of the Opinion Parties that are corporations, as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Colorado;

 

(i)                                      a copy of the bylaws of each of the Opinion Parties that are corporations;

 

(j)                                     a copy of the certificate of formation of each of the Opinion Parties that are limited liability companies, as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Colorado;

 

(k)                                  a copy of the limited liability company agreement or operating agreement of each of the Opinion Parties that are limited liability companies; and

 

(l)                                      a copy of certain resolutions adopted by the board of directors or other governing body, as applicable, of each Opinion Party relating to the Securities and related matters.

 

I have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such records of the Company and the Guarantors and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and others, and such other documents as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below.

 

In my examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures including endorsements, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that I did not independently establish or verify, I have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and others and of public officials.

 

I do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Colorado and to the extent that judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with

 

2



 

governmental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Opined on Law”). I do not express any opinion as to the effect of any law (other than Opined on Law) on the opinions stated herein. The Indenture provides that it is governed by the laws of the State of New York. To the extent that the opinion expressed herein relates to matters governed by the laws of the State of New York, I have relied, with their permission, as to all matters of New York law, on the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP dated the date hereof, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 5.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, and my opinion is subject to the exceptions, qualifications and assumptions contained in such opinion.

 

As used herein, (i) “Opinion Parties” means each of the Guarantors listed on Schedule II hereto and “Non-Opinion Party” means the Company and each of the Guarantors listed on Schedule III hereto and (ii) “Transaction Agreements” means the Indenture and the Securities.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein, I am of the opinion that:

 

(1)                                  Assuming the Note Certificates have been duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, the Note Certificates will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.

 

(2)                                  The Guarantees of each Opinion Party have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, action on the part of such Opinion Party under the laws of the State of Colorado and, when the Note Certificates are issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, each Guarantee will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the applicable Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms under the laws of the State of New York.

 

The opinions stated herein are subject to the following qualifications:

 

(1)                                  the opinions stated herein are limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, preference and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law);

 

(2)                                  I do not express any opinion with respect to any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to any party to any of the Transaction Agreements or the transactions contemplated thereby solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to any such party or any of its affiliates as a result of the specific assets or business operations of such party or such affiliates;

 

(3)                                  except to the extent expressly stated in the opinions contained herein with respect to the Company and the Guarantors, I have assumed that each of the Transaction Agreements

 

3



 

constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each party to such Transaction Agreement, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms;

 

(4)                                  I do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of any provision contained in any Transaction Agreement relating to any indemnification, contribution, exculpation, release or waiver that may be contrary to public policy or violative of federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations;

 

(5)                                  I call to your attention that irrespective of the agreement of the parties to any Transaction Agreement, a court may decline to hear a case on grounds of forum non conveniens or other doctrine limiting the availability of such court as a forum for resolution of disputes; in addition, I call to your attention that I do not express any opinion with respect to the subject matter jurisdiction of the federal courts of the United States of America in any action arising out of or relating to any Transaction Agreement;

 

(6)                                  I have assumed that the Note Certificates will be manually authenticated, signed or countersigned, as the case may be, by duly authorized officers of any Trustee;

 

(7)                                  I do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of Section 10.01 of the Indenture to the extent that such section provides that the obligations of the Guarantors are absolute and unconditional irrespective of the enforceability or genuineness of the Indenture or the effect thereof on the opinions herein stated;

 

(8)                                  I do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of the provisions contained in Section 10.02 of the Indenture to the extent that such provisions limit the obligation of the Guarantors under the Indenture or any right of contribution of any party with respect to the obligations under the Indenture; and

 

(9)                                  to the extent that any opinion relates to the enforceability of the choice of New York law and choice of New York forum provisions contained in any Transaction Agreement, the opinions stated herein are subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be subject to, in each case, (i) the exceptions and limitations in New York General Obligations Law sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 and (ii) principles of comity or constitutionality.

