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):  November 1, 2016

 


 

Enviva Partners, LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

001-37363

 

46-4097730

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(IRS Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

7200 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 1000

 

 

Bethesda, MD

 

20814

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (301) 657-5660

 


 

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Contribution Agreement

 

On November 1, 2016 (the “Execution Date”), Enviva Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”) and a subsidiary of Enviva Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Enviva Holdings”), entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) with Enviva Wilmington Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Hancock JV”) that is a joint venture between Enviva Holdings, Hancock Natural Resource Group, Inc. and certain other affiliates of John Hancock Life Insurance Company. Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the Hancock JV will contribute to Enviva, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests (the “Contributed Interests”) in Enviva Pellets Sampson, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sampson”), for total consideration of $175 million, consisting of $145 million in cash and 1,098,415 common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (“Common Units”), subject to certain adjustments (the “Sampson Acquisition”). The Sampson Acquisition includes a wood pellet production plant in Sampson County, North Carolina, a ten-year, 420,000 metric ton per year (“MTPY”) off-take contract with DONG Energy Thermal Power A/S, a 15-year, 95,000 MTPY off-take contract with the Hancock JV and matching third-party shipping contracts. The Partnership intends to fund the cash consideration with a portion of the net proceeds from its previously completed private placement (the “Offering”) of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.5% senior unsecured notes due 2021 (the “Notes”), together with cash on hand.

 

Each of the parties to the Contribution Agreement is an indirect subsidiary of Enviva Holdings. As a result, certain individuals, including officers and directors of Enviva Holdings GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of Enviva Holdings, and officers and directors of Enviva Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), serve as officers and/or directors of one or more of such entities. As of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Current Report”), Enviva Holdings indirectly owns 1,347,161 Common Units and 11,905,138 subordinated units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (“Subordinated Units”), collectively representing a 52.89% limited partner interest in the Partnership based on the number of Common Units and Subordinated Units outstanding. Through its control and ownership of the General Partner, Enviva Holdings also owns the general partner interest in the Partnership and all of the Partnership’s incentive distribution rights.

 

The Conflicts Committee of the General Partner’s board of directors, composed of independent members of the board of directors of the General Partner, retained legal and financial advisors to assist it in evaluating and negotiating the Contribution Agreement. In approving the terms of the Contribution Agreement, the Conflicts Committee based its decision in part on an opinion from its independent financial advisor that the consideration to be paid by the Partnership in exchange for the Contributed Interests is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Partnership and holders of Common Units, other than the General Partner, the Hancock JV and their respective affiliates.

 

The Contribution Agreement has customary representations and warranties regarding Sampson and the Sampson Acquisition, as well as customary covenants and indemnity provisions. The consummation of the Sampson Acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including, among other things, the receipt of antitrust approval, if applicable, from the federal antitrust authorities, the absence of legal impediments prohibiting the Sampson Acquisition, the performance by the parties, in all material respects, of their respective covenants as set forth in the Contribution Agreement and, subject to certain exceptions, the accuracy of their respective representations and warranties as set forth in the Contribution Agreement. There is no assurance that all of the conditions to the consummation of the Sampson Acquisition will be satisfied. The Partnership currently expects the Sampson Acquisition to close on or about January 3, 2017.

 

The Contribution Agreement provides for certain limited rights to terminate the Contribution Agreement, including if the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement have not been consummated by January 31, 2017.

 

The foregoing description is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Contribution Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by

 

2



 

reference. The representations and warranties in the Contribution Agreement are made solely for the benefit of the parties thereto. The assertions embodied in such representations and warranties are qualified by information contained in disclosure schedules that the parties exchanged in connection with the signing of the Contribution Agreement. In addition, these representations and warranties (i) may be intended not as statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate, (ii) may apply materiality standards different from what may be viewed as material to investors and (iii) were made only as of the date of the Contribution Agreement or as of such other date or dates as may be specified in the Contribution Agreement. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of such representations and warranties may change after the date of the Contribution Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the Partnership’s public disclosures. Investors are urged not to rely on such representations and warranties as characterizations of the actual state of facts or circumstances at this time or any other time.

 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On November 3, 2016, the Partnership issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 and its entry into the Contribution Agreement. A copy of the press release is furnished with this Current Report as Exhibit 99.1.

 

The information in Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 of this Current Report and Exhibit 99.1 is being “furnished” and shall not be deemed to be “filed” by the Partnership for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

The information included in Item 8.01 of this Current Report is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The information included in Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

The information included in Item 2.02 of this Current Report is incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01.

 

Item 8.01.              Other Events .

 

Indenture

 

On November 1, 2016, in connection with the previously announced Offering by the Partnership and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Enviva Partners Finance Corp., formed on October 3, 2016 for the purpose of being the co-issuer of some of the Partnership’s indebtedness (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Partnership, the “Issuers”) of the Notes, the Partnership entered into an Indenture (the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors (as defined below) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee. The Notes are guaranteed (the “Guarantees”), jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by the Partnership’s existing subsidiaries (other than Finance Corp. and Enviva Pellets Wiggins, LLC) and its future restricted subsidiaries that guarantee certain of the Partnership’s indebtedness (collectively, the “Guarantors”).

 

On November 1, 2016, the Notes were issued pursuant to the Indenture in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act. The Notes will be resold within the United States only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the United States only to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes will accrue interest from

 

3



 

November 1, 2016 at the rate of 8.5% per year. Interest on the Notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each May 1 and November 1, commencing on May 1, 2017.

 

The proceeds from the Notes and the Guarantees will be funded into escrow, to be held pending the consummation of the proposed Sampson Acquisition. If the conditions to the release of the proceeds of the Notes from escrow are not satisfied on or prior to January 31, 2017 (or an earlier date if the Partnership notifies the trustee and the escrow agent that the Sampson Acquisition will not be consummated), the Notes will be subject to a special mandatory redemption at a redemption price of 100% of the initial issue price of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

 

The Indenture contains customary terms, events of default and covenants relating to, among other things, the incurrence of debt, the payment of distributions or similar restricted payments, undertaking transactions with affiliates and limitations on asset sales.

 

At any time prior to November 1, 2018, the Issuers may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 108.5% of the principal amount redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, with an amount of cash not greater than the net proceeds from one or more equity offerings, provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Partnership and its subsidiaries) and redemption occurs within 120 days of the date of the closing of such equity offering. At any time prior to November 1, 2018, the Issuers may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Notes plus a “make-whole” premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. The Issuers may also redeem all or a part of the Notes at any time on or after November 1, 2018, at the redemption prices set forth in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. If the Issuers experience a change of control followed by a ratings decline, unless the Issuers have previously exercised or concurrently exercise the right to redeem the Notes (as described above), the Issuers may be required to offer to repurchase the Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the repurchase date.

 

The Notes and the Guarantees are the general unsecured obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ existing and future senior indebtedness and senior to all of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ future subordinated indebtedness, if any. The Notes and the Guarantees are effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ existing and future secured debt, including debt under the Partnership’s senior secured credit facilities and guarantees thereof, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and are structurally subordinated to all indebtedness of any of the Partnership’s subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Notes.

 

The summary of the Indenture set forth in this Item 8.01 does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to such agreement, a copy of which is being filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

Also on November 1, 2016, in connection with the closing of the Offering, the Issuers and each of the Guarantors entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the initial purchasers named therein, pursuant to which the Issuers and Guarantors agreed (a) (i) to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement (the “Exchange Offer Registration Statement”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act, with respect to a registered offer to exchange any and all of the Notes (including the Guarantees) for a like aggregate principal amount of registered notes that are identical in all material respects to the Notes (except that the exchange notes will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with the Registration Rights Agreement ) and/or (ii) under certain circumstances set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) relating to the resale by certain holders of the Notes and the Guarantees thereof, (b) to use their reasonable best efforts to cause the (i) Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act and remain effective until 180 days following the last Exchange Date (as defined in the Registration

 

4



 

Rights Agreement) or (ii) if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement to become and remain effective under the Securities Act until the Notes cease to be Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), and (c) to use their reasonable best efforts to complete the exchange offer not later than 60 days after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective.  If the Issuers fail to comply with certain obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, including if the exchange offer is not completed or if the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by November 1, 2017, the interest rate borne by the Notes will be increased by 0.25% per annum (which rate will be increased by an additional 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 90-day period that such additional interest continues to accrue, provided that the rate at which such additional interest accrues may in no event exceed 1.00% per annum), commencing on the 365th day following issuance of the Notes until the exchange offer is completed or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (or becomes automatically effective or is no longer required to be effective) in accordance with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The summary of the Registration Rights Agreement set forth in this Item 8.01 does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to such agreement, a copy of which is being filed as Exhibit 4.3 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Current Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Partnership’s control. All statements, other than historical facts included in this Current Report, are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Current Report. Although the Partnership believes that the plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such statements.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

2.1

 

Contribution Agreement by and between Enviva Wilmington Holdings, LLC and Enviva Partners, LP dated November 1, 2016. *

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2016, by and among Enviva Partners, LP, Enviva Partners Finance Corp., the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Form of 8.5% Senior Note due 2021 (included in Exhibit 4.1).

 

 

 

4.3

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2016, by and among Enviva Partners, LP, Enviva Partners Finance Corp., the subsidiary guarantors named therein and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the initial purchasers named therein.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Enviva Partners, LP press release dated November 3, 2016.

 


*                  Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Partnership hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules or exhibits upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

5



 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP

 

 

 

 

By:

Enviva Partners GP, LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

Date: November 3, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William H. Schmidt, Jr.

 

Name:

William H. Schmidt, Jr.

 

Title:

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

6



 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

2.1

 

Contribution Agreement by and between Enviva Wilmington Holdings, LLC and Enviva Partners, LP dated November 1, 2016. *

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2016, by and among Enviva Partners, LP, Enviva Partners Finance Corp., the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Form of 8.5% Senior Note due 2021 (included in Exhibit 4.1).

 

 

 

4.3

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2016, by and among Enviva Partners, LP, Enviva Partners Finance Corp., the subsidiary guarantors named therein and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the initial purchasers named therein.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Enviva Partners, LP press release dated November 3, 2016.

 


*                  Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Partnership hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules or exhibits upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

7


Exhibit 2.1

 

 

 

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

by and between

 

ENVIVA WILMINGTON HOLDINGS, LLC

 

and

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP

 

dated

 

November 1, 2016

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I                                 DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

2

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

2

 

 

 

Section 1.2

Rules of Construction

2

 

 

 

ARTICLE II                         CLOSING AND RELATED MATTERS

2

 

 

 

Section 2.1

Contribution of Contributed Interests

2

 

 

 

Section 2.2

Consideration

3

 

 

 

Section 2.3

Closing

3

 

 

 

Section 2.4

Deliveries at Closing

3

 

 

 

Section 2.5

Purchase Price Adjustments

5

 

 

 

ARTICLE III                       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING TRANSFEROR AND SAMPSON

5

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Organization

6

 

 

 

Section 3.2

Authority; Enforceability

6

 

 

 

Section 3.3

Title to Contributed Interests

6

 

 

 

Section 3.4

No Conflict; Consents and Approvals

6

 

 

 

Section 3.5

Legal Proceedings

7

 

 

 

Section 3.6

Ownership

7

 

 

 

Section 3.7

Balance Sheets; No Undisclosed Liabilities

7

 

 

 

Section 3.8

Property

7

 

 

 

Section 3.9

Governmental Authorizations; Compliance with Law

8

 

 

 

Section 3.10

Material Contracts

8

 

 

 

Section 3.11

Taxes

8

 

 

 

Section 3.12

Environmental Matters

9

 

 

 

Section 3.13

Employees and Benefit Plans

10

 

 

 

Section 3.14

Insurance

10

 

 

 

Section 3.15

Intellectual Property

10

 

 

 

Section 3.16

Investment Representation

10

 

 

 

Section 3.17

Brokerage Arrangements

10

 

 

 

Section 3.18

Disclaimer

11

 

i



 

ARTICLE IV                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF TRANSFEREE

11

 

 

Section 4.1

Organization

11

 

 

 

Section 4.2

Authority; Enforceability

11

 

 

 

Section 4.3

No Conflicts; Consents and Approvals

11

 

 

 

Section 4.4

Delivery of Fairness Opinion

12

 

 

 

Section 4.5

Legal Proceedings

12

 

 

 

Section 4.6

Brokerage Arrangements

12

 

 

 

Section 4.7

New Common Units

12

 

 

 

Section 4.8

SEC Documents

12

 

 

 

Section 4.9

Available Funds

13

 

 

 

Section 4.10

Independent Investigation; Waiver of Other Representations

13

 

 

 

ARTICLE V                          COVENANTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS

13

 

 

 

Section 5.1

Conduct of Business

13

 

 

 

Section 5.2

Commercially Reasonable Efforts

15

 

 

 

Section 5.3

Access

15

 

 

 

Section 5.4

Tax Matters

16

 

 

 

Section 5.5

Updating

17

 

 

 

Section 5.6

New Common Units Listed

17

 

 

 

Section 5.7

Norden Shipping Contract

17

 

 

 

Section 5.8

Retained Matters

18

 

 

 

Section 5.9

Payment of Closing Date Punch List Items

19

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI                     CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

20

 

 

 

Section 6.1

Mutual Closing Conditions

20

 

 

 

Section 6.2

Transferee’s Closing Conditions

20

 

 

 

Section 6.3

Transferor’s Closing Conditions

21

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII                INDEMNIFICATION

21

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Survival

21

 

 

 

Section 7.2

Indemnification

22

 

 

 

Section 7.3

Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings

22

 

 

 

Section 7.4

Limitations

23

 

 

 

Section 7.5

Exclusive Remedy

24

 

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ARTICLE VIII           TERMINATION RIGHTS

24

 

 

Section 8.1

Termination Rights

24

 

 

 

Section 8.2

Effect of Termination

25

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX                     GENERAL

25

 

 

 

Section 9.1

Entire Agreement; Successors and Assigns

25

 

 

 

Section 9.2

Amendments and Waivers

25

 

 

 

Section 9.3

Notices

25

 

 

 

Section 9.4

Governing Law

27

 

 

 

Section 9.5

Dispute Resolution; Waiver of Jury Trial

27

 

 

 

Section 9.6

Disclosure Schedules

27

 

 

 

Section 9.7

Severability

27

 

 

 

Section 9.8

Transaction Costs and Expenses

28

 

 

 

Section 9.9

Rights of Third Parties

28

 

 

 

Section 9.10

Counterparts

28

 

 

 

Section 9.11

Specific Performance

28

 

 

 

Section 9.12

Publicity

28

 

 

 

Section 9.13

Further Assurances

28

 

 

 

Section 9.14

Action by Transferee

29

 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

 

Definitions

Exhibit B

 

Form of Interest Conveyance

Exhibit C

 

Form of Dong Contract Assignment

Exhibit D

 

Form of Sampson Secondary Supply Agreement

Exhibit E

 

Form of Sampson-Wilmington Terminal Services Agreement

Exhibit F

 

Form of Sampson-Chesapeake Terminal Services Agreement Termination

Exhibit G

 

Registration Rights

Exhibit H

 

Form of Dong Letter Agreement

 

 

 

DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1.1

 

Retained Matters

Schedule 3.4

 

Transferor Approvals and Consents

Schedule 3.8(a)

 

Owned Real Property

Schedule 3.8(b)

 

Punch List Items

Schedule 3.10(a)

 

Material Contracts

Schedule 3.10(b)

 

Exceptions to Material Contracts

 

iii



 

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

THIS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (including the exhibits and schedules hereto, each as amended or restated from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), dated as of November 1, 2016 (the “ Execution Date ”), is by and between Enviva Wilmington Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Transferor ”), and Enviva Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Transferee ”).  Transferor and Transferee are collectively referred to as the “ Parties ” and individually as a “ Party .”

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , as of the Execution Date, Transferor owns 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests (the “ Contributed Interests ”) in Enviva Pellets Sampson, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Sampson ”), which owns a wood pellet biomass production plant located in Sampson County, North Carolina, capable of producing approximately 515,000 MT of industrial wood pellet biomass per year (the “ Sampson Plant ”);

 

WHEREAS , Transferor desires to contribute the Contributed Interests to Transferee in exchange for the consideration, and on the other terms and conditions, set forth in this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS , such contribution (a) is made pursuant to a contribution of the Contributed Interests by Transferor to Transferee, which shall be treated as immediately followed by (b) a contribution of the Contributed Interests by Transferee to Enviva, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and wholly owned subsidiary of Transferee (“ Enviva, LP ”); and

 

WHEREAS , the Conflicts Committee (the “Conflicts Committee” ) of the Board of Directors of Enviva Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of Transferee (the “General Partner” ), has (i) received an opinion of Evercore Group L.L.C., the financial advisor to the Conflicts Committee (the “Financial Advisor” ), that the Purchase Price is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Transferee and the holders of common units representing limited partner interests in Transferee, other than the General Partner, Transferor and their respective Affiliates and (ii) determined that the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Documents (as defined herein) to be fair and reasonable to, and in the best interest of, Transferee and the holders of common units of limited partner interests in the Transferee, other than Enviva Holdings, LP and its subsidiaries, including the General Partner, and approved the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Documents, which approval constituted Special Approval (as defined in the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Transferee).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as follows:

 

1



 

AGREEMENTS

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

 

Section 1.1                                     Definitions .  In addition to the terms defined in the body of this Agreement, capitalized terms used herein will have the meanings given to them in Exhibit A . Capitalized terms defined in the body of this Agreement are listed in Exhibit A with reference to the location of the definitions of such terms in the body of this Agreement.

 

Section 1.2                                     Rules of Construction .

 

All article, section, schedule and exhibit references used in this Agreement are to articles, sections, schedules and exhibits of and to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.  The schedules and exhibits attached to this Agreement constitute a part of this Agreement and are incorporated herein for all purposes.

 

(a)                                  If a term is defined as one part of speech (such as a noun), it shall have a corresponding meaning when used as another part of speech (such as a verb).  Terms defined in the singular have the corresponding meanings in the plural, and vice versa.  Unless the context of this Agreement clearly requires otherwise, words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa. The term “includes” or “including” shall mean “including without limitation.”  The words “hereof,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “herein,” “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or article in which such words appear.  The phrase “ordinary course of business” shall mean, with respect to a particular Person, the ordinary course of business of such Person consistent with past practice in all material respects.

 

(b)                                  The Parties acknowledge that each Party and its attorneys have reviewed this Agreement and that any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party, or any similar rule operating against the drafter of an agreement, shall not be applicable to the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  All references to currency and “$” herein shall be to, and all payments required hereunder shall be paid in, United States dollars.

 

(e)                                   All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.

 

ARTICLE II
CLOSING AND RELATED MATTERS

 

Section 2.1                                     Contribution of Contributed Interests .  Subject to the express terms and conditions hereof, at the Closing, Transferor shall contribute, convey, assign, transfer, and

 

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deliver the Contributed Interests to Enviva, LP and Transferee shall cause Enviva, LP to acquire and accept the Contributed Interests, in exchange for the consideration set forth in Section 2.2 .

 

Section 2.2                                     Consideration .  At the Closing, in consideration for the contribution of the Contributed Interests, Transferee shall pay to Transferor or its designees (as set forth in Section 2.4(b) ) an aggregate amount equal to $175,000,000.00 (the “ Purchase Price ”), which shall consist of (a) $145,000,000.00 in cash (the “ Cash Consideration ”) and (b) a number of Transferee Units equal to the quotient of $30,000,000.00 divided by the Sale Unit Price (the New Common Units ), subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 2.5 .

 

Section 2.3                                     Closing .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing” ) will take place at 10:00 a.m. local time at the offices of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10103, on the later of (a) the third Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions in Article VI (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions) to be satisfied or waived, and (b) January 3, 2017, or at such other time and place as the Parties mutually agree (the “Closing Date” ). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Contribution Documents, for accounting purposes only, title to, ownership of and control over the Contributed Interests and the Business shall pass to Enviva, LP effective as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern Time, on the Closing Date.

 

Section 2.4                                     Deliveries at Closing .

 

(a)                                  By Transferor .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Transferor shall deliver to Transferee each of the following items:

 

(i)                                      a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a)  and Section 6.2(b)  have been satisfied, duly executed by a Responsible Officer of Transferor;

 

(ii)                                   a counterpart to the instrument of transfer with respect to the transfer of the Contributed Interests to Enviva, LP in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Interest Conveyance” ), duly executed by Transferor;

 

(iii)                                a counterpart to the instrument of assignment with respect to the assignment to Enviva, LP of the Dong Contract in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Dong Contract Assignment” ), duly executed by Sampson;

 

(iv)                               a counterpart or counterparts to the notice to Dong from Enviva, LP and Sampson with respect to the assignment to Enviva, LP of the Dong Contract pursuant to the Dong Contract Assignment in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit H (the “Dong Letter Agreement” ), duly executed by Sampson and acknowledged by Dong;

 

(v)                                  a counterpart to the Sampson Secondary Supply Agreement between Transferee, as seller, and Transferor, as buyer, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Sampson Secondary Supply Agreement” ), duly executed by Transferor;

 

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(vi)                               a counterpart to the DAP Terminal Services Agreement between Enviva, LP and Enviva Port of Wilmington, LLC (“ Wilmington ”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “Sampson-Wilmington Terminal Services Agreement” ), duly executed by Wilmington;

 

(vii)                            a counterpart to the termination agreement with respect to the termination of the Sampson-Chesapeake Terminal Services Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (the “Sampson-Chesapeake Terminal Services Agreement Termination” ), duly executed by Sampson;

 

(viii)                         a FIRPTA Certificate, duly executed by Transferor; and

 

(ix)                               in the event the Hancock Threshold is met, a counterpart to a Registration Rights Agreement including, among other things, provisions incorporating the terms set forth on Exhibit G attached hereto (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), duly executed by Hancock.