 

In addition, in rendering the foregoing opinions I have assumed that:

 

(a)                                  each Non-Opinion Party (i) is duly incorporated or formed, as applicable, and is validly existing and in good standing, (ii) has requisite legal status and legal capacity under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation, as applicable, and (iii) has complied and will comply with all aspects of the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation, as applicable, in connection with the transactions contemplated by, and the performance of its obligations under, the Transaction Agreements to which such Non-Opinion Party is a party;

 

(b)                                  each Non-Opinion Party has the corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform all its obligations under each of the Transaction Agreements to which such Non-Opinion Party is a party;

 

4



 

(c)                                   each of the Transaction Agreements to which each Non-Opinion Party is a party has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all requisite corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, action on the part of such Non-Opinion Party;

 

(d)                                  neither the execution and delivery by the Company and each Guarantor of the Transaction Agreements to which the Company or such Guarantor is a party nor the consummation by the Company and such Guarantor of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance and sale of the applicable Securities: (i) conflicts or will conflict with the certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws or limited liability company agreement, as applicable, of the Company or any Guarantor, (ii) constitutes or will constitute a violation of, or a default under, any lease, indenture, instrument or other agreement to which the Company or any Guarantor or its property is subject, (iii) contravenes or will contravene any order or decree of any governmental authority to which the Company or any Guarantor or its property is subject, or (iv) violates or will violate any law, rule or regulation to which the Company or any Guarantor or its property is subject (except that I do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (iv) with respect to the Opined-on Law); and

 

(e)                                   neither the execution and delivery by the Company or any Guarantor of the Transaction Agreements to which the Company or such Guarantor is a party nor the consummation by the Company and such Guarantor of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance and sale of the applicable Securities, requires or will require the consent, approval, licensing or authorization of, or any filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority under any law, rule or regulation of any jurisdiction.

 

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K being filed on the date hereof and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. I also hereby consent to the use of my name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, I do not thereby admit that I are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and I disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

/s/ Charles E. Baker

 

Charles E. Baker

 

General Counsel

 

5



 

Schedule I

 

Ball Advanced Aluminum Technologies Corp.

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Holding Corporation

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Inc.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

Ball Asia Services Limited

Ball Container LLC

Ball Corporation

Ball Delaware Holdings, LLC

Ball Glass Containers, Inc.

Ball Global Business Services Corp.

Ball Holdings Corp.

Ball Holdings LLC

Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp.

Ball Metal Container Corporation

Ball Metal Food Container, LLC

Ball Metal Food Container (Oakdale), LLC

Ball Packaging, LLC

Ball Pan-European Holdings, Inc.

Ball Technologies Holdings Corp.

Latas de Aluminio Ball, Inc.

USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc.

 



 

Schedule II

 

Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp., a Colorado corporation

Ball Packaging, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company

Ball Technologies Holdings Corp., a Colorado corporation

 



 

Schedule III

 

Ball Corporation, a Nevada corporation

Ball Metal Container Corporation, an Indiana corporation

Ball Advanced Aluminum Technologies Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Inc., a Delaware corporation

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Asia Services Limited, a Delaware corporation

Ball Container LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Delaware Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Glass Containers, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Ball Global Business Services Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Metal Food Container, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Metal Food Container (Oakdale), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Pan-European Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Latas de Aluminio Ball, Inc., a Delaware corporation

USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc., a Delaware corporation

 


Exhibit 5.2

 

[LETTERHEAD OF BALL CORPORATION]

 

June 25, 2015

 

Ball Corporation
10 Longs Peak Drive
Broomfield, Colorado 80021-2510

 

Re:

 

Ball Corporation
5.25% Senior Notes due 2025

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

I am Assistant General Counsel of Ball Corporation, an Indiana corporation (the “Company”), and have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the public offering of $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”) issued under the Indenture, dated March 27, 2006 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 25, 2015 (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Indenture provides that the Notes are guaranteed (collectively, the “Guarantees”) by the guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Guarantors”) (such Guarantees, together with the Notes, the “Securities”).