 

(b)                                  By Transferee .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Transferee shall deliver to Transferor (or to the extent specifically set forth below, to Transferor’s designee or with respect to Section 2.4(b)(iii), to Hancock) each of the following items:

 

(i)                                      a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 6.3(a)  and Section 6.3(b)  have been satisfied, duly executed by a Responsible Officer of the General Partner;

 

(ii)                                   the Estimated Cash Consideration, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by Transferor;

 

(iii)                                to Hancock, the New Common Units, by issuance of such New Common Units (in book-entry form) by instruction to Transferee’s transfer agent or otherwise, and evidence of such issuance that is reasonably satisfactory to Transferor;

 

(iv)                               a counterpart to the Interest Conveyance, duly executed by Enviva, LP;

 

(v)                                  a counterpart to the Dong Contract Assignment, duly executed by Enviva, LP;

 

(vi)                               a counterpart to the Dong Letter Agreement, duly executed by Enviva, LP;

 

(vii)                            a counterpart to the Sampson Secondary Supply Agreement, duly executed by Transferee;

 

(viii)                         a counterpart to the Sampson-Wilmington Terminal Services Agreement, duly executed by Enviva, LP;

 

(ix)                               a counterpart to the Sampson-Chesapeake Terminal Services Agreement Termination, duly executed by Enviva Port of Chesapeake, LLC; and

 

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(x)                                  in the event the Hancock Threshold is met, a counterpart to the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by Transferee.

 

The issuance of New Common Units to Hancock pursuant to Section 2.4(b)(iii)  is intended to reflect (a) the issuance of the New Common Units to Transferor, followed immediately by (b) a distribution of the New Common Units to Hancock, and the Parties shall treat it consistently therewith.

 

Section 2.5                                     Purchase Price Adjustments.

 

(a)                                  Estimated Cash Consideration .  At the Closing, the Cash Consideration shall be adjusted by (a) adding to the Cash Consideration the amount (if any) by which the Estimated Closing Net Working Capital exceeds $4,500,000 (the “ Target Working Capital ”) or (b) subtracting from the Cash Consideration the amount (if any) by which the Target Working Capital exceeds the Estimated Closing Net Working Capital (the Cash Consideration as so adjusted, the “ Estimated Cash Consideration ”).

 

(b)                                  At least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Transferor shall deliver to Transferee a written statement setting forth Transferor’s good faith estimate (the “ Estimated Closing Net Working Capital ”) of Sampson’s current assets minus its current liabilities as of 12:01 a.m. on the Closing Date (the “ Closing Net Working Capital ”), together with reasonably detailed supporting documentation, which (i) shall be determined in a manner consistent with the preparation of the management reports referred to in Section 3.7 and (ii) shall exclude assets arising from or relating to the Retained Matters and liabilities as to which Transferee is entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 7.2(a)(ii)  from current assets and liabilities, respectively.

 

(c)                                   Within 30 days following the Closing Date, Transferor shall prepare and deliver to Transferee a written statement setting forth Transferor’s good faith calculation of the difference between the Closing Net Working Capital and the Estimated Closing Net Working Capital (the “ Net Adjustment Amount ”). Within five Business Days after delivery of such statement from Transferor to Transferee, if the Net Adjustment Amount is positive, then Transferee shall pay to Transferor such amount and if the Net Adjustment Amount is negative, then Transferor shall pay to Transferee such amount, in each case by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account designated by the payee.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, prior to or at the Closing, Transferor may cause Sampson to distribute all or any portion of the cash held by Sampson.

 

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING
TRANSFEROR AND SAMPSON

 

Transferor hereby represents and warrants to Transferee as follows, except as otherwise described in the Disclosure Schedule to any representation or warranty in this Article III :

 

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Section 3.1                                     Organization .

 

(a)                                  Transferor is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.  Transferor has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Contribution Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations under and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such other Contribution Documents.

 

(b)                                  Sampson is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.  Sampson has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted.  Sampson is duly qualified or licensed to do business in each jurisdiction in which the ownership or operation of the Business as presently conducted, including the Sampson Plant, makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except in any jurisdiction where the failure to be so duly qualified or licensed would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.2                                     Authority; Enforceability .  The execution and delivery by Transferor of this Agreement and the performance by Transferor of its obligations hereunder have been and, as of Closing, the execution and delivery by Transferor of the other Contribution Documents to which it is a party and the performance of its obligations thereunder will have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action.  This Agreement has been, and as of Closing such other Contribution Documents will have been, duly and validly executed and delivered by Transferor.  This Agreement constitutes, and as of the Closing such other Contribution Documents will constitute, the legal, valid, and binding obligations of Transferor enforceable against Transferor in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, arrangement, moratorium, or other similar Laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, or by general equitable principles.

 

Section 3.3                                     Title to Contributed Interests .  Transferor owns, holds of record and is the beneficial owner of the Contributed Interests free and clear of all Liens and restrictions on transfer other than (a) those arising pursuant to (i) this Agreement, (ii) Sampson’s Organizational Documents, (iii) applicable securities Laws or (iv) the Retained Matters, or (b) Liens for Taxes not yet due or delinquent or being contested in good faith.  Sampson has no outstanding equity interests other than the Contributed Interests.  There are no outstanding options, warrants, rights or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for limited liability company interests of Sampson issued or granted by Sampson, and there are no agreements of any kind which may obligate Sampson to issue, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its limited liability company interests, except as may be contained in its Organizational Documents.

 

Section 3.4                                     No Conflict; Consents and Approvals .  The execution and delivery by Transferor of this Agreement and the other Contribution Documents to which it is a party and the performance by Transferor of its obligations under this Agreement and such other Contribution Documents do not and will not: (i) violate or result in a breach of the Organizational Documents of Transferor or Sampson; (ii) assuming all required filings, waivers, approvals, consents, authorizations and notices disclosed in Schedule 3.4 ( “Transferor Approvals and Consents” ) and other notifications provided in the ordinary course of business have been made, obtained or given, (A) violate or result in a default in any material respect under any Material Contract to

 

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which Transferor or Sampson is a party, (B) violate or result in a breach in any material respect of any Law or order applicable to Transferor or Sampson, (C) require any Governmental Authorization applicable to Transferor or Sampson the absence of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (D) result in the imposition of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on the Contributed Interests, other than Liens created by or on behalf of Transferee.

 

Section 3.5                                     Legal Proceedings . There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Transferor, threatened against Transferor or Sampson that (a) challenge the validity or enforceability of the obligations of Transferor under this Agreement or the Contribution Documents to which it is a party, (b) seek to prevent or delay the consummation by Transferor of the transactions contemplated herein, or (c) would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect Sampson or the Sampson Plant.  There is no order, judgment, or decree issued or entered by any Governmental Entity imposed upon Transferor or Sampson that, in any such case, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Business, Sampson or the Sampson Plant.

 

Section 3.6                                     Ownership .  Sampson does not have any subsidiaries or own equity interests in any Person and is not a party to any Contract for the purchase, subscription, allotment, or issue of any unissued interests, units, or other securities (including convertible securities, warrants, or convertible obligations of any nature) of Sampson other than those arising pursuant to Sampson’s Organizational Documents.

 

Section 3.7                                     Balance Sheets; No Undisclosed Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  Transferee has been provided with copies of, or access to, the unaudited balance sheets of Sampson as of and for the 12 months ending December 31, 2015 and as of and for the six months ending June 30, 2016.  Such balance sheets were prepared in a manner consistent with GAAP.

 

(b)                                  Sampson has operated in the ordinary course of business and has not incurred any obligation or liability of any type (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would be required under GAAP to be reflected on an audited balance sheet of Sampson, other than any such liabilities or obligations (i) incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) reflected or reserved against in the management reports referred to in Section 3.7(a) , (iii) that are to be fully satisfied prior to Closing, or (iv) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Business, Sampson or the Sampson Plant.

 

(c)                                   There has not been any damage, destruction or loss to any material portion of the Sampson Plant or any other Assets of Sampson, whether or not covered by insurance, in excess of $1,000,000.

 

Section 3.8                                     Property .

 

(a)                                  Schedule 3.8(a)  contains a complete list of all of the real property and interests in real property owned in fee by Sampson (including the Sampson Plant).  There are no leases, subleases, or licenses of real property to which Sampson is a party or by which it holds a

 

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leasehold interest.  Sampson has good and marketable title to each real property described therein and the improvements thereon, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens and Liens created pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  The Assets owned by Sampson, together with the Material Contracts, in each case, as of the Execution Date, constitute in all material respects all of the assets used by Sampson in connection with the Business and the operation of the Sampson Plant as operated and conducted by Transferee as of the Execution Date.  The material Assets of Sampson are in good operating condition and in a state of good maintenance and repair in accordance with normal industry practice, ordinary wear and tear excepted. With the exception of the remaining items as of the date hereof set forth on Schedule 3.8(b)  (the “ Punch List Items ”), the Sampson Plant is Substantially Complete. The Punch List Items are all of the actions that remain to be completed or corrected by Sampson or its Affiliates or their respective contractors and subcontractors as of the date hereof, but such list does not include any item of work, alone or in the aggregate, the non-completion of which would be reasonably expected to materially jeopardize the structural, mechanical or electrical integrity of the Sampson Plant, or result in any material breach of Law by Sampson.

 

Section 3.9                                     Governmental Authorizations; Compliance with Law . Sampson (i) holds all material Governmental Authorizations necessary for the conduct of the Business as presently conducted (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the operation of the Sampson Plant), and all such material Governmental Authorizations are in full force and effect; (ii) is in compliance in all material respects with all such Governmental Authorizations and all applicable Laws and (iii) has not received written notification from any applicable Governmental Entity that it is not in compliance in any material respect with any applicable Laws.

 

Section 3.10                              Material Contracts .

 

(a)                                  Schedule 3.10(a)  sets forth all Material Contracts.

 

(b)                                  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(b) , each of the Material Contracts (i) is in full force and effect in all material respects and (ii) represents the legal, valid and binding obligation of Sampson or Transferor (as applicable) and, to the Knowledge of Transferor, represents the legal, valid and binding obligation of the other parties thereto, in each case enforceable in accordance with its terms subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity. Neither Sampson, Transferor nor, to the Knowledge of Transferor, any other party is in breach of any Material Contract in any material respect, and none of Transferor or Sampson has received any written notice of termination or breach of any Material Contract.

 

Section 3.11                              Taxes .

 

(a)                                  Sampson is disregarded from Transferor for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes and no election has been made under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3 to treat Sampson as any type of entity other than a disregarded entity for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes;

 

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(b)                                  All Tax Returns that are required to have been filed by or with respect to Sampson or Sampson’s operations and Assets have been timely and properly filed with the appropriate Governmental Entity;

 

(c)                                   All Taxes that are required to have been paid by or with respect to Sampson or Sampson’s operations and Assets, regardless of whether such Taxes were shown on a Tax Return, have been timely and properly paid in full to the appropriate Governmental Entity;

 

(d)                                  There are no Liens (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the Assets of Sampson that have arisen in connection with any failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax;

 

(e)                                   Sampson does not have in force any waiver of any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency; and

 

(f)                                    There are no pending or active audits or legal proceedings regarding any of the Tax Returns described in Section 3.11(c)  or any Taxes of or with respect to Sampson or its Assets or, to Transferor’s Knowledge, threatened audits or proposed deficiencies or other claims for unpaid Taxes of Sampson.

 

Section 3.12                              Environmental Matters .

 

(a)                                  Sampson and the Sampson Plant have been in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws, which compliance includes the possession and maintenance of, and compliance with, all material Governmental Authorizations required under all Environmental Laws for the operation of the Sampson Plant in all material respects;

 

(b)                                  Neither Sampson nor the Sampson Plant is the subject of any outstanding administrative or judicial order or judgment, agreement or arbitration award from any Governmental Entity under any Environmental Laws requiring remediation or the payment of a fine or penalty;

 

(c)                                   Neither Sampson nor the Sampson Plant is subject to any Legal Proceeding pending or threatened in writing, whether judicial or administrative, alleging noncompliance with or potential liability under any Environmental Law, the outcome of which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Business, Sampson or the Sampson Plant;

 

(d)                                  To the Knowledge of Transferor, there has been no Release by the Sampson Plant, except for any Release either in compliance with applicable Environmental Law, or as would not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to Sampson under any Environmental Law; and

 

(e)                                   To the Knowledge of Transferor, there has been no exposure of any Person or property to any Hazardous Substances in violation of Environmental Laws by the operation of the Sampson Plant or the Business except for any such exposure as would not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to Sampson under any Environmental Law.

 

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Transferee acknowledges that this Section 3.12 shall be deemed to be the only representation and warranty in this Agreement with respect to Hazardous Substances, Releases, or Environmental Laws or any other matter related to or arising under any Environmental Law.

 

Section 3.13                              Employees and Benefit Plans .  Sampson does not have and has not had any employees or individual service providers on its payroll, nor does it have any material obligation or liability (whether actual, contingent or otherwise) with respect to any employees or individual service providers (other than obligations (x) to independent contractors who perform services for Sampson or (y) pursuant to the Management Services Agreement).  Sampson has not sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or had an obligation to contribute to any plan, policy, understanding, arrangement, written contract or agreement that provides or is designed to provide compensation or benefits to or with respect to employees or individual service providers (each such plan, policy, understanding, arrangement, contract or agreement, a “Benefit Plan” ) and does not have any obligation or liability (whether actual, contingent or otherwise) with respect to any Benefit Plan.

 

Section 3.14                              Insurance .  All material insurance policies with respect to which the Business as presently conducted, Sampson and the Sampson Plant are beneficiaries are (and, at Closing, will be) in full force and effect, and all premiums due and payable under such policies have been paid. To Transferor’s Knowledge, no written notice of cancellation of, or indication of an intention not to renew, any such insurance policy has been received.

 

Section 3.15                              Intellectual Property .  Sampson has access to, owns or has the right to use pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement or otherwise all material items of Intellectual Property required in connection with the ownership of Sampson Plant and the operation of the Business as presently conducted.

 

Section 3.16                              Investment Representation Transferor is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act.  Transferor is receiving the New Common Units for its own account with the present intention of holding the New Common Units for investment purposes and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution.  Transferor has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the New Common Units to be acquired hereby.  Transferor acknowledges that the New Common Units have not been registered under applicable federal and state securities Laws and that the New Common Units may not be sold, transferred, offered for sale, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of unless such transfer, sale, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition is registered under applicable federal and state securities Laws or is made pursuant to an exemption from registration under any federal or state securities Laws.

 

Section 3.17                              Brokerage Arrangements .  Neither Transferor nor any of its Affiliates has entered, directly or indirectly, into any contract or arrangement with any Person that would obligate Transferee to pay any commission, brokerage or “finder’s fee” or other fee in connection with this Agreement, the other Contribution Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

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Section 3.18                              Disclaimer .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Transferor makes no representation or warranty (i) in any provision of this Agreement, the Disclosure Schedules or otherwise, other than those expressly set forth in this Article III , or (ii) with respect to the Retained Matters.

 

(b)                                  EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN ARTICLE III , SAMPSON AND ITS ASSETS ARE BEING CONTRIBUTED, THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS TO TRANSFEREE, “AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH ALL FAULTS” AND TRANSFEROR EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE CONDITION, VALUE OR QUALITY OF SAMPSON, ITS ASSETS, OR THE PROSPECTS (FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE), RISKS, AND OTHER INCIDENTS OF SAMPSON AND ITS ASSETS.  THE STATEMENTS AND DISCLAIMERS MADE UNDER THIS SECTION 3.18 EXPRESSLY SURVIVE THE CLOSING DATE.

 

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF TRANSFEREE

 

Transferee hereby represents and warrants to Transferor as follows:

 

Section 4.1                                     Organization .  Transferee is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 4.2                                     Authority; Enforceability .  Transferee has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Transferee and the performance of its obligations have been duly and validly approved by the Conflicts Committee and authorized by Transferee.  This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligations of Transferee, enforceable against Transferee in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought at law or in equity).

 

Section 4.3                                     No Conflicts; Consents and Approvals .  The execution and delivery by Transferee of this Agreement and the performance by Transferee of its obligations hereunder and the consummation by Transferee of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not: (a) violate or result in a breach of the Organizational Documents of Transferee, (b) violate or result in a breach or default under any material Contract to which Transferee is a party, except for any such violation or default which would not reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on Transferee’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (c) violate or result in a breach of any Law or order applicable to Transferee, except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on Transferee’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (d) require any Governmental Authorization, other than, (x) with respect to Governmental Authorization, any filings pursuant to the Exchange Act and listing of the New Common Units on The New York Stock Exchange and (y) in each case, any such consent or approval which, if not made or obtained, would not

 

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reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on Transferee’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 4.4                                     Delivery of Fairness Opinion .  The Financial Advisor has delivered an opinion to the Conflicts Committee that the Purchase Price is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Transferee and the holders of common units representing limited partner interests in the Transferee, other than the General Partner, Transferor and their respective Affiliates.

 

Section 4.5                                     Legal Proceedings .  There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Transferee, threatened against Transferee that (a) challenge the validity or enforceability of the obligations of Transferee under this Agreement or (b) seek to prevent or delay the consummation by Transferee of the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Section 4.6                                     Brokerage Arrangements .  Neither Transferee nor any of its Affiliates has entered, directly or indirectly, into any contract or arrangement with any Person that would obligate Transferor to pay any commission, brokerage or “finder’s fee” or other fee in connection with this Agreement, the other Contribution Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

Section 4.7                                     New Common Units The New Common Units being issued at Closing, when issued in consideration for the contribution by Transferor of the Contributed Interests as provided by this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required by Transferee’s Organizational Documents) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act) and free of any preemptive or similar rights (other than those set forth in Transferee’s Organizational Documents).

 

Section 4.8                                     SEC Documents .  Transferee has timely filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) all forms, registration statements, reports, schedules and statements required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act or Securities Act (all such documents filed on or prior to the Execution Date, collectively, the “ Transferee SEC Documents ”).  The Transferee SEC Documents, including any audited or unaudited financial statements and any notes thereto or schedules included therein (the Transferee Financial Statements ”), at the time filed (in the case of registration statements, solely on the date of effectiveness) (except to the extent corrected by a subsequently filed Transferee SEC Document filed prior to the Execution Date) (i) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (ii) complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be.  The Transferee Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) and fairly present (subject in the case of unaudited statements to normal, recurring and year-end audit adjustments) in all material respects the consolidated financial position and status of the business of Transferee as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended.  KPMG LLP is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to Transferee and has not resigned or been dismissed as

 

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independent registered public accountants of Transferee as a result of or in connection with any disagreement with Transferee on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures.

 

Section 4.9                                     Available Funds .  Transferee will have at Closing sufficient cash to enable it to make payment in immediately available funds of the Purchase Price when due and any other amounts to be paid by it hereunder.

 

Section 4.10                             Independent Investigation; Waiver of Other Representations. (a)                                TRANSFEREE HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) IT HAS MADE ITS OWN INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION, INVESTIGATION, ANALYSIS, AND EVALUATION OF THE BUSINESS, OPERATIONS, ASSETS, LIABILITIES, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, TECHNOLOGY, AND PROSPECTS OF SAMPSON; (ii) IT HAS BEEN PROVIDED OR GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS PERSONNEL, PROPERTIES, PREMISES, AND RECORDS OF SAMPSON, FOR SUCH PURPOSE AND HAS RECEIVED AND REVIEWED SUCH INFORMATION AND HAS HAD A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS OF AND RECEIVE ANSWERS RELATING TO SUCH MATTERS AS IT DEEMED NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE TO CONSUMMATE THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN; (iii) IT HAS SUCH KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS MATTERS THAT IT IS CAPABLE OF EVALUATING THE MERITS AND RISKS OF THE SAMPSON PLANT, AND AN INVESTMENT IN THE CONTRIBUTED INTERESTS AND (iv) TRANSFEROR MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY (A) IN ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES OR OTHERWISE, OTHER THAN THOSE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN ARTICLE III (SUBJECT TO SECTION 3.18 ), OR (B) WITH RESPECT TO THE RETAINED MATTERS.

 

(b)                                  TRANSFEREE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT, WITH RESPECT TO THE PROJECTIONS, ESTIMATES AND OTHER FORECASTS, AND CERTAIN BUDGETS AND BUSINESS PLAN INFORMATION PROVIDED TO TRANSFEREE, (i) THERE ARE UNCERTAINTIES INHERENT IN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE SUCH PROJECTIONS, ESTIMATES AND OTHER FORECASTS AND PLANS AND IT IS FAMILIAR WITH SUCH UNCERTAINTIES, AND (ii) EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, IT IS TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING ITS OWN EVALUATIONS OF THE ADEQUACY AND ACCURACY OF ALL PROJECTIONS, ESTIMATES AND OTHER FORECASTS, BUDGETS AND PLANS SO FURNISHED TO IT AND ANY USE OF OR RELIANCE BY IT ON SUCH PROJECTIONS, ESTIMATES AND OTHER FORECASTS, BUDGETS AND PLANS SHALL BE AT ITS SOLE RISK.

 

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

Section 5.1                                     Conduct of Business .  From the Execution Date through the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII and the Closing, except as permitted or required by the other terms of this Agreement, required by Law or by any Material Contract, related to the Retained Matters , or consented to or approved by Transferee in writing, which

 

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consent or approval will not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, Transferor (solely with respect to the Business) shall, and shall cause Sampson to, conduct its business in the ordinary course of business. Without limiting the foregoing, except with respect to the Retained Matters, without the written consent or approval of Transferee, which consent or approval will not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, or except as required by any Law or by any Material Contract, or otherwise permitted or required by the other terms of this Agreement, (x) Transferor shall not permit the amendment or termination of any Material Contract to which it is a party and (y) Transferor shall not permit Sampson to:

 

(a)                                  amend its Organizational Documents;

 

(b)                                  enter into any joint venture, strategic alliance, noncompetition or similar arrangement that affects Sampson or the Sampson Plant;

 

(c)                                   sell, assign, transfer, lease, or otherwise dispose of any material Assets of the Business other than in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)                                  abandon the Sampson Plant or liquidate, dissolve or otherwise wind up Sampson or the Business;

 

(e)                                   incur any Indebtedness for Borrowed Money that, at Closing, would become a liability of Sampson;

 

(f)                                    repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity interests from its equity holders or former equity holders;

 

(g)                                   issue, grant or sell any equity interests (or options, warrants or rights to acquire same) or any other securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for any of its equity interests;

 

(h)                                  permit amendment or termination of any Material Contract to which it is a party or permit the entry into any Contract that, if entered into prior to the Execution Date, would be considered a Material Contract;

 

(i)                                      make a loan or extend credit to any Person (other than extensions of credit to customers in the ordinary course of business);

 

(j)                                     commence or settle any material lawsuit or legal action to which Sampson is party or that otherwise affects the Business;

 

(k)                                  hire or engage any employees or individual service providers or adopt, maintain, contribute to, or incur any material liability (whether actual, contingent or otherwise) or obligation with respect to any Benefit Plan, in each case, other than obligations (i) to independent contractors who perform services for Sampson in the ordinary course of business or (ii) pursuant to the Management Services Agreement;

 

(l)                                      mortgage, pledge or subject to any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) any of its material Assets or properties;

 

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(m)                              acquire by merger, consolidation or otherwise any material Assets or business of any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof;

 

(n)                                  change in any material respect its accounting practices or principles except as required by GAAP;

 

(o)                                  take any action or steps that could result in Sampson being treated as any type of entity other than a disregarded entity or partnership for Tax purposes, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state or local Tax Law) through the Closing Date; or

 

(p)                                  agree to do any of the foregoing.

 

Section 5.2                                     Commercially Reasonable Efforts .

 

(a)                                  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of Transferee and Transferor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or desirable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to ensure the satisfaction of its conditions to Closing set forth herein.

 

(b)                                  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each of Transferee and Transferor agrees to make an appropriate filing (if required by applicable Law) of a Notification and Report Form pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable and in any event within five Business Days after the date of this Agreement (unless a later date is mutually agreed to by the Parties) and to supply as promptly as practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be requested by any Governmental Authority pursuant to the HSR Act and use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all other actions consistent with this  Section 5.2 necessary to cause the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act as promptly as practicable; provided , however , that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, nothing in this Section 5.2 shall require, or be construed to require, any Party to sell or otherwise dispose of, hold separate (through the establishment of a trust or otherwise), divest itself of or limit the ownership of all or any portion of their respective businesses, assets or operations.

 

Section 5.3                                     Access .

 

(a)                                  From the Execution Date through the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII and the Closing, Transferor shall, and shall cause Sampson to afford Transferee and its authorized Representatives reasonable access, during normal business hours and in such manner as not unreasonably to interfere with normal operation of the Business, to the properties, books, Contracts, records and appropriate officers and employees who currently provide services to the Sampson Plant, and shall furnish such authorized Representatives with all financial and operating data and other information concerning the Sampson Plant as Transferee and such Representatives may reasonably request.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Transferee shall have no right of access to, and Transferor and Sampson shall not have any obligation to provide to Transferee, information relating to (i) any proprietary data which relates to another

 

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business or asset of Transferor and is not primarily used in connection with the ownership, use or operation of the Business, (ii) any information subject to contractual confidentiality obligations or any privilege (including attorney-client privilege), (iii) any information the disclosure of which would result in a violation of Law or (iv) any information related to Transferor’s negotiation or preparation of this Agreement or the other Contribution Documents or the sale process related thereto.

 

(b)                                  Transferee agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Transferor, Sampson and their respective Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives, from and against any and all Damages incurred by any such Person arising out of the access rights under Section 5.3(a) , including in respect of any claims against Transferor or its Affiliates by any Representatives of Transferee for any injuries or property damage sustained while present at the Sampson Plant or on any real property owned or leased by Sampson.

 

Section 5.4                                     Tax Matters .

 

(a)                                  To the extent that Transfer Taxes may be due and payable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such Transfer Taxes shall be borne equally by Transferor and Transferee.

 

(b)                                  In the case of any taxable period that includes, but does not end on, the Closing Date (a “Straddle Period” ), the amount of any property or ad valorem Taxes based on Sampson’s property for such Straddle Period shall be deemed to be the amount of such Tax for such entire Straddle Period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days in the taxable period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which shall be the total number of days in such Straddle Period and the amount of any other Taxes of Sampson for a Straddle Period that relate to the portion of the taxable period through the end of the Closing Date shall be determined based on an interim closing of the books as of the close of business on the Closing Date.

 

(c)                                   Transferor shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) and file (or cause to be filed) all Tax Returns for Sampson for all periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date that are filed after the Closing Date.  Transferor shall timely pay or cause to be paid all Taxes shown as due on such Tax Returns.  Transferee shall prepare all Straddle Period Tax Returns and shall timely pay or cause to be paid all Taxes shown as due on such Tax Returns, but Transferor shall promptly reimburse Transferee for any amounts paid by Transferee that are attributable to the Pre-Closing Tax Period.  To the extent required or permitted by applicable Law, Transferor and Transferee shall each include any income, gain, loss, deduction or other Tax items for such periods on its Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the manner in which Transferor included such items for such periods.

 

(d)                                  If any Governmental Entity issues to any of Transferor, Transferor’s Affiliates, Transferee or Transferee’s Affiliates a notice of deficiency or any other type of proposed adjustment of Taxes of Sampson or with respect to Sampson’s operations or Assets that could give rise to a claim for indemnification under Section 7.2(a)  (a “Tax Contest” ), the party receiving such notice shall notify the other within 15 Business Days of receipt of the notice of deficiency or other proposed adjustment, provided that failure to give such notification shall not

 

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affect the indemnification provided pursuant to Section 7.2(a)  except to the extent Transferee shall have been materially prejudiced as a result of such failure.  Provided that Transferor notifies Transferee of its intent to control such Tax Contest within 15 Business Days after receipt of notification from Transferee or delivery of notification to Transferor as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, Transferor will have the right, at its expense, to control the defense of such Tax Contest.  With respect to any Tax Contest for which Transferor exercises its right to control, Transferor shall (i) notify Transferee of significant developments with respect to such Tax Contest and keep Transferee reasonably informed and consult with Transferee as to the resolution of any issue that would materially affect Transferee and (ii) give Transferee a copy of any Tax adjustment proposed in writing with respect to such Tax Contest and copies of any other written correspondence with the relevant Governmental Entity relating to such Tax Contest.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions in this Section 5.4(d)  shall apply to any Tax Contest and the procedures in Section 7.3 shall not be applicable to a Tax Contest.

 

Section 5.5                                     Updating .  From time to time until the Closing, Transferor may at its option supplement or amend and deliver written updates to (or add Schedules to) the Disclosure Schedules as necessary to disclose any events or developments that occur or information that is learned between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date.  Transferor shall be considered in material breach of this Agreement for purposes of Section 8.1(c)  if the event, action, development or occurrence which is the subject of the supplement, amendment or update (a) constitutes a material breach by Transferor of any provision of this Agreement or (b) has a Material Adverse Effect, provided , however , that in the case of subclauses (a)  or (b) , in the event Transferee provides notice of termination for a material breach of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(c)  as a result of any supplement, amendment or update, Transferor shall have a period of 30 days following written notice from Transferee to cure any breach of this Agreement if the breach is curable; provided , further , that, if Transferee does not elect to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(c)  as a result thereof, any such update made pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall be considered for purposes of determining whether the condition in Section 6.2(b)  has been satisfied, but shall be disregarded for purposes of (x) determining whether the condition in Section 6.2(c)  has been satisfied and (y)  Article VII .

 

Section 5.6                                     New Common Units Listed Transferee will use its commercially reasonable efforts to list, prior to the Closing, or, in any event, as soon as practicable following the Closing, on The New York Stock Exchange, upon official notice of issuance, the New Common Units.

 

Section 5.7                                     Norden Shipping Contract .  Transferor will use its commercially reasonable efforts to assign to Enviva, LP on or prior to the Closing all of its rights, and associated obligations, to the use of two ships under the Norden Shipping Contract, on all the same terms and conditions to which Transferor is subject thereunder (the “ Norden Partial Assignment ”). If the Norden Partial Assignment is not entered into on or prior to the Closing, (a) Transferor and Transferee shall (and Transferee shall cause Enviva, LP to) cooperate in good faith and use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such assignment as promptly as practicable thereafter, (b) the covenants set forth in Section 5.1(h)  will continue to apply with respect to the Norden Shipping Contract until the completion of the Norden Partial Assignment and (c) with the intent to put Transferor and Enviva, LP in substantially the same position as if

 

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the Norden Partial Assignment had occurred from Transferor to Enviva, LP at Closing, Transferor shall (i) continue to be bound by, and operate in the ordinary course with respect to, the Norden Shipping Contract pursuant to, and in accordance with, its terms pending the Norden Partial Assignment, (ii) at the direction and expense of Enviva, LP, pay, perform and discharge fully all of its obligations in respect of the use of two ships under the Norden Shipping Contract after the Closing and prior to the Norden Partial Assignment (the “ Norden Outstanding Obligations ”), (iii) without further consideration therefor, pay, assign and remit to Enviva, LP promptly all monies, rights and other consideration received in respect of the use of two ships under the Norden Shipping Contract and (iv) exercise or exploit its rights and options under the Norden Shipping Contract with respect to the use of two ships thereunder, when and as directed by Enviva, LP.  Until the earlier of the date that the Norden Outstanding Obligations are fully performed or the Norden Partial Assignment is entered into, Transferee shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse Transferor Indemnitees for any Damages incurred by any of them in connection with the performance of the Norden Outstanding Obligations (including any liabilities or actions arising from or related to such Norden Outstanding Obligations); provided , however , that Transferor Indemnitees shall not be entitled to indemnification or reimbursement in respect of any Damages incurred as a result of fraud, negligence or intentional, criminal, or willful misrepresentation or misconduct on the part of any Transferor Indemnitees. If and when the Norden Partial Assignment shall be obtained, Transferor shall, and Transferee shall cause Enviva, LP to, enter into any agreements and instruments and take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the Norden Partial Assignment without payment of further consideration.

 

Section 5.8                                     Retained Matters .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Transferor shall retain, be entitled to all benefits associated with, and have the right to control, the Retained Matters. If, following Closing, Transferee or Sampson receives any proceeds or recoveries in connection with the Retained Matters, then Transferee shall, and shall cause Sampson to, promptly pay to Transferor all such proceeds and recoveries. Further, from and after Closing, to the extent commercially reasonable, Transferee shall, and shall cause Sampson to, not take any action with the intent to impair the benefits of, or be detrimental to Transferor, Transferor’s Affiliates or Sampson (solely to the extent relating to the Retained Matters) in the advancement or defense of the Retained Matters.

 

(b)                                  Prior to or at the Closing, Transferor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to assign, transfer or otherwise convey the Retained Matters (to the extent assignable or transferable to Transferor in accordance with the terms thereof or under applicable Law) to one or more designees. To the extent such full assignment, transfer or conveyance has not been made or obtained prior to or at the Closing, Transferee agrees that, from and after the Closing, if requested by Transferor, it shall and shall cause Sampson to, enter into an assignment agreement or similar conveyance document to transfer the Retained Matters from Sampson to Transferor or its designee.

 

(c)                                   From and after Closing with respect to the Retained Matters, Transferee shall, and shall cause Sampson to, use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with Transferor and its Affiliates by (i) providing Transferor and Transferor’s Representatives with reasonable access, upon reasonable prior notice and during normal business hours to Sampson, the Sampson Plant

 

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and Sampson’s Assets (including access to and the ability, at Transferor’s sole expense, to make copies of the records, correspondence, emails and other information relating to Sampson in connection with or related to the Retained Matters) for purposes of advancing or defending the Retained Matters, and/or producing information as part of discovery or equivalent procedures with respect to the Retained Matters to the extent that such access does not unreasonably interfere with the business of Transferee, Sampson or their respective Affiliates or the safe commercial operations of the Sampson Plant or any Assets of Sampson, and (ii) if requested by Transferor, entering into any settlement agreement with the counterparties to the Retained Matters; provided , however , that no such settlement shall be entered into without the consent of Transferee unless it includes a full unconditional release of Transferee and its subsidiaries, including Sampson, from all liability with respect to the related claim and does not contain any admission of wrongdoing or illegal conduct; and, provided , further , that no such settlement containing any form of injunctive or similar relief shall be entered into without the prior written consent of Transferee, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld. Each of Transferor and Transferee agrees that, if requested by the other, it shall enter into a mutually agreed joint defense agreement.  Transferee shall also make available or cause Sampson to make available to Transferor and Transferor’s Representatives (upon reasonable prior notice and request by or on behalf of Transferor or Transferor’s Affiliates) personnel of Transferee or Sampson for purposes of advancing or defending its position in the Retained Matters or serving as a witness or witnesses in any hearing, action or proceeding relating to the Retained Matters; provided , however , that Transferee shall have the right to have a Representative present for any communication with employees or officers of Transferee, Sampson or their respective Affiliates. Transferor shall reimburse Transferee or Sampson, as applicable, at agreed hearing rates for the provision of witness services.

 

(d)                                  From and after Closing, Transferor agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Transferee, Sampson and their respective Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives, from and against any and all Damages incurred by any such Person arising out of the access rights under Section 5.8(c) , including in respect of any claims against Transferee or its Affiliates by any Representatives of Transferor for any injuries or property damage sustained while present at the Sampson Plant.

 

Section 5.9                                     Payment of Closing Date Punch List Items .  No later than five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Transferor will prepare and deliver to Transferee a list of all Punch List Items and the approximate costs and expenses necessary to complete or correct each such Punch List Item that has not been completed or corrected prior to such date. Upon its receipt of such list (the “ Closing Date Punch List Items ”), Transferee will review and direct Transferor to make any appropriate or necessary revisions to the same, after which Transferee and Transferor will consult in good faith to agree upon the Closing Date Punch List Items. Following the Closing, Transferor shall promptly reimburse Transferee and its Affiliates (including Sampson) for all reasonable amounts paid by Transferee or its Affiliates (including Sampson) that are necessary to complete the Closing Date Punch List Items within 30 days after Transferee provides written notice and satisfactory documentation to Transferor of the amount and nature of any such costs or expenses.

 

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ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

Section 6.1                                     Mutual Closing Conditions .  The respective obligation of each Party to proceed with the Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by each of the Parties (subject to applicable Laws) on or prior to the Closing Date of all of the following conditions:

 

(a)                                  All necessary filings with and consents of any Governmental Entity required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Contribution Documents shall have been made and obtained, as applicable, and any waiting periods applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby under the HSR Act and any extensions thereof shall have expired or been terminated; provided , however , that, prior to invoking this condition, the invoking party shall have used commercially reasonable efforts to make or obtain such filings and consents.

 

(b)                                  (i) No effective injunction, writ or preliminary restraining order or any order of any nature is issued and outstanding by a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) there shall not be any action or proceeding before any Governmental Entity with respect to which an unfavorable judgment, order, decree or ruling would prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or declare the consummation of the transactions unlawful or require the consummation of the transactions to be rescinded.

 

Section 6.2                                     Transferee’s Closing Conditions .  Transferee’s obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction (or to the extent permitted by applicable Laws, waiver by Transferee), at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)                                  Transferor shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all the covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b)                                  The representations and warranties (other than the Fundamental Representations of Transferor) made by Transferor in Article III (without giving effect to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifiers contained therein, except in the case of the term Material Contract) shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than those representations and warranties that speak to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.  The Fundamental Representations made by Transferor in Article III shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than those representations and warranties that speak to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date).  For purposes of determining whether the condition in this Section 6.2(b)  has been satisfied, any breach of a representation or warranty arising from any Person’s compliance with the express terms of this Agreement shall be disregarded.

 

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(c)                                   Since the Execution Date, there shall have been no event, change, occurrence, development or set of circumstances or facts that, individually or in the aggregate, have had a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)                                  Transferor shall have delivered or caused the delivery of the Closing deliverables set forth in Section 2.4(a) .

 

Section 6.3                                     Transferor’s Closing Conditions .  The obligation of Transferor to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction (or to the extent permitted by applicable Laws, waiver by Transferor), at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)                                  Transferee shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all the covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b)                                  The representations and warranties in Article IV shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date as if remade thereon (except in each case to the extent such representations and warranties speak to an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date).  For purposes of determining whether the condition in this Section 6.3(b)  has been satisfied, any breach of a representation or warranty arising from any Person’s compliance with the express terms of this Agreement shall be disregarded.

 

(c)                                   Transferee shall have delivered or caused the delivery of the Closing deliverables set forth in Section 2.4(b) .

 

ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 7.1                                     Survival .  The representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive for a period of nine months following the Closing, except that:

 

(a)                                  the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.11 (Taxes) shall survive until 30 days following the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations; and

 

(b)                                  the representations, and warranties contained in Section 3.1 (Organization), Section 3.2 (Authority; Enforceability), Section 3.3 (Title to Contributed Interests), Section 3.6 (Ownership), Section 3.12 (Investment Representation), Section 3.17 (Brokerage Arrangements), Section 4.1 (Organization), Section 4.2 (Authority; Enforceability), Section 4.6 (Brokerage Arrangements) and Section 4.7 (New Common Units) (the “Fundamental Representations” ) shall survive indefinitely or until the latest date permitted by Law.

 

Upon the expiration of any representation and warranty pursuant to this Section 7.1 , unless written notice of a claim based on such representation and warranty shall have been delivered to the Indemnifying Party prior to such expiration, no claim may be brought based on the breach of such representation and warranty.  The covenants made in this Agreement shall

 

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survive the Closing and remain operative and in full force and effect indefinitely or until the latest date permitted by Law.

 

Section 7.2                                     Indemnification .  From and after the Closing, and subject to this Article VII :

 

(a)                                  Transferor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Transferee, its Affiliates, and its and their respective officers, directors, managers, employees, counsel, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Transferee Indemnitees” ), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, from and against any and all Damages incurred or suffered by any Transferee Indemnitee to the extent caused by, resulting from, arising out of, or relating to (i) the breach of any of the representations, warranties, or covenants of Transferor contained herein, provided that such claim for indemnification relating to a breach of a representation or warranty is made prior to the expiration of the survival of such representation or warranty as set forth in Section 7.1 and (ii) the Retained Matters.

 

(b)                                  Transferee shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Transferor, its Affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, managers, employees, counsel, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Transferor Indemnitees” ), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, from and against all Damages incurred by or suffered by any Transferor Indemnitee arising out of or relating to (x) the breach of any of the representations, warranties or covenants of Transferee contained herein, provided that such claim for indemnification relating to a breach of a representation or warranty is made prior to the expiration of the survival of such representation or warranty as set forth in Section 7.1 or (y) any demand, assertion, claim, action or proceeding, judicial or otherwise, by any third party against any Transferor Indemnitee that pertains to the business or operations of Sampson and the Sampson Plant or the ownership of the Contributed Interests, except to the extent of any matters for which Transferor is obligated to indemnify any Transferee Indemnitee under Section 7.2(a) .

 

Section 7.3                                     Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings .

 

(a)                                  If any Legal Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Transferee Indemnitee or Transferor Indemnitee and such Person is entitled to indemnity hereunder (the “Indemnified Party” ), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party” ) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of one counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided , that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

 

(b)                                  An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Legal Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless:  (i) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Legal Proceeding; or (ii) the named

 

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parties to any such Legal Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party.  The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Legal Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Legal Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Legal Proceeding and does not contain any admission of wrongdoing or illegal conduct.

 

(c)                                   All reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party that are Damages for which the Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification hereunder (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Legal Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Agreement) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Business Days after written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party; provided , that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification for such fees and expenses hereunder.

 

Section 7.4                                     Limitations .

 

(a)                                  Neither Transferor nor Transferee shall be required to indemnify any Indemnified Party for any Damages for any breach of a representation or warranty under Section 7.2(a)(i)  unless and until the total of all of the Damages properly asserted against such Indemnifying Party under Section 7.2(a)(i)  exceeds 1% of the Purchase Price, at which time the applicable Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to recover the aggregate amount of all Damages in excess of such threshold; provided , however , that the aggregate liability of Transferee, on the one hand, and Transferor, on the other hand, for indemnity for breach of a representation or warranty under Section 7.2(a)(i)  under this Article VII shall not exceed 10% of the Purchase Price.  Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, the limitations contemplated by this Section 7.4(a)  shall not apply to any claims pursuant to Section 7.2(a)(i)  for breach of covenant, Section 7.2(a)(ii) , Section 7.2(b) , for fraud or intentional, criminal, or willful misrepresentation or misconduct or for Damages arising out of or relating to the breach of any Fundamental Representation or representation or warranty of Transferor set forth in Section 3.11 ; provided , however , that the aggregate liability of Transferee, on the one hand, and Transferor, on the other hand, for Damages arising out of or relating to the breach of the Fundamental Representations or Section 7.2(b)  shall not exceed the Purchase Price.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of determining the amount of Damages, with respect to any asserted claim for indemnification by a Transferee Indemnitee, such determination shall be made without regard to any qualifier as to “material,” “materiality” or Material Adverse Effect expressly contained in Article III (except in the case of the term Material Contract); provided that this Section 7.4(b)  shall not so modify the representations and warranties for purposes of first determining whether a breach of any representation or warranty has occurred.

 

(c)                                   NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT NEITHER TRANSFEROR NOR

 

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TRANSFEREE SHALL HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY PARTY FOR ANY EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, REMOTE, OR SPECULATIVE DAMAGES, SAVE AND EXCEPT SUCH DAMAGES PAYABLE WITH RESPECT TO THIRD PARTY CLAIMS FOR WHICH SUCH INDEMNIFYING PARTY IS OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE INDEMNIFICATION UNDER Section 7.2 .