 

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

In rendering the opinions stated herein, I have examined and relied upon the following:

 

(a)                                  the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-204940) of the Company relating to the Securities and other securities of the Company filed on June 15, 2015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”), including the information deemed to be a part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations (such registration statement being hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”);

 

(b)                                  the prospectus, dated June 15, 2015 (the “Base Prospectus”), which forms a part of and is included in the Registration Statement;

 

(c)                                   the prospectus supplement, dated June 22, 2015 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), relating to the offering of the Securities, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

 



 

(d)                                  the pricing term sheet, dated June 22, 2015, relating to the offering of the Securities, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(ii) of the Rules and Regulations;

 

(e)                                   an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement, dated June 22, 2015 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the sale by the Company and the Guarantors to the Underwriters of the Securities;

 

(f)                                    an executed copy of the Indenture, including Article 10 thereof, containing the Guarantees;

 

(g)                                   the global certificate evidencing the Notes registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the “Note Certificates”) in the form delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication and delivery;

 

(h)                                  a copy of the certificate of incorporation of each of the Opinion Parties, as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Indiana;

 

(i)                                      a copy of the bylaws of each of the Opinion Parties; and

 

(j)                                     a copy of certain resolutions adopted by the board of directors of each Opinion Party relating to the Securities and related matters.

 

I have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such records of the Company and the Guarantors and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and others, and such other documents as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below.

 

In my examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures including endorsements, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that I did not independently establish or verify, I have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and others and of public officials.

 

I do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Indiana and to the extent that judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with governmental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Opined on Law”). I do not express any opinion as to the effect of any law (other than Opined on Law) on the opinions stated herein. The Indenture provides that it is governed by the laws of the State of New York. To the extent that the opinion expressed herein relates to matters governed by the laws of the State of New York, I have relied, with their

 

2



 

permission, as to all matters of New York law, on the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP dated the date hereof, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 5.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, and my opinion is subject to the exceptions, qualifications and assumptions contained in such opinion.

 

As used herein, (i) “Opinion Party” means the Company and the Guarantor listed on Schedule II hereto and “Non-Opinion Party” means each of the Guarantors listed on Schedule III hereto and (ii) “Transaction Agreements” means the Indenture and the Securities.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein, I am of the opinion that:

 

(1)                                  Assuming the Note Certificates have been duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, the Note Certificates will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.

 

(2)                                  The Guarantees of each Opinion Party have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of such Opinion Party under the laws of the State of Indiana and, when the Note Certificates are issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, each Guarantee will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the applicable Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms under the laws of the State of New York.

 

The opinions stated herein are subject to the following qualifications:

 

(1)                                  the opinions stated herein are limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, preference and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law);

 

(2)                                  I do not express any opinion with respect to any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to any party to any of the Transaction Agreements or the transactions contemplated thereby solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to any such party or any of its affiliates as a result of the specific assets or business operations of such party or such affiliates;

 

(3)                                  except to the extent expressly stated in the opinions contained herein with respect to the Company and the Guarantors, I have assumed that each of the Transaction Agreements constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each party to such Transaction Agreement, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms;

 

(4)                                  I do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of any provision contained in any Transaction Agreement relating to any indemnification, contribution,

 

3



 

exculpation, release or waiver that may be contrary to public policy or violative of federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations;

 

(5)                                  I call to your attention that irrespective of the agreement of the parties to any Transaction Agreement, a court may decline to hear a case on grounds of forum non conveniens or other doctrine limiting the availability of such court as a forum for resolution of disputes; in addition, I call to your attention that I do not express any opinion with respect to the subject matter jurisdiction of the federal courts of the United States of America in any action arising out of or relating to any Transaction Agreement;

 

(6)                                  I have assumed that the Note Certificates will be manually authenticated, signed or countersigned, as the case may be, by duly authorized officers of any Trustee;

 

(7)                                  I do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of Section 10.01 of the Indenture to the extent that such section provides that the obligations of the Guarantors are absolute and unconditional irrespective of the enforceability or genuineness of the Indenture or the effect thereof on the opinions herein stated;

 

(8)                                  I do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of the provisions contained in Section 10.02 of the Indenture to the extent that such provisions limit the obligation of the Guarantors under the Indenture or any right of contribution of any party with respect to the obligations under the Indenture; and

 

(9)                                  to the extent that any opinion relates to the enforceability of the choice of New York law and choice of New York forum provisions contained in any Transaction Agreement, the opinions stated herein are subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be subject to, in each case, (i) the exceptions and limitations in New York General Obligations Law sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 and (ii) principles of comity or constitutionality.