 

Section 7.5                                     Exclusive Remedy .  The indemnities in Section 7.2 , Section 5.8(d) , and Section 5.7 shall survive Closing.  The indemnities provided in Section 7.2, Section 5.8(d) , and Section 5.7 and the provisions of Section 9.11 shall, from and after Closing, be the sole and exclusive remedy of Transferee and Transferor against one another and their respective Representatives relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that no limitations set forth in this Article VII shall apply to any claim for Damages arising from actual fraud, willful misconduct, criminal acts or knowing and intentional breach of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION RIGHTS

 

Section 8.1                                     Termination Rights .  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

(a)                                  by mutual written consent of the Parties;

 

(b)                                  by either Party in writing if the Closing has not occurred on or before January 31, 2017, provided the Party seeking to terminate is not in material default or breach of this Agreement;

 

(c)                                   by either Party in writing without prejudice to other rights and remedies the terminating Party or its Affiliates (other than the non-terminating Party and its wholly owned subsidiaries) may have ( provided the terminating Party and its Affiliates (other than the non-terminating Party and its wholly owned subsidiaries) are not otherwise in material default or breach of this Agreement, or have not failed or refused to close without justification hereunder), if the other Party or its Affiliates (other than the terminating Party and its wholly owned subsidiaries) shall have (i) failed to perform in any material respect its covenants or agreements contained herein required to be performed by such Party or its Affiliates (other than the non-terminating Party and its wholly owned subsidiaries) on or prior to the Closing or (ii) breached in any material respect any of its representations or warranties contained herein; provided , however , that in the case of subclauses (i) or (ii), the breaching Party shall have a period of 30 days following written notice from the non-breaching Party to cure any breach of this Agreement if the breach is curable; or

 

(d)                                  by either Party in writing, without liability, if there shall be any action or proceeding before any Governmental Entity with respect to which an unfavorable judgment, order, decree or ruling would reasonably be expected to prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or declare the consummation of the transactions unlawful or require the consummation of the transactions to be rescinded.

 

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Section 8.2                                     Effect of Termination .  In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 , all obligations of the Parties hereto shall terminate, except for the provisions of this Section 8.2 , Section 3.17 , Section 3.18 , Section 4.6 , Section 5.3(b) , Section 5.8(d) , Section 7.4(c)  and Article IX and the Parties shall have no liability to each other under or relating to this Agreement except as provided in such provisions; provided , however , that nothing herein shall prejudice the ability of the non-breaching Party from seeking damages from the other Party for any fraud, willful misconduct, criminal acts or knowing and intentional breach of this Agreement prior to termination.

 

ARTICLE IX
GENERAL

 

Section 9.1                                     Entire Agreement; Successors and Assigns .

 

(a)                                  Except for the other Contribution Documents, this Agreement supersedes all prior oral discussions and written agreements among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement (except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference herein).  This Agreement contains the sole and entire agreement among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

(b)                                  All of the terms, covenants, representations, warranties and conditions of this Agreement will be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

(c)                                   Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assignable by either Party without the prior written consent of the other Party; provided , however , that Transferee may assign its rights, interests or obligations hereunder to a wholly owned subsidiary of Transferee without the prior written consent of Transferor; provided , further , that no such assignment by Transferee shall relieve Transferee of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

Section 9.2                                     Amendments and Waivers .  All amendments to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by the Parties.  A Party may, only by an instrument in writing, waive compliance by the other Party with any term or provision of this Agreement.  The waiver by any Party of a breach of any term or provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure to exercise, delay in exercising, or single or partial exercise of any right, power, or remedy by a Party, and no course of dealing between the Parties, shall constitute a waiver of any such right, power, or remedy.

 

Section 9.3                                     Notices .  Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, consents, approvals, demands, and other communications to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed given upon (a) confirmed delivery by a reputable overnight carrier or when delivered by hand, addressed to the respective Parties listed below at the following addresses (or such other address for a Party hereto as will be specified by like notice); (b) actual receipt; (c) the expiration of four Business Days after the day when mailed by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), addressed to the respective Parties listed below at the following

 

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addresses (or such other address for a Party hereto as will be specified by like notice); (d) delivery by facsimile, with receipt confirmed, to a Party, at the facsimile number set forth below (or at such other facsimile number as such Party shall designate by like notice), or (e) delivery by electronic mail to a Party at the electronic mail address set forth below (or at such other address as such Party shall designate by like notice); provided , however , that in the case of any notice delivered by electronic mail, the notifying Party shall send notice by facsimile, hand, courier, or overnight delivery service not later than the following Business Day:

 

If to Transferor, addressed to:

 

Enviva Wilmington Holdings, LLC

c/o Enviva Development Holdings, LLC (as Managing Member)

7200 Wisconsin Avenue

Suite 1000

Bethesda, MD  20814

Attn: General Counsel

Facsimile No.: (240) 482-3774

Email: william.schmidt@envivabiomass.com

 

with a copy to, which shall not constitute notice:

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, New York 10103

Attn:  Caroline Blitzer Phillips; Shaun J. Mathew

Facsimile No.: (917) 849-5317

Email: cphillips@velaw.com; smathew@velaw.com

 

If to Transferee, addressed to:

 

Enviva Partners, LP

c/o Enviva Partners GP, LLC (as General Partner)

7200 Wisconsin Avenue

Suite 1000

Bethesda, MD  20814

Attn: Chair, Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors

Facsimile No.:  (918) 747-2150

Email: JohnB@bostonavenue.com

 

with a copy to, which shall not constitute notice:

 

Andrews Kurth LLP

1350 I St NW #1100E

Washington, DC 20005

Attn: William Cooper

Facsimile No.: (202) 974-9537

Email: bcooper@andrewskurth.com

 

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Section 9.4                                     Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware without reference to the choice of Law principles thereof.

 

Section 9.5                                     Dispute Resolution; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a)                                  Each of the Parties (i) consents to submit itself to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of any U.S. federal court located in the State of Delaware or any Delaware state court with respect to any suit relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to defeat or deny such personal jurisdiction or venue by motion or otherwise, (iii) agrees that it will not bring any such suit in any court other than a U.S. federal or state court sitting in the State of Delaware, (iv) irrevocably agrees that any such suit (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) shall be heard and determined exclusively in such U.S. federal or state court sitting in the State of Delaware, (v) agrees to service of process in any such action in any manner prescribed by the Laws of the State of Delaware, and (vi) agrees that service of process upon such Party in any action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 9.3 .

 

(b)                                  EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH CONTROVERSY THAT MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

 

Section 9.6                                     Disclosure Schedules .  The inclusion of any information (including dollar amounts) in any of the Schedules delivered by Transferor pursuant to this Agreement (collectively, the “Disclosure Schedules” ) shall not be deemed to be an admission or acknowledgment by any Party that such information is required to be listed on such section of the relevant Disclosure Schedules or is material to or within or outside the ordinary course of business of such Party.  The information contained in this Agreement, the Exhibits hereto and the Disclosure Schedules is disclosed solely for purposes of this Agreement, and no information contained herein or therein shall be deemed to be an admission by any Party hereto to any third party of any matter whatsoever (including any violation of any Law or breach of contract).  The listing (or inclusion of a copy) of a document or other item under one Disclosure Schedule to a representation or warranty made herein shall be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to a separate representation or warranty made herein if it is reasonably clear that such document or other item applies to such other representation or warranty made herein.  For the avoidance of doubt, all information contained in the Disclosure Schedules is subject to Section 3.18 and Section 4.10 .  Unless the context otherwise requires, all capitalized terms used in the Disclosure Schedules shall have the respective meanings assigned in this Agreement.

 

Section 9.7                                     Severability .  In the event any of the provisions hereof are held to be invalid or unenforceable under applicable Laws, the remaining provisions hereof will not be affected thereby.  In such event, the Parties hereto agree and consent that such provisions and

 

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this Agreement will be modified and reformed so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible with respect to those provisions which were held to be invalid or unenforceable.

 

Section 9.8                                     Transaction Costs and Expenses .  Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, the Parties will bear all of their own costs, fees, and expenses, if any, incurred by or on their behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Transferor and Transferee shall each be responsible for 50% of any filing fees under the HSR Act.

 

Section 9.9                                     Rights of Third Parties .  Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any Person, other than the Parties, any right or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement; provided , however , that each of the Transferor Indemnitees and Transferee Indemnitees is an express, intended third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.10                              Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed by facsimile or electronic mail exchange of .pdf signature pages and in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each Party hereto and delivered (including by facsimile or electronic mail exchange of .pdf signature pages) to the other Parties hereto.

 

Section 9.11                              Specific Performance .  The Parties agree that if any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached, irreparable damage would occur and money damages may not be a sufficient remedy.  In addition to any other remedy at law or in equity, each of Transferor and Transferee shall be entitled to specific performance by the other Party of its obligations under this Agreement and immediate injunctive relief, without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy.

 

Section 9.12                              Publicity .  All press releases or other public communications of any nature whatsoever relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the method of the release for publication thereof, shall be subject to the prior consent of each Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by any Party; provided , however , that nothing herein shall prevent a Party from publishing such press releases or other public communications as such Party may consider necessary in order to satisfy such Party’s obligations at Law or under the rules of any stock or commodities exchange or the Securities and Exchange Commission after consultation with the other Party as is reasonable under the circumstances.

 

Section 9.13                              Further Assurances .  The Parties agree that, from time to time after the Closing Date, and without any further consideration, each of them will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further agreements and instruments and take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions, purposes, and intents of the Contribution Documents.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Transferor and Transferee shall from time to time after the Closing, execute, deliver, acknowledge, file and record, or cause to be executed, delivered, acknowledged, filed and recorded, such further instruments of sale, conveyance, transfer, assignment or delivery and such further consents, certifications, affidavits

 

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and assurances as Transferor or Transferee may reasonably request in order to vest in Transferee or its designees and their respective successors and assigns all right, title and interest in the Contributed Interests and the Business, or otherwise to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Documents upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.  The Parties will coordinate and cooperate with each other in exchanging such information and assistance as any of the Parties may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing.

 

Section 9.14                              Action by Transferee .  With respect to any amendment or waiver under this Agreement that may be undertaken by Transferee that the Board of Directors of the General Partner determines would give rise to a conflict of interest, such amendment or waiver may be undertaken only by the Conflicts Committee on behalf of Transferee.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

TRANSFEROR :

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA WILMINGTON HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Enviva Development Holdings, LLC,

 

 

 

as its managing member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William H. Schmidt, Jr.

 

 

Name: William H. Schmidt, Jr.

 

 

Title: President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRANSFEREE :

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Enviva Partners GP, LLC,

 

 

 

as its sole general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name: Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

DEFINITIONS

 

“Affiliate” means with respect to an entity, any other entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with such entity.  As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of an entity, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, for the purposes of this Agreement, (a) (i) prior to the Closing, Sampson shall be considered to be an Affiliate of Transferor and not an Affiliate of Transferee and (ii) on and after the Closing, Sampson shall be considered to be an Affiliate of Transferee and not an Affiliate of Transferor; and (b) other than with respect to Sampson, none of Transferee and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Transferor and its subsidiaries (excluding Transferee and its subsidiaries), on the other hand, shall be considered to be Affiliates with respect to each other.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Assets” of any Person means all assets and properties of every kind, nature, character and description (whether real, personal or mixed, whether tangible or intangible and wherever situated), including the related goodwill, which assets and properties are operated, owned or leased by such Person.

 

“Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13 .

 

“Business” means the production and sale of industrial wood pellets by Sampson at or from the Sampson Plant, the performance of Sampson under the Material Contracts, and the conduct of other activities by Sampson incidental to the foregoing.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in New York City are authorized or required by Law to be closed.

 

“Cash Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

 

“Claim Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3 .

 

“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 .

 

“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 .

 

“Closing Date Punch List Items ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9 .

 

“Closing Net Working Capital” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b) .

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any amending or superseding tax Laws of the United States of America.

 

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Community Economic Development Agreement ” means that certain Community Economic Development Agreement by and among Sampson, Enviva Holdings, LP, Enviva Management Company, LLC, Enviva Pellets Hamlet LLC, North Carolina Economic Investment Committee, and the Attorney General of North Carolina, effective as of September 9, 2014, Grant No. 2014-01.

 

“Conflicts Committee” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Construction Contracts” means document Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9 in Schedule 3.10(a) , together with all other Material Contracts relating to construction, construction services or equipment supply.

 

“Contract” means any agreement, purchase order, commitment, evidence of indebtedness, mortgage, indenture, security agreement or other contract, entered into by a Person or by which a Person or any of its Assets are bound.

 

“Contributed Interests” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Contribution Documents” means this Agreement, the Interest Conveyance, and each of the other documents and instruments to be delivered hereunder.

 

“Damages” means any and all debts, losses, liabilities, duties, claims, damages, obligations, payments (including those arising out of any demand, assessment, settlement, judgment, or compromise relating to any actual or threatened Legal Proceeding), costs, and reasonable expenses, including any reasonable attorneys’ fees and any and all reasonable expenses whatsoever and howsoever incurred in investigating, preparing, or defending any Legal Proceeding, in all cases, whether matured or unmatured, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, known or unknown.  For the avoidance of doubt, Damages includes both inter-party Damages ( i.e. , between the Parties) and third-party Damages.

 

“Disclosure Schedules” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.6 .

 

“Dong” means DONG Energy Thermal Power A/S.

 

“Dong Contract” means that certain CIF Contract for Purchase of Wood Pellet Biomass, dated as of March 6, 2014, by and between DONG and Enviva Holdings, LP, as assigned from Enviva Holdings, LP to Transferor pursuant to that certain Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated as of November 24, 2014 and as further assigned from Transferor to Sampson pursuant to that certain Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated as of August 23, 2016, as may be amended from time to time.

 

“Dong Contract Assignment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a)(iii) .

 

“Dong Letter Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a)(iv) .

 

“Environmental Law” means all Laws relating to (a) pollution or protection of human health, the environment or natural resources; (b) any Release or threatened Release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Substances; (c) greenhouse gas emissions; or (d) the generation,

 

A- 2



 

manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, arrangement for disposal or transport, handling or Release of any Hazardous Substances. Without limiting the foregoing, “Environmental Laws” include, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq , the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq , the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq , the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq , the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq , the Endangered Species Act, § 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq , the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq , the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. Sections 651 et seq , the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq and other environmental conservation and protection Laws, each as amended through the Closing Date.

 

“Enviva, LP” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Estimated Cash Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a) .

 

“Estimated Closing Net Working Capital” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b) .

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

“Execution Date” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Financial Advisor” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“FIRPTA Certificate” means a certificate, issued pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2(b) and signed and properly executed by Transferor, stating that Transferor is neither a disregarded entity nor a foreign person within the meaning of Code Section 1445.

 

Fully Diluted Basis ” means, at Closing, all issued and outstanding Transferee Units after giving effect to (a) the conversion of all outstanding equity interests of Transferee that are convertible into limited partner interests (excluding incentive distribution rights, but including all subordinated units), (b) the issuance of the New Common Units to Hancock, and (c) any issuance of Transferee Units to Enviva Holdings, LP or any of its Affiliates (excluding Transferor and its subsidiaries) or to third parties to finance, or for any other purpose in connection with, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

“Fundamental Representations” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b) .

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or its predecessors or successors, as of the date of the statement or item to which such term refers.

 

“General Partner” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Governmental Authorization” means any franchise, permit, license, authorization, order, certificate, registration, plan, exemption, variance, decree, agreement, right or other consent or approval granted by, or subject to approval by, any Governmental Entity.

 

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“Governmental Entity” means any court, governmental department, commission, council, board, agency, bureau or other instrumentality of the United States of America, any foreign jurisdiction, or any state, provincial, county, municipality or local governmental unit thereof, including any Taxing Authority.

 

“Hancock ” means Hancock Natural Resource Group, Inc. or its designee.

 

Hancock Group ” means Hancock Natural Resource Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), a Michigan corporation, and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, a New York corporation, collectively, and any Affiliate of Hancock Group or any other Person who becomes a member of Transferor pursuant to a transfer of all or any portion of Hancock Group’s units in Transferor, in each case, so long as such Person is a member of Transferor.

 

Hancock Threshold ” means the number of Transferee Units held by Hancock Group on a Fully Diluted Basis is greater than or equal to 5%.

 

“Hazardous Substance” means (i) any substance that is designated, defined or classified as a hazardous waste, solid waste, hazardous material, pollutant, contaminant or toxic or hazardous substance, or terms of similar meaning, or that is otherwise regulated by, or as to which liability may attach under any Environmental Law, including, without limitation, any hazardous substance as such term is defined under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended through the Closing Date, (ii) radioactive materials, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde insulation, toxic mold or radon and (iii) oil as defined in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended through the Closing Date, including oil, gasoline, fuel oil, motor oil, waste oil, diesel fuel, jet fuel, other refined petroleum hydrocarbon and petroleum products.

 

“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

 

“Indebtedness for Borrowed Money” means with respect to any Person, at any date, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money (including intercompany obligations), including all principal, interest, premiums, fees, expenses, overdrafts and penalties with respect thereto, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid under a letter of credit or similar instrument, and (d) all indebtedness of any other Person of the type referred to in clauses (a) to (d) above directly or indirectly guaranteed by such Person or secured by any assets of such Person, whether or not such indebtedness has been assumed by such Person.

 

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a) .

 

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a) .

 

“Intellectual Property” means intellectual property rights, statutory or common law, worldwide, including (a) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, slogans, logos and all goodwill associated therewith, and any applications or registrations for any of the foregoing, (b)

 

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copyrights and any applications or registrations for any of the foregoing, and (c) patents, all confidential know-how, trade secrets and similar proprietary rights in confidential inventions, discoveries, improvements, processes, techniques, devices, methods, patterns, formulae and specifications.

 

“Interest Conveyance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a)(ii) .

 

“Knowledge” means (a) with respect to Transferor, the actual knowledge of John Keppler, Stephen Reeves, or Royal Smith, and (b) with respect to Transferee, the actual knowledge of John Keppler or Stephen Reeves.

 

“Laws” means all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, variances, judgments, injunctions, orders and licenses of a Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over the Assets of any Person and the operations thereof.

 

“Legal Proceeding” means any judicial, administrative or arbitral action, suit, hearing, inquiry, investigation or other proceeding (public or private) before any Governmental Entity.

 

“Lien” means any lien, mortgage, pledge, preferential purchase right, option, security interest or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever.

 

“Management Services Agreement” means the Management Services Agreement between Enviva Management Company, LLC and Transferor.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a change, effect, event, or occurrence that has a material adverse effect on the Business, properties, financial condition, or results of operations of the Sampson Plant (and calculated net of insurance proceeds), or prevents or materially delays the ability of Transferor to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided , however , that in no event shall any change, effect, event, or occurrence that arises out of or relates to any of the following be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been, a Material Adverse Effect:  (i) compliance with the terms of, or the taking of any action required by, this Agreement or actions or omissions of Transferor that Transferee has requested or to which Transferee has expressly consented, or the pendency or announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) changes or conditions affecting the wood pellet industry (including feedstock pricing, marketing, transportation, terminaling and trading costs and margins) generally or regionally, to the extent not having a disproportionate adverse effect on Sampson or the Sampson Plant as compared to similarly situated businesses, (iii) changes in general economic, capital markets, regulatory or political conditions in the United States or elsewhere (including interest rate fluctuations), (iv) changes in Law, GAAP, regulatory accounting requirements, or interpretations thereof, to the extent not having a disproportionate adverse effect on Sampson or the Sampson Plant as compared to similarly situated businesses, (v) fluctuations in currency exchange rates, (vi) acts of war, insurrection, sabotage or terrorism, or (vii) Sampson’s failure to meet any budgets, projections, forecasts or predictions of financial performance or estimates of revenue, earnings, cash flow or cash position.

 

A- 5



 

“Material Contracts” means those Contracts comprising each of the following types of Contracts related to the Business (excluding any such Contracts included in or relating to the Retained Matters), including those set forth on Schedule 3.10(a) :

 

(i)                                      any Contract for Indebtedness for Borrowed Money, except for any that will be cancelled prior to Closing;

 

(ii)                                   any Contract involving a remaining commitment to pay capital expenditures in excess of $1,000,000;

 

(iii)                                any Contract (or group of related Contracts with the same Person) for the lease of real or personal property to or from any Person providing for lease payments in excess of $1,000,000 per year;

 

(iv)                               any Contract between Transferor or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and Sampson, on the other hand, that will survive the Closing;

 

(v)                                  any Contract that limits the ability of Sampson or the Sampson Plant to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area during any period of time after the Closing;

 

(vi)                               any partnership or joint venture agreement (other than the limited liability company agreement or any other organizational documents of Transferor or its subsidiaries);

 

(vii)                            any Contract granting to any Person a right of first refusal, first offer or right to purchase the Sampson Plant which right survives the Closing; and

 

(viii)                         any other Contract (or group of related Contracts with the same Person) not enumerated in this definition, the performance of which by any party thereto involves consideration in excess of $1,000,000 per year, other than (x) Contracts for the purchase of fiber supply to the extent entered into in the ordinary course of business and (y) Contracts for the purchase of consumable inventory parts and for service and maintenance relating thereto, to the extent entered into in the ordinary course of business.

 

“Net Adjustment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c) .

 

“New Common Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

 

“Norden Outstanding Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7 .

 

“Norden Partial Assignment” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7 .

 

“Norden Shipping Contract” means that certain charter between Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S, a company organized under the laws of Denmark, and Transferor dated as of August 11, 2016.

 

A- 6



 

“Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person, the certificate of incorporation, articles of incorporation or association, certificate of formation, by-laws, limited liability company agreement, operating agreement, limited partnership agreement or other governing documents and agreements that establish the legal personality of such Person, in each case as amended to date.

 

“Parties” and “Party” have the meanings set forth in the preamble.

 

“Permitted Liens” means (i) statutory Liens for current Taxes or other governmental charges not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings by Transferor or Sampson, (ii) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and similar statutory Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not delinquent and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, significant, (iii) zoning, entitlement, building and other land use regulations imposed by Governmental Entities having jurisdiction over Sampson’s real property and not violated by the current use and operation of Sampson’s real property, (iv) covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements and other similar matters of record affecting title to Sampson’s real property that do not materially impair the occupancy or use of Sampson’s real property for the purposes for which it is currently used or proposed to be used in connection with Transferee’s or Sampson’s businesses, (v) public roads and highways, (vi) matters that would be disclosed by an inspection or accurate survey of each parcel of real property, (vii) Liens arising under worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social security, retirement and similar legislation, (viii) purchase money liens and liens securing rental payments under capital lease arrangements, (ix) other Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money, (x) Liens contained in the Organizational Documents of Sampson, and (xi) Liens arising out of, or in connection with, the Retained Matters .

 

“Person” means any individual or entity, including any corporation, limited liability company, partnership (general or limited), joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, incorporated organization or Governmental Entity.

 

“Pre-Closing Tax Period” means all taxable periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date and the portion of any Straddle Period through the end of the Closing Date.

 

Punch List Items ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(b) .

 

“Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

 

“Registration Rights Agreement has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a)(ix) .

 

“Release” or “Releasing” means depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaking, dumping or disposing of any Hazardous Substances into the environment.

 

“Representatives” means, as to any Person, its Affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, managers, employees, partners, members, stockholders, controlling persons, counsel, agents, accountants, advisers, engineers, and consultants.

 

A- 7



 

“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to any Person, any vice-president or more senior officer of such Person, or, if such Person is a partnership, any vice-president or more senior officer of the general partner of such Person.

 

“Retained Matters” means those Contracts, claims and disputes set forth on Schedule 1.1 and all liabilities, obligations, Liens (including Permitted Liens), rights or benefits arising out of or directly relating to such matters; provided , however , that the Retained Matters shall not include any dispute between Sampson, on the one hand, and the counterparties to the Retained Matters or any of their Affiliates, successors, or assignees thereof, on the other hand, arising after Closing, regardless of any factual similarity to those claims encompassed in the Retained Matters as of the Closing Date; provided , that the limitation in the foregoing proviso shall not apply to liabilities arising out of any conduct, action or inaction of Transferor prior to or after Closing in connection with the Retained Matters. “Retained Matters” shall not include items 2(a) and 2(b) set forth on Schedule 1.1 for purposes of Sections 5.8(b) , 5.8(c) , and 5.8(d) .

 

Sale Unit Price ” means the volume-weighted average price of a Transferee Unit for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the Execution Date (unless at the Closing, the closing price of a Transferee Unit as of the trading day most recent preceding the Closing Date has increased or decreased from such average price by more than 10%, in which case the Sale Unit Price shall be increased or decreased, as applicable, by (a) the absolute value of the percentage of such deviation minus (b) 10%).

 

“Sampson” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Sampson Secondary Supply Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a)(v) .

 

“Sampson Plant” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Sampson-Chesapeake Terminal Services Agreement” means the Terminal Services Agreement, dated November 24, 2014, between Enviva Port of Chesapeake, LLC and Transferor, as assigned from Transferor to Sampson pursuant to that certain Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated as of September 26, 2016.

 

“Sampson-Chesapeake Terminal Services Agreement Termination” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a)(vii) .

 

Sampson-Wilmington Terminal Services Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a)(vi) .

 

Sampson County Incentive Agreement ” means that certain Incentive Agreement by and between Enviva Pellets Sampson, LLC and Sampson Country, North Carolina, dated October 25, 2013, as amended by the First Amendment to Incentive Agreement by and between Enviva Pellets Sampson, LLC and Sampson Country, North Carolina, dated July 10, 2014.

 

“SEC” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8 .

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

A- 8



 

“Straddle Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b) .

 

Substantially Complete ” means (i) all portions of the Sampson Plant have been completed and can be used for their intended purposes in accordance with applicable Laws and permits, (ii) the Sampson Plant has commenced commercial operations, and (iii) except with respect to the Retained Matters, no warranty claims or other claims under any Construction Contract are (A) outstanding or (B) to the Knowledge of Transferor, pending.

 

“Target Working Capital” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a) .

 

“Tax” or “Taxes” means (i) any taxes and similar assessments imposed by any Taxing Authority, including income, profits, gross receipts, net proceeds, alternative or add-on minimum, ad valorem, value added, sales, use, real property, personal property (tangible and intangible), environmental, stamp, leasing, lease, user, excise, duty, franchise, capital stock, transfer, registration, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, payroll, employment, fuel, excess profits, occupational, premium, windfall profit, severance, actual or estimated, or other similar charge, including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not and (ii) all liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described in clause (i) as the result of being (or ceasing to be) a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group (or being included (or required to be included) in any Tax Return related thereto).

 

“Tax Contest” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(d) .

 

“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

 

“Taxing Authority” means, with respect to any Tax, the Governmental Entity or political subdivision thereof that imposes such Tax, and the agency (if any) charged with the collection of such Tax for such entity or subdivision, including any governmental or quasi-governmental entity or agency that imposes, or is charged with collecting, social security or similar charges or premiums.

 

“Transfer Tax” means all sales, use, goods, services, transfer, stamp, recording, and similar Taxes and fees incurred by or on behalf of a Party or Sampson as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as imposed by applicable Law.

 

“Transferee” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Transferee Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8 .

 

“Transferee Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a) .

 

“Transferee SEC Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8 .

 

“Transferee Units” means common units representing limited partner interests in Transferee.

 

A- 9



 

“Transferor” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Transferor Approvals and Consents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4 .

 

“Transferor Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(b) .

 

“Wilmington” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a)(vi) .

 

A- 10



 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF INTEREST CONVEYANCE

 

[See attached.]

 

B- 1



 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF DONG CONTRACT ASSIGNMENT

 

[See attached]

 

C- 1



 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF SAMPSON SECONDARY SUPPLY AGREEMENT

 

[See attached.]

 

D- 1



 

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF SAMPSON-WILMINGTON TERMINAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

[See attached.]

 

E- 1



 

EXHIBIT F

 

FORM OF SAMPSON-CHESAPEAKE TERMINAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TERMINATION

 

[See attached.]

 

F- 1



 

EXHIBIT G

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

[Reserved.]

 

G- 1



 

EXHIBIT H

 

FORM OF DONG LETTER AGREEMENT

 

[See attached.]

 

H- 1


Exhibit 4.1

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

AND

 

THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HEREOF

 

8.5% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2021

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of November 1, 2016

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

As Trustee

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE ONE ISSUE AND DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

1

Section 1.01

Designation and Amount; Ranking Payments; Denomination

1

Section 1.02

Form of Notes

2

Section 1.03

Additional Notes

3

Section 1.04

Execution and Authentication

3

Section 1.05

Non-Business Day Payments

4

Section 1.06

Defaulted Interest

4

Section 1.07

Temporary Notes

5

Section 1.08

Transfer and Exchange

5

Section 1.09

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Wrongfully Taken Notes

19

Section 1.10

Notice to Holders; Waiver

19

Section 1.11

Cancellation

20

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWO DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

20

Section 2.01

Definitions

20

Section 2.02

Other Definitions

55

Section 2.03

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

56

Section 2.04

Rules of Construction

56

 

 

 

ARTICLE THREE REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

57

Section 3.01

Notices to Trustee

57

Section 3.02

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

57

Section 3.03

Notice of Redemption

57

Section 3.04

Effect of Notice of Redemption

58

Section 3.05

Deposit of Redemption Price

59

Section 3.06

Notes Redeemed in Part

59

Section 3.07

Optional Redemption

59

Section 3.08

Mandatory Redemption

60

Section 3.09

Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds

60

Section 3.10

Escrow of Proceeds; Special Mandatory Redemption

62

Section 3.11

No Limit on Other Purchases

63

 

 

 

ARTICLE FOUR COVENANTS

63

Section 4.01

Payment of Notes

63

Section 4.02

Maintenance of Office or Agency

63

Section 4.03

Reports

64

Section 4.04

Compliance Certificate

65

Section 4.05

Taxes

65

Section 4.06

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

65

Section 4.07

Limitation on Restricted Payments

66

Section 4.08

Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries

70

Section 4.09

Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Securities

72

 

i



 

Section 4.10

Limitation on Asset Sales

76

Section 4.11

Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates

78

Section 4.12

Limitation on Liens

81

Section 4.13

Additional Subsidiary Guarantees

81

Section 4.14

Existence

81

Section 4.15

Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control

82

Section 4.16

No Inducements

84

Section 4.17

Permitted Business Activities

84

Section 4.18

Money for Notes Payments to Be Held in Trust

85

Section 4.19

Covenant Suspension

86

Section 4.20

Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries

86

 

 

 

ARTICLE FIVE SUCCESSORS

87

Section 5.01

Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets

87

Section 5.02

Successor Substituted

88

 

 

 

ARTICLE SIX DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

89

Section 6.01

Events of Default

89

Section 6.02

Acceleration

91

Section 6.03

Other Remedies

91

Section 6.04

Waiver of Past Defaults

92

Section 6.05

Control by Majority

92

Section 6.06

Limitation on Suits

92

Section 6.07

Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment

93

Section 6.08

Collection Suit by Trustee

93

Section 6.09

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

93

Section 6.10

Priorities

94

Section 6.11

Undertaking for Costs

94

 

 

 

ARTICLE SEVEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

94

Section 7.01

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

94

Section 7.02

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

94

Section 7.03

Covenant Defeasance

95

Section 7.04

Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

96

Section 7.05

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

97

Section 7.06

Repayment to Issuers

97

Section 7.07

Reinstatement

98

 

 

 

ARTICLE EIGHT AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

98

Section 8.01

Without Consent of Holders of Notes

98

Section 8.02

With Consent of Holders of Notes

99

Section 8.03

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

100

Section 8.04

Effect of Consents

101

Section 8.05

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

101

Section 8.06

Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

101

Section 8.07

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

101

 

ii



 

ARTICLE NINE GUARANTEES

101

Section 9.01

Subsidiary Guarantees

101

Section 9.02

Limitation on Guarantor Liability

102

Section 9.03

Subsidiary Guarantee Evidenced by Indenture; No Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee

103

Section 9.04

Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms

103

Section 9.05

Releases of Guarantors

103

 

 

 

ARTICLE TEN SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

104

Section 10.01

Satisfaction and Discharge

104

 

 

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN THE TRUSTEE

105

Section 11.01

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

105

Section 11.02

Notice of Defaults

106

Section 11.03

Certain Rights of Trustee

106

Section 11.04

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes

108

Section 11.05

May Hold Notes

108

Section 11.06

Money Held in Trust

108

Section 11.07

Compensation and Reimbursement

109

Section 11.08

Conflicting Interests

109

Section 11.09

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

109

Section 11.10

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

110

Section 11.11

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

111

Section 11.12

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

112

Section 11.13

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers

112

Section 11.14

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

113

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWELVE MISCELLANEOUS

114

Section 12.01

Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes

114

Section 12.02

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

114

Section 12.03

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

115

Section 12.04

Governing Law

116

Section 12.05

Trust Indenture Act Controls

116

Section 12.06

Successors

116

Section 12.07

Severability

116

Section 12.08

Counterparts

116

Section 12.09

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders

116

Section 12.10

Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

117

Section 12.11

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

117

Section 12.12

Patriot Act

117

Section 12.13

Benefits of this Indenture

117

Section 12.14

Notices

117

 

iii



 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A                                              FORM OF NOTE

 

Exhibit B                                              FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

Exhibit C                                              FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

 

Exhibit D                                              FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

iv



 

THIS INDENTURE (this “ Indenture ”), dated as of November 1, 2016, is among Enviva Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (referred to herein as the “ Company ”), Enviva Partners Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (referred to herein as “ Finance Corp. ” and, together with the Company, the “ Issuers ”), the guarantors listed on the signature pages hereof (each, a “Guarantor” and, collectively, the “ Guarantors ”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , the Issuers have heretofore duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture;

 

WHEREAS , the Issuers have duly authorized the issue of 8.5% Senior Notes due 2021 (as they may be issued from time to time under this Indenture, including any Additional Notes issued pursuant to Section 1.03 of this Indenture, the “ Notes ”), initially in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $300,000,000, and in connection therewith, the Issuers and the Initial Guarantors have duly determined to make, execute and deliver this Indenture to set forth the terms and provisions of the Notes;

 

WHEREAS , all things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Issuers and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent and to make the Subsidiary Guarantees of each of the Guarantors as set forth herein, when the Notes have been so executed, authenticated and delivered, the valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors, respectively, have been done; and

 

WHEREAS , all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement according to its terms, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes:

 

ARTICLE ONE
ISSUE AND DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

 

Section 1.01                              Designation and Amount; Ranking Payments; Denomination . The Notes shall be designated as the “8.5% Senior Notes due 2021.” The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is not limited. The aggregate principal amount of Notes initially authorized for authentication and delivery pursuant to this Indenture is limited to $300,000,000 (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Notes pursuant to Section 1.07 , Section 1.08 , Section 1.09 , Section 3.06 , Section 3.09(i) , Section 4.15(a)(viii)  and Section 8.05 hereof). The Issuers may, and shall be entitled to, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the Holders of the Notes, in accordance with Section 1.03 below increase the principal amount of Notes and issue such increased principal amount (or any portion thereof) of Notes as “ Additional Notes ” under this Indenture.

 

Payments of the principal of and interest on the Notes shall be made in U.S. Dollars, and the Notes shall be denominated in Dollars and in minimum amounts of at least $2,000 and

 



 

integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter. The Place of Payment where the principal of and any other payments due on the Notes are payable shall initially be at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for that purpose in accordance with Section 4.02 of this Indenture.

 

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 ”). Initially, the Trustee will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically organized wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar or co-registrar.

 

The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest by wire transfer of immediately available funds for any amounts due on all Global Notes. Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Notes in certificated form will be payable at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Issuers, 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, except that if a Holder of at least $5.0 million principal amount of Notes has given wire transfer instructions to the Issuers, the Issuers will pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on that Holder’s Notes in accordance with those instructions. Until otherwise designated by the Issuers, the Issuers’ office or agency will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment may be made pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depository in the case of Global Notes.

 

The Notes shall be guaranteed by each of the Initial Guarantors and, in accordance with Section 4.13 , any additional Subsidiary Guarantors in accordance with Section 4.13 and Article Nine of this Indenture.

 

No Subsidiary Guarantee, nor any notation thereof, shall be, or shall be required to be, endorsed on, or attached to, or otherwise physically made part of any Note.

 

Section 1.02                              Form of Notes . The Notes shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, which is incorporated in and made a part of this Indenture.

 

Any of the Notes may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such notations, legends or endorsements as the officers executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, or to conform to usage or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

 

The terms and provisions contained in the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Issuers and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

 

2



 

Section 1.03                              Additional Notes .

 

The Issuers shall be entitled, subject to their compliance with Section 4.09 , to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance, issue price, the date from which interest begins to accrue, applicable transfer restrictions and whether or not Section 3.10 shall apply with respect to such Additional Notes. The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including waivers, consents, directions, declarations, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; and none of the Holders of any Initial Notes or any Additional Notes shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent.

 

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Issuers shall set forth in an Issuer Order, which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

 

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

 

(2)                                  the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number and any corresponding ISIN of such Additional Notes;

 

(3)                                  if applicable, that such Additional Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such Global Notes, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Notes in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A in which any such Global Notes may be exchanged in whole or in part for Additional Notes registered, or any transfer of such Global Note in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the depositary for such Global Note or a nominee thereof.

 

Section 1.04                              Execution and Authentication .  At least one Officer must sign the Notes for each of the Company and Finance Corp. by manual or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.  A Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.  The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee will, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, authenticate Notes for original issue that may be validly issued under this Indenture, including any Additional Notes. The Issuer Order shall specify the principal amount of the Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of such Notes is to be authenticated. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Company pursuant to one or more Issuer Orders, except as provided in Section 1.09 . The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Notes.  An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so.  Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes

 

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authentication by such agent.  An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Section 1.05                              Non-Business Day Payments . If any Interest Payment Date, the Stated Maturity, any Redemption Date, any Settlement Date or any Change of Control Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the required payment or delivery will be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date that the payment or delivery was due, and no additional interest will accrue on that required payment or delivery for the period from and after the Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Redemption Date, Settlement Date or Change of Control Payment Date, as the case may be, to that next succeeding Business Day.

 

Section 1.06                              Defaulted Interest . Interest on any Note which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Notes is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest (or, if no business is conducted by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office on such date, at 5:00 P.M. New York City time on such date).

 

Any interest on the Notes which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date after giving effect to any applicable grace period (herein called “ Defaulted Interest ”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Issuers, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

 

(a)                                  The Issuers may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest payable on any Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each of such Notes and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon, the Issuers shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee of such Special Record Date and, the Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Issuers, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of such Notes in the manner set forth in Section 1.06 , not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so sent, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Notes are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).

 

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

 

Except as may otherwise be provided in this Section 1.06 , the Person to whom Defaulted Interest shall be payable on any Note that first becomes payable on a day that is not an Interest Payment Date shall be the Holder of such Note on the day such interest is paid.

 

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

 

Section 1.07                              Temporary Notes . Pending the preparation of Definitive Notes, the Issuers may execute, and upon Issuer Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Notes which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Notes in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Notes, respectively, may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Notes, respectively.

 

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

 

Section 1.08                              Transfer and Exchange.

 

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

 

(1)                                  the Issuers deliver 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 Issuers within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;

 

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(2)                                  there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes and the Depositary notifies the Trustee of its decision to exchange Global Notes for Definitive Notes.

 

Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (1) or (2) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee.  Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Section 1.07 and Section 1.09 hereof.  Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 1.08 or Section 1.07 or Section 1.09 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note.  A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 1.08(a) , however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 1.08(b)  or (f)  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 Indenture and the Applicable Procedures.  Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act.  Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (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 Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however , that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an initial purchaser). Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note.  No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 1.08(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 1.08(b)(1)  above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

 

(A)                                both:

 

(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

 

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

 

(B)                                both:

 

(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 cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

 

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

 

Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Issuers in accordance with Section 1.08(f)  hereof, the requirements of this Section 1.08(b)(2)  shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes.  Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 1.08(h)  hereof.

 

(3)                                  Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note.   A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 1.08(b)(2)  above and the Registrar receives the following:

 

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

 

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

 

(4)                                  Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note.   A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 1.08(b)(2)  above and:

 

(A)                                such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the

 

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beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuers;

 

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

 

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

 

(D)                                the Registrar receives the following:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Issuer Order in accordance with Section 1.04 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above.

 

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

 

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

 

(1)                                  Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes.   If permitted by Section 1.08(a) , if any holder of a beneficial interest in a

 

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Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

the Registrar shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 1.08(h)  hereof, and the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 1.08(c)  shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.  The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the

 

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Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 1.08(c)(1)  shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

 

(2)                                  Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.   If permitted by Section 1.08(a) , a holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(D)                                the Registrar receives the following:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3)                                  Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.   If permitted by Section 1.08(a) , if any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a

 

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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 1.08(b)(2)  hereof, the Registrar will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Unrestricted Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 1.08(h)  hereof, and the Issuers 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 1.08(c)(3)  will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.  The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 1.08(c)(3)  will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(D)                                the Registrar receives the following:

 

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

 

(ii)                                   if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such

 

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Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

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

 

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 1.08(d)(2) , the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

 

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

 

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2)(B), (2)(D) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuers will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 1.04 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

 

(e)                                   Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.   Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 1.08(e) , the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes.  Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing.  In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 1.08(e) .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(2)                                  Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.   Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(D)                                the Registrar receives the following:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f)                                    Exchange Offer.   Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers will issue and, upon receipt of an Issuer Order in accordance with Section 1.04 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(1)                                  Private Placement Legend .

 

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

 

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION.

 

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THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR (IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A SECURITIES) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR THE ISSUE DATE OF ANY SUBSEQUENT OFFERING OF NOTES AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUERS OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUERS WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH NOTE) OR 40 DAYS (IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S SECURITIES), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUERS, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER OR THE ISSUERS ON OR AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

 

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS NOTE, THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST IN THIS NOTE) CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME NOTE ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), OR ANY GOVERNMENTAL PLAN, CHURCH PLAN, NON-U.S. PLAN, OR OTHER PLAN SUBJECT TO OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, OR (2) THE ACQUISITION, HOLDING AND SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST IN THIS NOTE) WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.

 

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(B)                                Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(2), (c)(3), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(3) or (f) of this Section 1.08 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

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

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO AN ISSUER 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 IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF .”

 

(h)                                  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 1.11 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.

 

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(i)                                      General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

 

(1)                                  To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Issuer Order in accordance with Section 1.04 hereof 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 Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 1.07 , 3.06 , 3.09 , 4.10 , 4.15 and 8.05 hereof).

 

(3)                                  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 Issuers, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(4)                                  Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers will be required:

 

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

 

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

 

(C)                                to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

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

 

(6)                                  The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.04 hereof.

 

(7)                                  All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Trustee, Company or Registrar pursuant to this Section 1.08 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer complies with the registration provisions of or exemptions from the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws.

 

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Section 1.09                              Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Wrongfully Taken Notes . If (a) any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or (b) both (i) there shall be delivered to the Issuers and the Trustee (A) a claim by a Holder as to the destruction, loss or wrongful taking of any Note of such Holder and a request thereby for a new replacement Note, and (B) such indemnity bond as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless and (ii) such other reasonable requirements as may be imposed by the Issuers as permitted by Section 8—405 of the Uniform Commercial Code have been satisfied, then, in the absence of notice to an Issuer or the Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a “protected purchaser” within the meaning of Section 8—405 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the Issuers shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Note, a new Note of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding.

 

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

 

Upon the issuance of any new Note under this Section, the Issuers may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Note of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Issuers, whether or not the destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

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

 

Section 1.10                              Notice to Holders; Waiver . Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first—class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be

 

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made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Note, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Note (or its designee), pursuant to its Applicable Procedures, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

Section 1.11                              Cancellation . All Notes surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Issuers may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Issuers may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated hereunder which the Issuers have not issued and sold, and all Notes so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Notes canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Notes held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures and deliver copies of cancelled Notes to the Issuers pursuant to an Issuer Order; provided, however, that the Trustee shall not be required to destroy such canceled Notes.