 

In addition, in rendering the foregoing opinions I have assumed that:

 

(a)                                  each Non-Opinion Party (i) is duly incorporated or formed, as applicable, and is validly existing and in good standing, (ii) has requisite legal status and legal capacity under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation, as applicable, and (iii) has complied and will comply with all aspects of the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation, as applicable, in connection with the transactions contemplated by, and the performance of its obligations under, the Transaction Agreements to which such Non-Opinion Party is a party;

 

(b)                                  each Non-Opinion Party has the corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform all its obligations under each of the Transaction Agreements to which such Non-Opinion Party is a party;

 

(c)                                   each of the Transaction Agreements to which each Non-Opinion Party is a party has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all requisite corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, action on the part of such Non-Opinion Party;

 

4



 

(d)                                  neither the execution and delivery by the Company and each Guarantor of the Transaction Agreements to which the Company or such Guarantor is a party nor the consummation by the Company and such Guarantor of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance and sale of the applicable Securities: (i) conflicts or will conflict with the certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws or limited liability company agreement, as applicable, of the Company or any Guarantor, (ii) constitutes or will constitute a violation of, or a default under, any lease, indenture, instrument or other agreement to which the Company or any Guarantor or its property is subject, (iii) contravenes or will contravene any order or decree of any governmental authority to which the Company or any Guarantor or its property is subject, or (iv) violates or will violate any law, rule or regulation to which the Company or any Guarantor or its property is subject (except that I do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (iv) with respect to the Opined-on Law); and

 

(e)                                   neither the execution and delivery by the Company or any Guarantor of the Transaction Agreements to which the Company or such Guarantor is a party nor the consummation by the Company and such Guarantor of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance and sale of the applicable Securities, requires or will require the consent, approval, licensing or authorization of, or any filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority under any law, rule or regulation of any jurisdiction.

 

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K being filed on the date hereof and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. I also hereby consent to the reference to the use of my name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, I do not thereby admit that I are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and I disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

/s/ Todd A. Mikesell

 

Todd A. Mikesell

 

Assistant General Counsel

 

5



 

Schedule I

 

Ball Advanced Aluminum Technologies Corp.

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Holding Corporation

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Inc.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

Ball Asia Services Limited

Ball Container LLC

Ball Corporation

Ball Delaware Holdings, LLC

Ball Glass Containers, Inc.

Ball Global Business Services Corp.

Ball Holdings Corp.

Ball Holdings LLC

Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp.

Ball Metal Container Corporation

Ball Metal Food Container, LLC

Ball Metal Food Container (Oakdale), LLC

Ball Packaging, LLC

Ball Pan-European Holdings, Inc.

Ball Technologies Holdings Corp.

Latas de Aluminio Ball, Inc.

USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc.

 



 

Schedule II

 

Ball Metal Container Corporation, an Indiana corporation

 



 

Schedule III

 

Ball Corporation, a Nevada corporation

Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp., a Colorado corporation

Ball Packaging, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company

Ball Technologies Holdings Corp., a Colorado corporation

Ball Advanced Aluminum Technologies Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Inc., a Delaware corporation

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Asia Services Limited, a Delaware corporation

Ball Container LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Delaware Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Glass Containers, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Ball Global Business Services Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Metal Food Container, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Metal Food Container (Oakdale), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Pan-European Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Latas de Aluminio Ball, Inc., a Delaware corporation

USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc., a Delaware corporation

Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp., a Colorado corporation

Ball Packaging, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company

Ball Technologies Holdings Corp., a Colorado corporation

 


Exhibit 5.3

 

[LETTERHEAD OF SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP]

 

June 25, 2015

 

Ball Corporation
10 Longs Peak Drive
Broomfield, Colorado 80021-2510

 

Re:

 

Ball Corporation

5.25% Senior Notes due 2025

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special counsel to Ball Corporation, an Indiana corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the public offering of $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”) issued under the Indenture, dated March 27, 2006 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 25, 2015 (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Indenture provides that the Notes are guaranteed (collectively, the “Guarantees”) by the guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Guarantors”) (such Guarantees, together with the Notes, the “Securities”).