 

ARTICLE TWO
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 2.01                              Definitions . For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

(1)                                  Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of any other Person existing at the time such other Person was merged with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is incurred or issued in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person, but excluding Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock which is extinguished, retired, cancelled or repaid in connection with such Person merging with or into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person; and

 

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(2)                                  Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person but excluding Indebtedness which is extinguished, retired, cancelled or repaid in connection with such asset being acquired by such specified Person.

 

Additional Interest ” means all additional interest then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Additional Notes ” means, subject to the Company’s compliance with Section 4.09 , 8.5% Senior Notes due 2021 issued from time to time after the Issue Date under this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 1.07 , Section 1.08 , Section 1.09 , Section 3.06 , Section 3.09 , Section 4.15 or Section 9.05 of this Indenture).

 

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided, however , that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control by the other Person. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

 

Agent ” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

 

Applicable Law ,” except as the context may otherwise require, means all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees, injunctions, writs and orders of any court or governmental or congressional agency or authority and rules, regulations, orders, licenses and permits of any United States federal, state, municipal, regional, or other governmental body, instrumentality, agency or authority.

 

Applicable Procedures ” of a Depositary means, with respect to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depositary, if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.

 

Asset Sale ” means:

 

(1)                                  the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any properties or assets (including by way of a merger or consolidation or by way of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction); and

 

(2)                                  the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however , that in the case of clause (1) or (2), the disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will not constitute an “Asset Sale” but will be governed by the provisions of Section 4.15 and/or Section 5.01 and not by the provisions of Section 4.10 .

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

 

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(1)                                  any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves properties or assets having a fair market value of less than $15.0 million;

 

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

 

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

 

(4)                                  the sale, lease or other disposition of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other properties or assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

(5)                                  the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents, Hedging Contracts or other financial instruments in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, unwinding or settling any Hedging Contracts);

 

(6)                                  a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07 or a Permitted Investment;

 

(7)                                  the creation or perfection of a Lien that is not prohibited by Section 4.12 or a disposition in connection with any such Lien;

 

(8)                                  surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

 

(9)                                  the grant in the ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license of patents, trademarks, registrations therefor and other similar intellectual property;

 

(10)                           dispositions of Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

 

(11)                           an Asset Swap.

 

Asset Swap ” means any substantially contemporaneous (and in any event occurring within 180 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange of any assets or properties used or useful in a Permitted Business between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any Net Proceeds received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10 as if the Asset Swap were an Asset Sale.

 

Attributable Debt ” in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP. As used in the preceding sentence, the “net rental payments” under any lease for any such period shall mean the sum of rental and other payments required to be paid with respect to such period by the lessee thereunder, excluding any amounts required to be paid by such lessee on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon payment of penalty, such net rental payment shall also include the

 

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amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.

 

Available Cash from Operating Surplus ” means, with respect to any period:

 

(a)                                  the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on hand at the end of such period, and (ii) if the General Partner so determines, all or any portion of any additional cash and cash equivalents of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on hand on the date the Company makes Restricted Payments with respect to such period (including any borrowings made subsequent to the end of such period), less

 

(b)                                  the amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner (i) to provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Company and of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs) subsequent to such period, (ii) to comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or (iii) to provide funds for Restricted Payments in respect of future periods;

 

up to the amount that the Company could distribute as Operating Surplus under the Partnership Agreement in respect of such period.

 

Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, United States Code, as may be amended from time to time, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” 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, except that securities that a person has the right to acquire pursuant to a merger agreement, stock or unit purchase agreement, tender offer or exchange offer will not be deemed Beneficially Owned by such person until consummation of the transaction or series of transactions contemplated thereby. The terms “ Beneficially Owns ,” “ Beneficially Owned ” and “ Beneficial Ownership ” have correlative meanings.

 

Board of Directors ” means:

 

(1)                                  with respect to Finance Corp., its board of directors;

 

(2)                                  with respect to the Company, the Board of Directors of the General Partner (or any other Person serving a similar function for the Company) or any authorized committee thereof;

 

(3)                                  with respect to any other partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the partnership or, if such general partner is itself a limited partnership,

 

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then the board of directors or board of managers of its general partner, or in each case any duly authorized committee thereof; and

 

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

 

Board Resolution ” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the applicable Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Broker-Dealer ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Participating Broker-Dealer” in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Business Day ” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or another place of payment are authorized or required by law to close.

 

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 in accordance with GAAP (other than any obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as an operating lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date), and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation shall be the capitalized amount of such obligation determined in accordance with GAAP; and the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

 

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, other than debt securities that are convertible into any of the foregoing.

 

Cash Equivalents ” means:

 

(1)                                  United States dollars;

 

(2)                                  securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government ( provided that the

 

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full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;

 

(3)                                  marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a credit rating of “A” or better from either S&P or Moody’s;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(8)                                  marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively, and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof.

 

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

 

(1)                                  the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets (including Capital Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than a Qualified Owner or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case which occurrence is followed by a Rating Decline within 60 days thereafter;

 

(2)                                  the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or removal of the General Partner by the limited partners of the Company; or

 

(3)                                  the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than a Qualified Owner, acquires Beneficial Ownership, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the General Partner, or if the Company is no longer a partnership, the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like, which occurrence is followed by a Rating Decline within 60 days thereafter.

 

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

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.

 

Commercial Operation ” shall be deemed achieved for any Facility that is the subject of a Drop-Down Acquisition at such time as the substantial completion of construction (other than punch list items) thereof and the initial placement thereof into service have occurred.

 

Commission ” or “ SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Company ” means Enviva Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

 

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 Restricted 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 Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including 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 net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts, to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(3)                                  depreciation, depletion and amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period),

 

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

 

(4)                                  unrealized non-cash losses resulting from foreign currency balance sheet adjustments required by GAAP to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(5)                                  all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items of gain or loss, or revenue or expense and, without duplication, Transaction Costs; plus

 

(6)                                  any deferred or non-cash equity compensation or stock option or similar compensation expense, including all expense recorded for any equity appreciation rights plan in excess of cash payments for exercised rights, in each case during such period; plus

 

(7)                                  an amount equal to dividends or distributions paid during such period in cash to such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries by a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting; minus

 

(8)                                  non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than accruals of revenue or other items 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 Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that:

 

(1)                                  the aggregate Net Income (but not net loss in excess of such aggregate Net Income) of each of the Persons that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included but only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid to the specified Person or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof;

 

(2)                                  the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary other than a Guarantor will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, partners or members;

 

(3)                                  the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;

 

(4)                                  unrealized losses and gains under derivative instruments included in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, including those resulting from the application of ASC-815, will be excluded;

 

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(5)                                  any nonrecurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write off of deferred finance costs or other charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded; and

 

(6)                                  any asset (including goodwill) impairment or write-down on or related to non-current assets under applicable GAAP or Commission guidelines will be excluded.

 

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means, with respect to any Person at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of total assets included in such Person’s most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP less applicable reserves reflected in such balance sheet, after deducting the following amounts: (a) all current liabilities reflected in such balance sheet, and (b) all goodwill, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discounts and expenses and other like intangibles reflected in such balance sheet.

 

consolidated ” means, with respect to accounting measures of any Person, the consolidation of the accounts of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person with those of such Person, all in accordance with GAAP; provided, however , that “consolidation” will not include consolidation of the accounts of any Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person with the accounts of such Person.

 

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee ” means the corporate trust office of the Trustee, which office at the date hereof is located at 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuers, or the corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as a successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuers).

 

Credit Agreement ” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 9, 2015, by and among the Company, as Company, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders and the others parties party thereto from time to time and Barclays Bank PLC, as administrative agent, or any successor or replacement agreements and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders, together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any guarantee agreements and security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreements extending the maturity of, Refinancing, replacing, increasing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreements.

 

Credit Facilities ” means one or more debt facilities (including the Credit Agreement), commercial paper facilities, indentures or debt issuances, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders or investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables or inventory financing (including through the sale of receivables or inventory to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables or inventory), commercial paper, debt securities or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified or Refinanced (including Refinancing with any capital markets transaction) in whole or in part from time to time.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Definitive Note ” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 1.04 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

Depositary ” means, with respect to Notes of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes, a clearing agency that is designated to act as depositary for such Notes. The initial Depositary for the Notes will be DTC.

 

Designated Noncash Consideration ” means the fair market value of noncash consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is designated as Designated Noncash Consideration pursuant to an officers’ certificate, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Noncash Consideration.

 

Disqualified Stock ” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the final Stated Maturity of the Notes, in each case except in exchange for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, (a) any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 and (b) any Capital Stock issued pursuant to any plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates for the benefit of one or more employees will not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or any of its Affiliates in order to satisfy applicable contractual, statutory or regulatory obligations.

 

For purposes of Section 4.09 , the “amount” or “principal amount” of any Disqualified Stock or preferred securities shall equal the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation

 

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preference and its maximum fixed repurchase price, in each case, exclusive of accrued dividends. For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock or preferred securities which do not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or preferred securities as if such Disqualified Stock or preferred securities were redeemed, repaid or repurchased on the date on which the “amount” or “principal amount” thereof shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture; provided, however , that if such Disqualified Stock or preferred securities could not be required to be redeemed, repaid or repurchased at the time of such determination, the redemption, repayment or repurchase price will be the book value of such Disqualified Stock or preferred securities as reflected in the most recent financial statements of such Person.

 

Drop-Down Acquisition ” means any acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of a Facility (or of Equity Interests of any Person owning a Facility) from Enviva Holdings, LP or its Affiliates (other than the Company or its Subsidiaries).

 

DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company.

 

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

 

Equity Offering ” means (i) any public or private sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) made for cash on a primary basis by the Company after the Issue Date or (ii) any contribution to capital of the Company in respect of Capital Stock of the Company.

 

Escrow Account ” has the meaning set forth in the Escrow Agreement.

 

Escrow Agent ” means JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as escrow agent, pursuant to the Escrow Agreement.

 

Escrow Agreement ” means the Escrow Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuers, the Trustee and the Escrow Agent, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.

 

Exchange Notes ” means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 1.08(f) hereof.

 

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

 

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

 

Existing Indebtedness ” means the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than: (i) prior to the Escrow Release Date, Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement up to the amount permitted to be

 

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incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(i) , which will be classified thereunder, and (ii) Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement in existence on the Escrow Release Date after giving effect to the use of proceeds of the Notes upon their release from the Escrow Account) in existence on the Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid, provided that Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement on the Issue Date in excess of the amount permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(i)  may not be reclassified and will no longer constitute Existing Indebtedness after the Escrow Release Date.

 

Facility ” shall mean a Wood Pellet Production Facility or a Port Facility.

 

fair market value ” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company in the case of amounts of $30.0 million or more and otherwise by an officer of the General Partner, which determination will be conclusive for all purposes under this Indenture.

 

Finance Corp. ,” means Enviva Partners Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation, until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Finance Corp.” shall mean such successor Person.

 

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

 

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

 

(1)                                  acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or by any Person acquired by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise (including acquisitions of assets used in a Permitted Business), and including in each case any related financing transactions (including repayment of Indebtedness) during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, including any Consolidated Cash Flow and any pro forma expense and cost reductions that have been realized or are reasonably expected in good faith to be realized within the next 12 months, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of the General Partner (including with respect to any Facility and regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements

 

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could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the Commission related thereto);

 

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

 

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

 

(4)                                  interest income reasonably anticipated by such Person to be received during the applicable four-quarter period from cash or Cash Equivalents held by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, which cash or Cash Equivalents exist on the Calculation Date or will exist as a result of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, will be included; and

 

(5)                                  with respect to any Drop-Down Acquisition of a Facility that is owned by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (or that will be owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon consummation of any Investment, acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation that is being given pro forma effect in accordance with this paragraph), (y) which Facility has achieved Commercial Operations after the start of the applicable four-quarter reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date and (z) (i) in the case of a Wood Pellet Production Facility, for which a definitive Qualifying Off-Take Contract has been executed and remains in effect on the Calculation Date and (ii) in the case of a Port Facility, for which a definitive terminaling services contract consistent with Prudent Industry Practices with a Qualifying Counterparty has been executed and remains in effect on the Calculation Date, such pro forma calculations may include pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Cash Flow to reflect the projected operating results for such Drop-Down Acquisition for the complete duration of the four-quarter reference period as if such Drop-Down Acquisition had achieved the Commercial Operations Date on the first day of such four-quarter reference period, net of the actual Consolidated Cash Flow produced by such Facility during such four-quarter reference period, based on reasonable assumptions and relevant facts and circumstances, which may include, without limitation, (i) the contracted rates in the applicable Qualifying Off-Take Contracts or terminaling services contract, (ii) capital and other costs, operating, shipping and administrative expenses, commodity price assumptions, ramp-up production assumptions, the class and amount of Equity Interests of such Facility owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and reasonable allowances for contingencies and (iii) to the extent applicable, the actual operating results for such Facility on an annualized basis (with appropriate adjustments for the impact, if any, of seasonality and other items set forth in the preceding clause (ii) on such actual operating results); provided that all such pro forma adjustments set forth in this sentence will be made by a responsible financial or accounting officer in good faith.

 

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For purposes of this definition, (a) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during the reference period; and (b) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during the reference period.

 

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

 

(1)                                  the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including 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 but excluding write-offs of deferred financing costs or premiums paid in connection with a retirement of Indebtedness), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts; plus

 

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

 

(3)                                  any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

 

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

 

Furthermore, in calculating “Fixed Charges” for purposes of determining the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”:

 

(a)                                  interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis as of the Calculation Date and which will continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest on such Indebtedness in effect on the Calculation Date;

 

(b)                                  if interest on any Indebtedness actually incurred on the Calculation Date may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rates, then the interest rate in effect on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been in effect during the reference period;

 

(c)                                   notwithstanding clauses (1) and (2) above, interest on Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered by Hedging Contracts, shall be deemed to accrue at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the operation of such agreements; and

 

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(d)                                  interest on Indebtedness referred to in clause (3) will be included only to the extent attributable to the portion of such Indebtedness that is so guaranteed by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries or so secured by a lien on the assets thereof ( provided that the amount of such Indebtedness so secured will be the lesser of (x) the fair market value of such assets at the date of determination and (y) the amount of such Indebtedness).

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect from time to time.

 

General Partner ” means Enviva Partners GP, LLC and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Company.

 

Global Note Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 1.08(g)(2)  hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

 

Global Notes means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

Government Securities ” means securities that are:

 

(1)                                  direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

 

(2)                                  obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

guarantee ” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including by way of a pledge of assets, acting as co-obligor or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness; provided, however , that the term “guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. When used as a verb, “ guarantee ” has a correlative meaning.

 

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Guarantors ” means each of (a) the Subsidiaries of the Company, other than Finance Corp., executing this Indenture as Initial Guarantors, (b) any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Guarantor by executing a supplement to this Indenture in accordance with Section 4.13 or Section 9.03 hereof and (c) the respective successors and assigns of such Restricted Subsidiaries, as required under Article Nine hereof, in each case, until the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Person is released pursuant to Section 7.02 , Section 7.03 or Section 9.05 hereof.

 

Hedging Contracts ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)                                  (i) any agreement of such Person with any other Person whereby, directly or indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic payments calculated by applying either a floating or a fixed rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such other Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount or (ii) any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate cap agreement or interest rate collar agreement entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against, or otherwise manage exposure to, fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

 

(2)                                  any foreign exchange contract or similar currency protection agreement entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against, or otherwise manage exposure to, fluctuations in currency exchanges rates; and

 

(3)                                  any other futures contract, swap, option or similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against, or otherwise manage exposure to, fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates.

 

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

 

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, without duplication and whether or not contingent:

 

(1)                                  in respect of borrowed money;

 

(2)                                  evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments;

 

(3)                                  in respect of all outstanding letters of credit issued for the account of such Person that support obligations that constitute Indebtedness ( provided that the amount of such letters of credit included in Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of the Indebtedness being supported) and, without duplication, the unreimbursed amount of all drafts drawn under such letters of credit issued for the account of such Person;

 

(4)                                  in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

 

(5)                                  representing Capital Lease Obligations;

 

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(6)                                  representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property due more than six months after such property is delivered, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

 

(7)                                  representing any obligations under Hedging Contracts,

 

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and obligations under Hedging Contracts) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided, however , that any indebtedness which has been defeased in accordance with GAAP or defeased or discharged pursuant to the irrevocable deposit of cash or Cash Equivalents (in an amount sufficient to satisfy all such indebtedness obligations at maturity or redemption, as applicable, and all payments of interest and premium, if any) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness (and subject to no other Liens) and the other applicable terms of the instrument governing such indebtedness shall not constitute “Indebtedness.” In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes, with respect to any Person, all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (other than Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture of the specified Person to the extent secured by a Lien on or pledge of Equity Interests of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture as contemplated by clause (9) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”), whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person ( provided that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Indebtedness” excludes

 

(i)                                      any obligation arising from any agreement providing for indemnities, purchase price adjustments, holdbacks, contingency payment obligations based on a final financial statement or report or the performance of the acquired or disposed assets or similar obligations (other than guarantees of Indebtedness) incurred by the specified Person in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets;

 

(ii)                                   accrued expenses and trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(iii)                                any unrealized losses or charges in respect of Hedging Contracts (including those resulting from the application of ASC-815);

 

(iv)                               any obligations in respect of completion bonds, performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds, bankers’ acceptances, letters of credit, insurance obligations or bonds and other similar bonds and obligations incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and any guarantees and obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to or letters of credit functioning as or supporting any of the foregoing bonds or obligations; and

 

(v)                                  Customary Recourse Exceptions, unless and until an event or circumstance occurs that triggers such Person’s or any of such Person’s Restricted Subsidiaries’ direct payment or reimbursement obligation (as opposed to contingent or performance

 

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obligations) to the lender or other Person to whom such obligation is actually owed, in which case the amount of such direct payment or reimbursement obligation shall constitute Indebtedness.

 

The “amount” or “principal amount” of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be, except as specified below, determined in accordance with GAAP:

 

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

 

(2)                                  in the case of obligations under any Hedging Contracts, the termination value of the agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligations that would be payable by such Person at such date;

 

(3)                                  in the case of any Capitalized Lease Obligation, the amount determined in accordance with the definition thereof;

 

(4)                                  in the case of other unconditional obligations (other than those specified in clauses (1) or (2) of the first paragraph of this definition), the amount of the liability thereof determined in accordance with GAAP;

 

(5)                                  in the case of other contingent obligations (other than those specified in clauses (1) or (2) of the first paragraph of this definition), the maximum liability at such date of such Person; and

 

(6)                                  the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

 

Indenture ” means this Indenture, as amended, supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Independent Advisor ” means a reputable accounting, appraisal or nationally recognized investment banking, engineering or consulting firm (a) which does not, and whose directors, officers and employees or Affiliates do not, have a direct or indirect material financial interest in the Company and (b) which, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, is otherwise disinterested, independent and qualified to perform the task for which it is to be engaged.

 

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

 

Initial Guarantors ” means the Restricted Subsidiaries executing this Indenture as Guarantors on the Issue Date.

 

Initial Notes ” means the $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

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

 

Interest Payment Date ” means May 1 and November 1 of each year.

 

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P or, if either such rating agency ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Company’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Company.

 

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding (1) commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and (2) trade receivables or advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of any Investment shall be its fair market value at the time the Investment is made and shall not be adjusted for increases or decreases in value or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07(c) . The acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment made by the Company or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person on the date of any such acquisition in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07(c) .

 

Issue Date ” means November 1, 2016.

 

Issuers ” means the Company and Finance Corp.

 

Issuer Request ” or “ Issuer Order ” means a written request or order (x) signed (i) in the name of the Company by the General Partner on behalf of the Company by any two of the following: a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner, or any other officer or officers of the General Partner and (ii) in the name of Finance Corp. by any two of the following: a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Finance Corp., or any other officer or officers of Finance Corp. and (y) delivered to the Trustee from time to time.

 

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Joint Venture ” means any Person that is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries makes any Investment.

 

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

 

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

 

Make-Whole Premium ” means, with respect to a Note at any time, the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such time of (i) the redemption price of such Note at November 1, 2018 set forth in the table in Section 3.07(a)  plus (ii) any required interest payments due on such Note through November 1, 2018 (in each case except for accrued and unpaid interest at such time), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate at such time plus 50 basis points, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), over (b) the principal amount of such Note.

 

Master Service Agreement ” means that certain Master Services Agreement by and among the Company, the General Partner, Enviva, LP, Enviva GP, LLC, the subsidiaries of Enviva, LP party thereto and Enviva Management Company, LLC, dated as of April 9, 2015, as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

 

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

 

(1)                                  any gain (or loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (or loss), realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person; and

 

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

 

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:

 

(1)                                  the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, severance costs and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale;

 

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(2)                                  taxes paid or payable or taxes required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements;

 

(3)                                  amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the properties or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon or other security agreement of any kind with respect to such assets or which must by its terms or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Sale, or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale;

 

(4)                                  any amounts to be set aside in any reserve established in accordance with GAAP or any amount placed in escrow, in either case for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such properties or assets or for liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries until such time as such reserve is reversed or such escrow arrangement is terminated, in which case Net Proceeds shall include only the amount of the reserve so reversed or the amount returned to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries from such escrow arrangement, as the case may be; and

 

(5)                                  all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in the Restricted Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures that are the subject of such Asset Sale.

 

Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

 

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

 

(2)                                  no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness (other than the Notes) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and

 

(3)                                  the explicit terms of which provide there is no recourse against any of the Capital Stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except for Customary Recourse Exceptions or except as contemplated by clause (9) of the definition of “Permitted Liens.”