 

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following:

 

(a)                                  the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-204940) of the Company relating to the Securities and other securities of the Company filed on June 15, 2015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”), including the information deemed to be a part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations (such registration statement being hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”);

 

(b)                                  the prospectus, dated June 15, 2015 (the “Base Prospectus”), which forms a part of and is included in the Registration Statement;

 

(c)                                   the prospectus supplement, dated June 22, 2015 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), relating to the offering of the Securities, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

 



 

(d)                                  the pricing term sheet, dated June 22, 2015, relating to the offering of the Securities, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(ii) of the Rules and Regulations;

 

(e)                                   an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement, dated June 22, 2015 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the sale by the Company and the Guarantors to the Underwriters of the Securities;

 

(f)                                    an executed copy of the Indenture, including Article 10 thereof, containing the Guarantees;

 

(g)                                   the global certificate evidencing the Notes registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the “Note Certificates”) in the form delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication and delivery;

 

(h)                                  an executed copy of a certificate for each Opinion Party (as defined below) of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each Opinion Party, dated the date hereof (collectively, the “Secretary’s Certificates”);

 

(i)                                      a copy of the certificate of incorporation of each of the Opinion Parties that are corporations, as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and as certified pursuant to the applicable Secretary’s Certificate;

 

(j)                                     a copy of the bylaws of each of the Opinion Parties that are corporations, as certified pursuant to the applicable Secretary’s Certificate;

 

(k)                                  a copy of the certificate of formation of each of the Opinion Parties that are limited liability companies, as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and as certified pursuant to the applicable Secretary’s Certificate;

 

(l)                                      a copy of the limited liability company agreement or operating agreement of each of the Opinion Parties that are limited liability companies (each, an “LLC Agreement”), as certified pursuant to the applicable Secretary’s Certificate; and

 

(m)                              a copy of certain resolutions adopted by the board of directors or other governing body, as applicable, of each Opinion Party relating to the Securities and related matters, as certified pursuant to the applicable Secretary’s Certificate.

 

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and the Guarantors and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below.

 

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures including endorsements, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all

 

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documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and others and of public officials.

 

We do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i) the laws of the State of New York, (ii) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), (iii) the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “DLLCA”) and (iv) to the extent that judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with governmental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Opined on Law”). We do not express any opinion as to the effect of any law (other than Opined on Law) on the opinions stated herein. Charles E. Baker, Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company, and Todd A. Mikesell, Associate General Counsel of the Company, may rely on this opinion in rendering their respective opinions each to be dated the date hereof and filed as Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2, respectively, to the Prospectus.

 

As used herein, (i) “Opinion Parties” means each of the Guarantors listed on Schedule II hereto and “Non-Opinion Party” means the Company and each of the Guarantors listed on Schedule III hereto and (ii) “Transaction Agreements” means the Indenture and the Securities.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

(1)                                  Assuming the Note Certificates have been duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, the Note Certificates will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.

 

(2)                                  The Guarantees of each Opinion Party have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, action on the part of such Opinion Party under the DGCL or the DLLCA, as applicable, and, when the Note Certificates are issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, each Guarantee will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the applicable Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms under the laws of the State of New York.

 

The opinions stated herein are subject to the following qualifications:

 

(1)                                  the opinions stated herein are limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, preference and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law);

 

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(2)                                  we do not express any opinion with respect to any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to any party to any of the Transaction Agreements or the transactions contemplated thereby solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to any such party or any of its affiliates as a result of the specific assets or business operations of such party or such affiliates;

 

(3)                                  except to the extent expressly stated in the opinions contained herein with respect to the Company and the Guarantors, we have assumed that each of the Transaction Agreements constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each party to such Transaction Agreement, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms;

 

(4)                                  we do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of any provision contained in any Transaction Agreement relating to any indemnification, contribution, exculpation, release or waiver that may be contrary to public policy or violative of federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations;

 

(5)                                  we call to your attention that irrespective of the agreement of the parties to any Transaction Agreement, a court may decline to hear a case on grounds of forum non conveniens or other doctrine limiting the availability of such court as a forum for resolution of disputes; in addition, we call to your attention that we do not express any opinion with respect to the subject matter jurisdiction of the federal courts of the United States of America in any action arising out of or relating to any Transaction Agreement;

 

(6)                                  we have assumed that the Note Certificates will be manually authenticated, signed or countersigned, as the case may be, by duly authorized officers of any Trustee;

 

(7)                                  we do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of Section 10.01 of the Indenture to the extent that such section provides that the obligations of the Guarantors are absolute and unconditional irrespective of the enforceability or genuineness of the Indenture or the effect thereof on the opinions herein stated;

 

(8)                                  we do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of the provisions contained in Section 10.02 of the Indenture to the extent that such provisions limit the obligation of the Guarantors under the Indenture or any right of contribution of any party with respect to the obligations under the Indenture;

 

(9)                                  to the extent that any opinion relates to the enforceability of the choice of New York law and choice of New York forum provisions contained in any Transaction Agreement, the opinions stated herein are subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be subject to, in each case, (i) the exceptions and limitations in New York General Obligations Law sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 and (ii) principles of comity or constitutionality; and

 

(10)                           we have assumed that each LLC Agreement is the only agreement of the members of the applicable Opinion Party as to the affairs of such Opinion Party and the conduct of its business, and we do not express any opinion with respect to the effect of any other agreement of

 

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the members of such Opinion Party as to the affairs of such Opinion Party and the conduct of its business.

 

In addition, in rendering the foregoing opinions we have assumed that:

 

(a)                                  each Non-Opinion Party (i) is duly incorporated or formed, as applicable, and is validly existing and in good standing, (ii) has requisite legal status and legal capacity under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation, as applicable, and (iii) has complied and will comply with all aspects of the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation, as applicable, in connection with the transactions contemplated by, and the performance of its obligations under, the Transaction Agreements to which such Non-Opinion Party is a party;

 

(b)                                  each Non-Opinion Party has the corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform all its obligations under each of the Transaction Agreements to which such Non-Opinion Party is a party;

 

(c)                                   each of the Transaction Agreements to which each Non-Opinion Party is a party has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all requisite corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, action on the part of such Non-Opinion Party;

 

(d)                                  neither the execution and delivery by the Company and each Guarantor of the Transaction Agreements to which the Company or such Guarantor is a party nor the consummation by the Company and such Guarantor of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance and sale of the applicable Securities: (i) conflicts or will conflict with the certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws or limited liability company agreement, as applicable, of the Company or any Guarantor, (ii) constitutes or will constitute a violation of, or a default under, any lease, indenture, instrument or other agreement to which the Company or any Guarantor or its property is subject, (iii) contravenes or will contravene any order or decree of any governmental authority to which the Company or any Guarantor or its property is subject, or (iv) violates or will violate any law, rule or regulation to which the Company or any Guarantor or its property is subject (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (iv) with respect to the Opined-on Law); and

 

(e)                                   neither the execution and delivery by the Company or any Guarantor of the Transaction Agreements to which the Company or such Guarantor is a party nor the consummation by the Company and such Guarantor of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance and sale of the applicable Securities, requires or will require the consent, approval, licensing or authorization of, or any filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority under any law, rule or regulation of any jurisdiction.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K being filed on the date hereof and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof

 

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unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

 

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Schedule I

 

Ball Advanced Aluminum Technologies Corp.

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Holding Corporation

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Inc.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

Ball Asia Services Limited

Ball Container LLC

Ball Corporation

Ball Delaware Holdings, LLC

Ball Glass Containers, Inc.

Ball Global Business Services Corp.

Ball Holdings Corp.

Ball Holdings LLC

Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp.

Ball Metal Container Corporation

Ball Metal Food Container, LLC

Ball Metal Food Container (Oakdale), LLC

Ball Packaging, LLC

Ball Pan-European Holdings, Inc.

Ball Technologies Holdings Corp.

Latas de Aluminio Ball, Inc.

USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc.

 



 

Schedule II

 

Ball Advanced Aluminum Technologies Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation

Ball Aerosol and Specialty Container Inc., a Delaware corporation

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Asia Services Limited, a Delaware corporation

Ball Container LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Delaware Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Glass Containers, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Ball Global Business Services Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation

Ball Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Metal Food Container, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Metal Food Container (Oakdale), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Ball Pan-European Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Latas de Aluminio Ball, Inc., a Delaware corporation

USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc., a Delaware corporation

 



 

Schedule III

 

Ball Corporation, a Nevada corporation

Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp., a Colorado corporation

Ball Metal Container Corporation, an Indiana corporation

Ball Packaging, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company

Ball Technologies Holdings Corp., a Colorado corporation