 

For purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.09 , in the event that any Non-Recourse Debt of any of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event will be deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Notes ” has the meaning stated in the fourth recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Notes authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “Notes” shall include the Initial Notes, all Additional Notes issued

 

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hereunder, and any Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Initial Notes or Additional Notes. All Notes shall be treated as a single class for purposes of this Indenture.

 

Obligations ” means any principal, premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), penalties, fees, charges, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages, guarantees, and other liabilities or amounts payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness or in respect thereto.

 

Offering Memorandum ” means the final offering memorandum relating to the offering of Initial Notes dated October 20, 2016.

 

Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice President of such Person (or, if such Person is a limited partnership, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice President of such Person’s general partner).

 

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate (x) signed by any two Officers of the Company and (y) delivered to the Trustee from time to time.

 

Operating Surplus ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, who may be an employee of or counsel for an Issuer, the General Partner or a Guarantor.

 

Outside Date ” means January 31, 2017.

 

Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Issuers or any Guarantor that ranks pari passu in right of payment with the Notes or such Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable.

 

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

 

Partnership Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Company, dated as of May 4, 2015, as in effect on the Issue Date and as such may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

Permitted Business ” means either (1) the business conducted by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date, (2) any other business that generates gross income that constitutes “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Code, or (3) any activity that is

 

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ancillary, complementary or incidental to or necessary or appropriate for the activities described in clauses (1) or (2) of this definition.

 

Permitted Business Investments ” means Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company or in any Joint Venture, provided that:

 

(1)                                  either (a) at the time of such Investment and immediately thereafter, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a)  or (b) such Investment does not exceed the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds (as defined in Section 4.07 ) not previously expended at the time of making such Investment;

 

(2)                                  if such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture has outstanding Indebtedness at the time of such Investment, either (a) all such Indebtedness is Non-Recourse Debt or (b) any such Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture that is recourse to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (which shall include all Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture for which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may be directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, obligated to pay, whether pursuant to the terms of such Indebtedness, by law or pursuant to any guarantee, including any “clawback,” “make-well” or “keep-well” arrangement) at the time such Investment is made, constitutes Permitted Debt or could be incurred at that time by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a); and

 

(3)                                  such Unrestricted Subsidiary’s or Joint Venture’s activities are not outside the scope of the Permitted Business.

 

Permitted Investments ” means:

 

(1)                                  any Investment in the Company (including through purchases of Notes) or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(2)                                  any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(4)                                  any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration (a) from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 or (b) pursuant to clause (6) of the items deemed not to be Asset Sales under the definition of “Asset Sale”;

 

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(5)                                  any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for the issuance of, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent (a) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) to the equity capital of the Company in respect of or (b) sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; provided, however , that such amounts are not included in Available Cash from Operating Surplus or Incremental Funds;

 

(6)                                  any Investments received (a) in compromise or resolution of, or upon satisfaction of judgments with respect to, (i) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer or (ii) litigation, arbitration or other disputes (including pursuant to any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings) with Persons who are not Affiliates or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

(7)                                  Hedging Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(8)                                  Permitted Business Investments;

 

(9)                                  payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(10)                           loans or advances to officers, directors or employees of the Company or its Affiliates made in compliance with law and in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and otherwise in compliance with Section 4.11 in an amount not to exceed $5.0 million outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

 

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

 

(12)                           Investments that are in existence on the Issue Date, and any extension, modification or renewal of any such Investments, but only to the extent not involving additional advances, contributions or other Investments of cash or other assets or other increases of such Investments (other than as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities, in each case, pursuant to the terms of such Investments as in effect on the Issue Date);

 

(13)                           guarantees of performance of operating leases or other obligations (other than Indebtedness) arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(14)                           Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary existing on the date such entity became a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of any entity merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 5.01 to the extent that

 

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such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

(15)                           repurchases of or other Investments in the Notes;

 

(16)                           Guarantees of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary permitted under Section 4.09 ; and

 

(17)                           other Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (17) that are at the time outstanding, do not exceed the greater of (a) $50.0 million or (b) 5.0% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

Permitted Liens ” means:

 

(1)                                  Liens securing Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Facilities permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09(b)(i) ;

 

(2)                                  Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;

 

(3)                                  Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person (a) becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (b) is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the case of subclause (b), such Liens were in existence prior to such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof) other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)                                  Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to such acquisition;

 

(5)                                  any interest or title of a lessor to the property subject to a Capital Lease Obligation;

 

(6)                                  Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capital Lease Obligations, purchase money obligations or other payments incurred to finance the acquisition, lease, improvement or construction of or repairs or additions to, assets or property acquired, leased, improved, constructed or repaired in the ordinary course of business; provided that:

 

(a)                                  the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture and does not exceed the cost of the assets or property so acquired or constructed; and

 

(b)                                  such Liens are created within 360 days of the later of the acquisition, lease, completion of improvements, construction, repairs or additions or commencement

 

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of full operation of the assets or property subject to such Lien and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto;

 

(7)                                  Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens securing the Credit Agreement);

 

(8)                                  Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business (a) to secure the performance of tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, trade contracts, government contracts, operating leases, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature or (b) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security or similar legislation;

 

(9)                                  Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Joint Venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt or other Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture;

 

(10)                           Liens upon specific items of inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds and permitted by Section 4.09 ;

 

(11)                           Liens securing Obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees or otherwise under this Indenture, as the case may be;

 

(12)                           Liens securing any Indebtedness equally and ratably with all Obligations due under the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to a contractual covenant that limits Liens in a manner substantially similar to Section 4.12 ;

 

(13)                           Liens to secure Obligations under Hedging Contracts of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(14)                           Liens securing any insurance premium financing under customary terms and conditions, provided that no such Lien may extend to or cover any assets or property other than the insurance being acquired with such financing, the proceeds thereof and any unearned or refunded insurance premiums related thereto;

 

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

 

(16)                           any attachment or judgment Lien that does not constitute an Event of Default;

 

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

 

(18)                           Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(19)                           leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

(20)                           statutory and contractual Liens of landlords to secure rent arising in the ordinary course of business and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and other Liens imposed by law incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith;

 

(21)                           Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided, however , that (a) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Issuers in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board and (b) such deposit account is not intended by the Issuers or any Restricted Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;

 

(22)                           Liens in favor of collecting or payor banks having a right of setoff, revocation, refund or chargeback with respect to money or instruments of the Issuers or any Restricted Subsidiary on deposit with or in possession of such bank;

 

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

 

(24)                           Liens arising from the deposit of funds or securities in trust for the purpose of decreasing or defeasing Indebtedness so long as such deposit of funds or securities and such decreasing or defeasing of Indebtedness are permitted under Section 4.07 ;

 

(25)                           other Liens incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness then outstanding and secured by any Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (25) does not exceed the greater of (a) $25.0 million or (b) 2.5% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

 

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(26)                           any Lien renewing, replacing, extending, refinancing or refunding a Lien securing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture, provided that (a) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien is not increased except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection therewith and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (b) no assets encumbered by any such Lien other than the assets permitted to be encumbered immediately prior to such renewal, extension, refinance or refund are encumbered thereby (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof).

 

In each case set forth above, notwithstanding any stated limitation on the assets that may be subject to such Lien, a Permitted Lien on a specified asset or group or type of assets may include Liens on all improvements, additions and accessions thereto and all products and proceeds thereof (including dividends, distributions and increases in respect thereof).

 

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in a Refinancing of other Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

 

(1)                                  the principal amount (or accreted amount, as applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities being Refinanced (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness or accrued and unpaid dividends on preferred securities and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);

 

(2)                                  such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (a) has a final maturity date no earlier than the earlier of (i) the final maturity of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities being Refinanced, or (ii) 91 days after the final maturity of the Notes, and (b) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity either (i) equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities being Refinanced, or (ii) longer than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Notes;

 

(3)                                  if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness or shall be Disqualified Stock or preferred securities of the obligor on the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

 

(4)                                  such Indebtedness is not incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp. or a Guarantor) if the Company or a Guarantor is the issuer or other primary obligor on the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

 

(5)                                  if any preferred securities being Refinanced were not Disqualified Stock of the Issuers, the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be Disqualified Stock of the Issuers; and

 

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(6)                                  if any preferred securities being Refinanced were preferred securities of a Restricted Subsidiary, the Refinancing Indebtedness shall be preferred securities of such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, any Indebtedness incurred under Credit Facilities pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(i)  shall be subject only to the refinancing provision in the definition of Credit Facilities and not pursuant to the requirements set forth in the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.”

 

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

 

Place of Payment ” means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Notes of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 1.01 and Section 4.02 .

 

preferred securities ” of any Person means any Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) of such Person that has preferential rights to any other Capital Stock of any class of such Person with respect to dividends or redemptions or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person.

 

Port Facility ” shall mean a marine terminal, and all related docks, piers, buildings and other structures, facilities, paved roads, storage areas, equipment (including, without limitation, automated cargo handling systems, stationary stackers, water spray systems, hatch covers, gangways, scales, cranes, conveyors, hoppers and other devices used for loading and unloading vehicles) and parts, including all structures or improvements erected on any real property on which a Port Facility is located, all alterations thereto or replacements thereof, all fixtures, attachments, appliances, equipment, machinery and other articles attached thereto or used in connection therewith and all equipment or parts which may from time to time be incorporated or installed in or attached thereto, all contracts and agreements for the purchase or sale of commodities or other personal property related thereto, all real or personal property owned or leased related thereto, and all other real and tangible and intangible personal property leased or owned and placed upon or used in connection with the receipt, storage, and loading of Wood Pellets upon any such real property.

 

Private Placement Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 1.08(g)(1)  hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Prudent Industry Practices ” shall mean any of the practices, methods and acts engaged in or approved by a significant portion of the Wood Pellet production industry for Wood Pellet Production Facilities that are similar to the Facilities in the United States during the relevant time period, or any of the practices, methods and acts which, in the exercise of reasonable judgment in light of the facts known at the time the decision was made, could have been expected to accomplish the desired result at a reasonable cost consistent with good business practices, sound engineering practices, reliability, safety and expedition. For the avoidance of doubt, “Prudent

 

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Industry Practices” is not intended to be limited to the optimum practice, method or act to the exclusion of all others, but rather to be acceptable principles, methods and acts generally accepted in the United States, having due regard for, among other things, the preservation of manufacturers’ warranties and operating instructions, the requirements or guidance of Governmental Authorities, applicable laws, applicable operating guidelines and rules and the requirements of insurers.

 

Qualifying Counterparty ” shall mean (a) any Person that either has a public corporate credit rating and corporate family rating no lower than BBB- from S&P and Baa3 from Moody’s or has provided credit support acceptable to the Company in good faith in favor of the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any contract entered into with such Person, which credit support shall be comprised of either (x) a guarantee from (i) an Affiliate of such Person that has a public corporate credit rating and corporate family rating of no lower than BBB- from S&P and Baa3 from Moody’s or (ii) a Person described in clause (b) below or (y) one or more surety or performance bonds or a letter or letters of credit from any domestic office of any financial institution or commercial bank that has a public corporate credit rating and corporate family rating of no lower than BBB+ from S&P and Baa1 from Moody’s and (b) any other Person selected by the Company in a manner consistent with Prudent Industry Practices.

 

Qualifying Off-Take Contract ” shall mean a binding and enforceable contract for the sale of Wood Pellets from Wood Pellet Production Facilities of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that (i) is between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and a Qualifying Counterparty, (ii) is consistent with Prudent Industry Practices and (iii) provides for fixed-rate unit pricing, index-based unit pricing or such other pricing terms that are consistent with Prudent Industry Practices.

 

Qualified Owners ” means Riverstone/Carlyle Renewable and Alternative Energy Fund II, L.P., Enviva Holdings, LP, and any Affiliate or Related Person of any of the foregoing. Any person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is (or pursuant to the provisions under Section 4.15 is not required to be) made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates and Related Persons, constitute an additional Qualified Owner.

 

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

 

Rating Category ” means:

 

(1)                                  with respect to S&P, any of the following categories: AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and

 

(2)                                  with respect to Moody’s, any of the following categories: Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories).

 

Rating Decline ” means a decrease in the rating of the Notes by both Moody’s and S&P by one or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories as well as between Rating Categories). In determining whether the rating of the Notes has decreased by one or more

 

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gradations, gradations within Rating Categories, namely + or - for S&P, and 1, 2, and 3 for Moody’s, will be taken into account; for example, in the case of S&P, a rating decline either from BB+ to BB or BB- to B+ will constitute a decrease of one gradation.

 

Refinance ” means, in respect of any Indebtedness or preferred securities, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, effect a change by amendment or modification, defease or retire, or to issue Indebtedness or preferred securities in exchange or replacement for (or the net proceeds of which are used to Refinance), such Indebtedness or preferred securities in whole or in part. “ Refinanced ” and “ Refinancing ” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to the Notes, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the initial purchasers with respect to the issuance of the Notes on the Issue Date.

 

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

 

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

 

Regular Record Date ” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Notes means April 15 or October 15 immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

 

Related Person ” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(1)                                  any controlling stockholder, controlling member, general partner, Subsidiary, or spouse, descendent or immediate family member (in the case of an individual), of such Person;

 

(2)                                  any estate, trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners or owners of which consist solely of one or more Qualified Owner and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (1); or

 

(3)                                  any executor, administrator, trustee, manager, director, officer or other similar fiduciary of any Person referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (1) and (2), acting solely in such capacity.

 

Reporting Default ” means a Default described in Section 6.01(a)(iv) .

 

Responsible Officer ”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee within the corporate trust department, including any Vice President, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, assistant cashier, trust officer, assistant trust officer or assistant controller assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular

 

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subject, and, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Restricted Subsidiary ” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Finance Corp. shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Riverstone Entities ” means Riverstone/Carlyle Renewable and Alternative Energy Fund II, L.P. and each Affiliate thereof that is neither a portfolio company nor a company controlled by a portfolio company and that is not the Company or the Guarantors.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

S&P ” refers to S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

 

Sale and Leaseback Transaction ” means any direct or indirect arrangement with any Person or to which any such Person is a party providing for the leasing to the Issuers or a Restricted Subsidiary of any property, whether owned by the Issuers or any Restricted Subsidiary at the Issue Date or later acquired, which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Issuers or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person or to any other Person from whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such property.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is secured by a Lien pursuant to clauses (1) or (25) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) that is outstanding as of such date to (2) the Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company for the then most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, in each case calculated on a pro forma basis in a manner consistent with the adjustments contemplated by the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

 

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

 

Senior Debt ” means

 

(1)                                  all Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding under Credit Facilities and all obligations under Hedging Contracts with respect thereto;

 

(2)                                  any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee; and

 

(3)                                  all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses(1) and (2).

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, Senior Debt will not include:

 

(a)                                  any intercompany Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or

 

(b)                                  any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, “Senior Debt” will not include any trade payables or taxes owed or owing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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

 

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

 

Special Record Date ” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Company pursuant to Section 1.06.

 

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 (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

52



 

(2)                                  any partnership (whether general or limited) or limited liability company (a) the sole general partner or member of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, or (b) if there is more than a single general partner or member, either (x) the only managing general partners or managing members of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (y) such Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding general partner interests, member interests or other Voting Stock of such partnership or limited liability company, respectively.

 

Subsidiary Guarantee ” means any guarantee by a Guarantor of the Issuers’ Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to Article Nine hereof.

 

Transaction Costs ” means any legal, professional and advisory fees or other transaction costs and expenses paid (whether or not incurred) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any incurrence of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or any issuance of other equity securities or any Refinancing thereof.

 

Treasury Rate ” means as of any redemption date the yield to maturity at such redemption date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H. 15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the date fixed for redemption (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to November 1, 2018; provided, however , that if such period is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Company shall obtain the Treasury Rate by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from such redemption date to November 1, 2018 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. The Company will (a) calculate the Treasury Rate on the second Business Day preceding the applicable redemption date and (b) prior to such redemption date file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Make-Whole Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

 

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

 

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

 

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

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (i) the Existing Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (ii) any other Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp.) that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that, in the case of clause (ii), such Subsidiary:

 

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(1)                                  except to the extent permitted by subclause (2)(b) of the definition of “Permitted Business Investments,” has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt owing to any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 . If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 , the Company will be in default of such covenant.

 

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

 

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person (or, if such Person is a limited partnership, such Person or its general partner, as applicable) that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person (or, if such Person is a limited partnership, its general partner).

 

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

 

(1)                                  the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal or (with respect to preferred securities) redemption or similar payment, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness or preferred securities, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

 

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

 

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Wood Pellets ” means biomass comprised of wood, whether in the form of pellets or otherwise, which can be used as a fuel for the purpose of recovering its energy content by combustion, among other uses.

 

Wood Pellet Production Facility ” shall mean a Wood Pellet manufacturing and production facility, and all related structures, facilities, paved roads, storage areas, equipment and parts, including all structures or improvements erected on any real property on which such Wood Pellet Production Facility is located, all alterations thereto or replacements thereof, all fixtures, attachments, appliances, equipment, machinery and other articles attached thereto or used in connection therewith and all equipment or parts which may from time to time be incorporated or installed in or attached thereto, all contracts and agreements for the purchase or sale of commodities or other personal property related thereto, all real or personal property owned or leased related thereto, and all other real and tangible and intangible personal property leased or owned and placed upon or used in connection with the manufacture and production of Wood Pellets upon any such real property.

 

Section 2.02                              Other Definitions .

 

Term

 

Defined in Section

“Affiliate Transaction”

 

Section 4.11(a)

“Alternate Offer”

 

Section 4.15(g)

“Asset Sale Offer”

 

Section 3.09

“Calculation Date”

 

Section 2.01 under “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”

“Change of Control Offer”

 

Section 4.15(a)

“Change of Control Payment”

 

Section 4.15(a)

“Change of Control Purchase Date”

 

Section 4.15(a)

“Change of Control Settlement Date”

 

Section 4.15(a)

“Covenant Defeasance”

 

Section 7.03

“Determination Date”

 

Section 3.10(c)

“Discharge”

 

Section 10.01

“Escrowed Funds”

 

Section 3.10(a)

“Escrow Release Conditions”

 

Section 3.10(a)

“Escrow Release Date”

 

Section 3.10(a)

“Event of Default”

 

Section 6.01(a)

“Excess Proceeds”

 

Section 4.10(d)

“Incremental Funds”

 

Section 4.07(a)

“incur”

 

Section 4.09(a)

“Legal Defeasance”

 

Section 7.02

“Offer Amount”

 

Section 3.09

“Offer Period”

 

Section 3.09

“Paying Agent”

 

Section 1.01

“Payment Default”

 

Section 6.01(a)

“Permitted Debt”

 

Section 4.09(b)

“Reinstatement Date”

 

Section 4.19

“Registrar”

 

Section 1.01

“Restricted Payments”

 

Section 4.07(a)

 

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Term

 

Defined in Section

“Sampson Entities”

 

Section 3.10

“Settlement Date”

 

Section 3.09

“Special Mandatory Redemption”

 

Section 3.10(c)

“Special Mandatory Redemption Date”

 

Section 3.10(c)

“Special Mandatory Redemption Price”

 

Section 3.10(c)

“Termination Date”

 

Section 3.09

“Trailing Four Quarters”

 

Section 4.07(a)(4)(i)

 

Section 2.03                              Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act . Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. Any terms incorporated in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule under the Trust Indenture Act have the meanings so assigned to them.

 

Section 2.04                              Rules of Construction .

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

(3)                                  “or” is not exclusive;

 

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

 

(5)                                  the meanings of the words “will” and “shall” are the same when used to express an obligation;

 

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

 

(7)                                  “herein,” “hereof’ and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole (as amended or supplemented from time to time) and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

(8)                                  when the words “includes” or “including” are used herein, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

 

(9)                                  unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture; and

 

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(10)                           all references in this Indenture or the Notes to “interest” are deemed to include any Additional Interest then owed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

ARTICLE THREE
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

Section 3.01                              Notices to Trustee .

 

If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, they shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) before the date of giving notice of the redemption pursuant to Section 3.03 , an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of Section 3.07 pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed, (iv) the redemption price (if known), and (v) whether they request the Trustee to give notice of such redemption. Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to the mailing of notice of such redemption to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

 

Section 3.02                              Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed .

 

(a)                                  If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes as follows: (1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or (2) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis or in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC.

 

(b)                                  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not $2,000 or a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

Section 3.03                              Notice of Redemption .

 

(a)                                  At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge, the Issuers shall send a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Any redemption notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions specified in the redemption notice.

 

(b)                                  The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(i)                                      the redemption date;

 

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(ii)                                   the redemption price or, if the redemption price is not then determinable, the manner in which it is to be determined;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(vi)                               that, unless the Issuers default in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption shall cease to accrue on and after the redemption date and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes is to receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed;

 

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

 

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

 

(ix)                               any conditions precedent to the redemption.

 

(c)                                   If any of the Notes to be redeemed is in the form of a Global Note, then the Issuers shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depository applicable to redemption.

 

(d)                                  A notice of redemption with respect to any redemption pursuant Section 3.07(c)  need not set forth the Make-Whole Premium but only the manner of calculation thereof in reasonable detail. The Issuers will notify the Trustee of the Make-Whole Premium with respect to any such redemption promptly after the calculation, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation.

 

(e)                                   At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of optional redemption in the Issuers’ names and at their expense; provided, however , that the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee, as provided in Section 3.01 , an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in Section 3.03(b) .

 

Section 3.04                              Effect of Notice of Redemption .

 

Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with Section 3.03 or Section 3.10 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price, subject to satisfaction of any conditions specified in the notice of redemption. If sent in the manner provided for in Section 3.03 , the notice of redemption shall be conclusively

 

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presumed to have been given whether or not a Holder receives such notice. Failure to give timely notice or any defect in the notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption.

 

Section 3.05                              Deposit of Redemption Price .

 

(a)                                  Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary thereof is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.18 of this Indenture) money sufficient in same day funds to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Paying Agent by an Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed.

 

(b)                                  If the Issuers comply with the provisions of Section 3.05(a) , on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption whether or not such Notes are presented for payment, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes shall be to receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of an Issuer to comply with Section 3.05(a) , interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful, on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

 

Section 3.06                              Notes Redeemed in Part .

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall issue in the name of the Holder and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

 

Section 3.07                              Optional Redemption .

 

(a)                                  Except as set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 3.07 , the Issuers shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 3.07 prior to November 1, 2018. On or after November 1, 2018, the Issuers shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part at any time, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on November 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

 

Percentage

 

2018

 

104.250

%

2019

 

102.125

%

2020 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.07 , at any time prior to November 1, 2018, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the

 

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aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 108.5% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date), in an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, provided that:

 

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

 

(ii)                                   each such redemption occurs within 120 days of the date of the closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

(c)                                   Prior to November 1, 2018, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of:

 

(i)                                      100% of the principal amount thereof, plus

 

(ii)                                   accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date), plus

 

(iii)                                the Make-Whole Premium at the redemption date.

 

(d)                                  The Notes may also be redeemed, as a whole, following certain Change of Control Offers, at the redemption price and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.15(g) .

 

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

 

Section 3.08                              Mandatory Redemption .

 

Except as set forth under Section 3.10 , neither of the Issuers shall be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

Section 3.09                              Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds .

 

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

 

The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of not less than 20 Business Days or more than 30 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by Applicable Law (the “ Offer Period ”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “ Settlement Date ”), the Company shall purchase and pay for the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (the “ Offer Amount ”) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been validly

 

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tendered (and not validly withdrawn), all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) in response to the Asset Sale Offer.

 

Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall send a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

 

(a)                                  that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open, including the time and date the Asset Sale Offer will terminate (the “ Termination Date ”);

 

(b)                                  the Offer Amount and the purchase price;

 

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

 

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

 

(e)                                   that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may not elect to have only a portion of such Note purchased;

 

(f)                                    that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Company or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice, before the Termination Date;

 

(g)                                   that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, prior to the Termination Date, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

 

(h)                                  that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders, and Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders or lenders, collectively, exceeds the amount the Company is required to repurchase, the Company shall select the Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis (based on the principal amounts of Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness (or, in the case of Pari Passu Indebtedness issued with significant original issue discount, based on the accreted value thereof) tendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate so that only Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, shall be purchased)); and

 

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

 

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If any of the Notes subject to an Asset Sale Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depository applicable to repurchases.

 

Promptly after the Termination Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer in the aggregate principal amount required by Section 4.10 hereof, and prior to the Settlement Date it shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 . Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date, the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall send or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall issue a new Note, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or before the Settlement Date.

 

Section 3.10                              Escrow of Proceeds; Special Mandatory Redemption .

 

(a)                                  On the Issue Date, the Issuers will deposit, or caused to be deposited, into the Escrow Account an amount equal to the gross proceeds of the offering of the Notes sold on the Issue Date (together with any other property from time to time held by the Escrow Agent in the Escrow Account, the “ Escrowed Funds ”). The Escrow Agent will release the Escrowed Funds to the Company or at its direction upon delivery by the Issuers to the Escrow Agent, with a copy to the Trustee, no later than the Outside Date, of an Issuers Release Certificate, as defined in the Escrow Agreement (the “ Escrow Release Condition ,” and such date of release of the Escrowed Funds, the “ Escrow Release Date ”).

 

(b)                                  The Notes are subject to a special mandatory redemption (a “ Special Mandatory Redemption ”) if either (i) the Escrow Release Date has not occurred on or prior to the Outside Date, or (ii) on any date prior to the Outside Date (any such date, the “ Determination Date ”), the Company has determined in its sole discretion that the Escrow Release Condition will not be satisfied by the Outside Date. The Company or, upon the receipt of written instruction from the Company accompanied by an officers’ certificate, the Trustee, will send a notice of Special Mandatory Redemption to the Escrow Agent and Holders of the Notes no later than one Business Day after the Outside Date or the Determination Date, as applicable. The Notes will be redeemed five Business Days following the date of the notice of Special Mandatory Redemption (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption Date ”). The redemption price for any Special Mandatory Redemption will be 100.0% of the initial issue price of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes from the Issue Date to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption Price ”). The Escrow Agent will release the Escrowed Funds to the Paying Agent for purposes of funding such redemption as provided in the Escrow Agreement, and the Issuers shall pay any additional amounts to the Paying Agent necessary to fund such redemption.

 

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(c)                                   Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.10 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.03(b) , 3.03(c) , 3.04 and 3.05 hereof.

 

(d)                                  The provisions of Section 3.10(c)  will not apply to Additional Notes except as specified in an Issuer Order providing for their issuance. This Section 3.10 will cease to apply after the Escrow Release Date.

 

Section 3.11                              No Limit on Other Purchases .

 

Nothing in this Indenture or the Notes shall prohibit or limit the right of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company from time to time to repurchase the Notes at any price in open market purchases or negotiated transactions, by tender offer or otherwise without any notice to or consent by Holders. Any Notes purchased by the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, be held or resold or may, at the Company’s option, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. Any Notes delivered to the Trustee for cancellation may not be reissued or resold and will promptly be cancelled.

 

ARTICLE FOUR
COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01                              Payment of Notes .

 

The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes.

 

Principal, interest and premium, if any, shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the due date money deposited by an Issuer or a Guarantor in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, then due.

 

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; and they shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

Section 4.02                              Maintenance of Office or Agency .

 

The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee) where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment and they shall maintain an office or agency in the United States (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the

 

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Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. Further, if at any time there shall be no such office or agency where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, the Issuers shall forthwith designate and maintain such an office or agency. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

The Issuers hereby designate the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company for the presentment and surrender of the Notes. In addition, Notes may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

Section 4.03                              Reports .

 

(a)                                  Whether or not required by the Commission, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Trustee and to any of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of Notes who so request (by hard copy or internet access), within five Business Days of the date such filing would otherwise be required to be made with the Commission:

 

(i)                                      quarterly and annual financial and other information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such Forms, prepared in all material respects in accordance with the rules and regulations applicable to such Forms and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon that would be required to be contained in a Form 10-K by the Company’s certified independent accountants; and

 

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

 

(b)                                  If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries that, when taken together with all other Unrestricted Subsidiaries, would not be a Significant Subsidiary), then the quarterly and annual financial information required by Section 4.03(a)(i) shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes to the financial statements or in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

(c)                                   Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein.

 

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(d)                                  The Company will be deemed to have furnished to the Trustee and Holders and Beneficial Owners of Notes the reports and information referred to above in this Section 4.03 if the Company has posted such reports or information on the Company Website or filed them with the Commission. For purposes of this Section 4.03 , the term “Company Website” means the collection of web pages that may be accessed on the World Wide Web using the URL address http://www.envivabiomass.com or such other address as the Company may from time to time designate in writing to the Trustee, so long as the Trustee, Holders and Beneficial Owners of Notes, securities analysts and prospective investors are provided with access to such reports and information.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt thereof shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers’ compliance with any of the covenants in this Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to certificates).

 

Section 4.04                              Compliance Certificate .

 

(a)                                  The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after December 31, 2016, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

 

(b)                                  The Issuers shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer of the Company or Finance Corp. becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

Section 4.05                              Taxes .

 

The Company shall pay, and shall 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 .

 

Each of the Issuers and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture;

 

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and each Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

Section 4.07                              Limitation on Restricted Payments .

 

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

 

(1)                                  declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

 

(2)                                  purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company held by any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary) other than through the exchange therefor solely of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

 

(3)                                  make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof (other than a purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any such subordinated Indebtedness that is so purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired or retired for value in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or payment at final maturity, in each case due within twelve months of the date of such purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value); or

 

(4)                                  make any Restricted Investment,

 

(all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment and either:

 

(i)                                      if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (the “ Trailing Four Quarters ”) is

 

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not less than 1.75 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with (without duplication of amounts included in clause (e) below) the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11) of Section 4.07(b) ) with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made, is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(a)                                  Available Cash from Operating Surplus with respect to the Company’s immediately preceding fiscal quarter, plus

 

(b)                                  100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company, or the fair market value of any Permitted Business or long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business to the extent acquired in consideration of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock)) after the Issue Date as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), plus

 

(c)                                   to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the Issue Date is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any), plus

 

(d)                                  the net reduction in Restricted Investments resulting from dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of assets in each case to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any Person (including Unrestricted Subsidiaries) or from redesignations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such amounts have not been included in Available Cash from Operating Surplus for any period commencing on or after the Issue Date (items (b), (c) and (d) being referred to as “ Incremental Funds ”), minus

 

(e)                                   the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds previously expended pursuant to this clause (i) and clause (ii) below; or

 

(ii)                                   if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Trailing Four Quarters is less than 1.75 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with (without duplication of amounts included in (a) or (b) below) the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11) of Section 4.07(b) ) with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made, is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

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(a)                                  $35.0 million less the aggregate amount of all prior Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (ii)(a) since the Issue Date, plus

 

(b)                                  Incremental Funds to the extent not previously expended pursuant to this clause (ii) or clause (i) above.

 

(b)                                  So long as no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby (except with respect to clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (7), (8), (10) and (11) below under which the Restricted Payment is permitted), the preceding provisions will not prohibit:

 

(1)                                  the payment of any dividend or distribution or redemption within 60 days after the date of its declaration or notice, if at the date of declaration or notice the payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2)                                  the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is subordinate in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee thereof or of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent (a) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) to the equity capital of the Company in respect of or (b) sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), with a sale or issuance being deemed substantially concurrent if such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition occurs not more than 120 days after such sale or issuance; provided, however , that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition will be excluded (or deducted, if included) from the calculation of Available Cash from Operating Surplus and Incremental Funds;

 

(3)                                  the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is subordinate in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee thereof or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of, or in exchange for, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(4)                                  the payment of any dividend or distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

 

(5)                                  the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to any equity subscription agreement or equity option agreement or other employee benefit plan or to satisfy obligations under any Equity Interests appreciation rights or option plan or similar arrangement, in each case for the benefit of employees, officers or directors of the Company or any Affiliate thereof; provided, however , that the aggregate price paid for all such purchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests

 

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may not exceed $5.0 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years and added to such amount) plus (A) the cash proceeds received during such calendar year by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of the Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) to any such directors or employees ( provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value will not increase the amount of Available Cash from Operating Surplus or Incremental Funds) plus (B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received during such calendar year by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(6)                                  the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness that is subordinated or junior in right of payment to the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee at a purchase price not greater than (i) 101% of the principal amount of such subordinated or junior Indebtedness and accrued and unpaid interest thereon in the event of a Change of Control or (ii) 100% of the principal amount of such subordinated or junior Indebtedness and accrued and unpaid interest thereon in the event of an Asset Sale, in each case plus accrued interest, in connection with any offer to purchase similar to a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer required by the terms of such Indebtedness, but only if:

 

(a)                                  in the case of a Change of Control, the Company has first complied with and fully satisfied its obligations under Section 4.15 ; or

 

(b)                                  in the case of an Asset Sale, the Company has complied with and fully satisfied its obligations in accordance with Section 4.10 ;

 

(7)                                  the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary representing fractional shares of such Equity Interests in connection with a merger or consolidation involving the Company or Restricted Subsidiary or any other transaction permitted by this Indenture;

 

(8)                                  the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise or conversion of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if such Equity Interests represents a portion of the exercise or conversion price thereof;

 

(9)                                  the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any preferred securities of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued on or after the Issue Date in accordance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 4.09(a) ;

 

(10)                           the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary held by any current or former officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the exercise or vesting of any equity compensation

 

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(including stock options, restricted stock and phantom stock) in order to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to such exercise or vesting; or

 

(11)                           the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Acquired Debt of the Company or any Guarantor that is subordinated or junior in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, by application of (i) cash provided from operations in the ordinary course of business or (ii) proceeds from borrowings under the revolving portion of a Credit Facility (so long as within 30 days prior to such purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value, a corresponding amount of borrowings under the revolving portion of a Credit Facility was repaid from cash provided from operations in the ordinary course of business); provided , in any such case, that the Company is able to incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 4.09(a)  after giving effect to such purchase or redemption; provided further that this clause (11) shall not permit the application of any proceeds from any other borrowings under any Credit Facility to effect any such purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value.

 

(c)                                   The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the Restricted Investment proposed to be made or the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any Restricted Investment, assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.07 shall be determined, in the case of amounts under $25.0 million, by an officer of the General Partner and, in the case of amounts over $25.0 million, by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07 , (x) in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the exceptions described in clauses (1) through (11) of Section 4.07(b) , the Company shall be permitted, in its sole discretion, to classify such Restricted Payment, or later classify, reclassify or re-divide all or a portion of such Restricted Payment, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.07 ; and (y) in the event a Restricted Payment is made pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of Section 4.07(a) , the Company will be permitted to classify whether all or any portion thereof is being made with Incremental Funds.

 

Section 4.08                              Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries .

 

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

 

(i)                                      pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(ii)                                   make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

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(iii)                                transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

provided that preferences on payments of dividends or distributions in preferred securities will not be deemed to constitute a restriction under the foregoing.

 

(b)                                  However, the preceding restrictions of Section 4.08(a)  will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(i)                                      agreements (including the Credit Agreement) as in effect on the Issue Date and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements or the Indebtedness to which they relate, provided that the amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend, distribution and other payment and transfer restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the Issue Date;

 

(ii)                                   this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees;

 

(iii)                                Applicable Law;

 

(iv)                               any instrument of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that, in the case of any instrument governing Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

 

(v)                                  Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on that property of the nature described in clause (iii) of Section 4.08(a) ;

 

(vi)                               any agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as to restrictions on distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition or other customary restrictions pursuant thereto;

 

(vii)                            Indebtedness that Refinances other Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such refinancing Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced, as determined in good faith by the Company;

 

(viii)                         Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

 

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(ix)                               customary provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements or other customary provisions;

 

(x)                                  any agreement or instrument relating to any property or assets acquired after the Issue Date, so long as such encumbrance or restriction relates only to the property or assets so acquired and is not and was not created in anticipation of such acquisitions;

 

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

 

(xii)                            any other agreement governing Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities of the Company or any Guarantor that is permitted to be incurred or issued by Section 4.09 ; provided, however , that such encumbrances or restrictions either (a) are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in this Indenture or the Credit Agreement or this Indenture as it exists on the Issue Date, or (b) in the good faith judgment of a responsible officer of the Company, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to make required payments on the Notes;

 

(xiii)                         encumbrances and restrictions contained in contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business not relating to any Indebtedness and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of, or from the ability of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to realize the value of, property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(xiv)                        Hedging Contracts permitted from time to time under this Indenture.

 

Section 4.09                              Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Securities .  (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “ incur ”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, issue any Disqualified Stock, and the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any preferred securities; provided, however , that the Issuers and any of the Guarantors may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock or preferred securities, if, for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred securities are issued, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

 

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(b)                                  Section 4.09(a)  will not prohibit the incurrence or issuance of any of the following items of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”) described below:

 

(i)                                      the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness (including letters of credit) under one or more Credit Facilities, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (i) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $180.0 million and (b) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness such that, as of the date any such Indebtedness was incurred and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Secured Leverage Ratio would not exceed 2.0 to 1.0, or, without duplication, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred with respect to Indebtedness incurred under this clause (i)(b); provided , that for the purpose of determining the amount of Indebtedness that may be incurred under this clause (i)(b), all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (i) shall be treated as secured Indebtedness and included in the calculation of the Secured Leverage Ratio;

 

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

 

(iii)                                the incurrence by the Issuers and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the related Subsidiary Guarantees issued on the Issue Date and the Exchange Notes and related guarantees to be issued in exchange for the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (other than any Additional Notes);

 

(iv)                               the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (iv), provided that after giving effect to any such incurrence, the principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (iv) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $35.0 million or (b) 5.0% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the date of incurrence;

 

(v)                                  the incurrence or issuance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to, extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a)  or clause (ii), (iii), (xi) or (xiv) of this Section 4.09(b)  or this clause (v);

 

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

 

(a)                                  if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness and a Guarantor is not the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes, or if a Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and neither the Company nor another Guarantor is the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Guarantor; and

 

(b)                                  (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence (as of the date of such issuance or transfer) of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (vi);

 

(vii)                            the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under Hedging Contracts in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(viii)                         the guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09 ;

 

(ix)                               the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of self-insurance, bid, performance, surety and similar bonds issued for the account of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees and obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit supporting such obligations (in each case other than an obligation for money borrowed);

 

(x)                                  the issuance by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Disqualified Stock or preferred securities; provided, however , that:

 

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

 

(b)                                  any sale or other transfer of any such Disqualified Stock or preferred securities to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an

 

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issuance of such Disqualified Stock or preferred securities by such Restricted Subsidiary or the Company, as applicable, that was not permitted by this clause (x);

 

(xi)                               the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Acquired Debt in connection with a merger or consolidation satisfying either one of the financial tests set forth in Section 5.01(a)(iv) ;

 

(xii)                            the incurrence of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however , that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;

 

(xiii)                         the incurrence of Indebtedness or the issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred securities of any of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent the net proceeds thereof are concurrently (a) used to redeem all of the outstanding Notes or (b) deposited to effect Covenant Defeasance or Legal Defeasance or satisfy and discharge this Indenture as described in Article Seven and Article Ten ;

 

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

 

(xv)                           the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness or the issuance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Disqualified Stock; provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence or issuance, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred and Disqualified Stock issued under this clause (xv) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $50.0 million or (b) 5.0% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the date of incurrence or issuance.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09 , in the event that an item of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities (including Acquired Debt) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (xv) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) , the Company will be permitted to classify (or later classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such item of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities in any manner (including by dividing and classifying such item of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities in more than one type of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities permitted under such covenant) that complies with this Section 4.09 . The dollar equivalent principal amount of any Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency and incurred pursuant to any dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness shall be calculated based on the relevant exchange rates in effect at the time of incurrence. Any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement on the Escrow Release Date after giving effect to the use of proceeds of the Notes

 

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issued on the Issue Date shall be considered incurred under Section 4.09(a)(i) , subject to any subsequent classification or reclassification permitted pursuant to this paragraph.

 

The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the accretion of principal with respect to a non-interest bearing or other discount security, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock or preferred securities in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock or preferred securities will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred securities for purposes of this Section 4.09 . For purposes of this Section 4.09 , (i) the accrual of an obligation to pay a premium in respect of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities arising in connection with the issuance of a notice of redemption or making of a mandatory offer to purchase such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities and (ii) unrealized losses or charges in respect of Hedging Contracts (including those resulting from the application of ASC-815) will, in case of clause (i) or (ii), not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred securities. Further, the accounting reclassification of any obligation or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities will not be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred securities for purposes of this Section 4.09 .

 

For purposes of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness under this Section 4.09 , (i) guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness otherwise included in the determination of such amount shall not also be included and (ii) if obligations in respect of letters of credit are incurred pursuant to a Credit Facility and are being treated as incurred pursuant to clause (i) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and the letters of credit relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included.

 

Section 4.10                              Limitation on Asset Sales .

 

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

 

(i)                                      the Company (or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value, determined as of the date of the agreement with respect thereto, of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

 

(ii)                                   at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Asset Sale and all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date, on a cumulative basis, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

 

(1)                                  any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet, of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant

 

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to an agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability (or in lieu of such a release, the agreement of the acquiror or its parent company to indemnify and hold the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary harmless from and against any loss, liability or cost in respect of such assumed Indebtedness or liabilities accompanied by the posting of a letter of credit (issued by a commercial bank that has an Investment Grade Rating) in favor of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary for the full amount of the liability and for so long as the liability remains outstanding; provided, however , that such indemnifying party (or its long term debt securities) shall have an Investment Grade Rating (with no indication of a negative outlook or credit watch with negative implications, in any case, that contemplates such indemnifying party (or its long term debt securities) failing to have an Investment Grade Rating) at the time the indemnity is entered into);

 

(2)                                  any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are, within 180 days after the Asset Sale, converted by the Company or such Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;

 

(3)                                  any stock or assets of the kind referred to in clause (ii), (iii) or (v) of Section 4.10(b) ; and

 

(4)                                  any Designated Noncash Consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Noncash Consideration received since the Issue Date pursuant to this clause (4) that at the time has not been converted to cash, not to exceed the greater of (x) $35.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Noncash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Noncash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

 

(b)                                  Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may apply those Net Proceeds at its option to any combination of the following:

 

(i)                                      to repay, repurchase or redeem Senior Debt;

 

(ii)                                   to acquire all or substantially all of the properties or assets of a Person primarily engaged in a Permitted Business;

 

(iii)                                to acquire a majority of the Voting Stock of a Person primarily engaged in a Permitted Business;

 

(iv)                               to make capital expenditures; or

 

(v)                                  to acquire other long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business.

 

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(c)                                   The acquisition of stock or assets, or making of a capital expenditure, pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) of Section 4.10(b)  shall be deemed to be satisfied if an agreement (including a lease, whether a capital lease or an operating lease) committing to make the acquisitions or expenditure referred to therein is entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary within the time period specified in Section 4.10(b)  and such Net Proceeds are subsequently applied in accordance with such agreement within six months following the date such agreement is entered into.

 

(d)                                  Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will constitute “ Excess Proceeds .”

 

(e)                                   On the 366th day after the Asset Sale (or, at the Company’s option, any earlier date), if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $25.0 million, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes, and to all holders of other Pari Passu Indebtedness containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets then outstanding, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Settlement Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Settlement Date, and will be payable in cash. The Company may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 365 days (or such longer period provided above). If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Company will select the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis as set forth in Section 3.09(h) . Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

(f)                                    The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.10 , the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such conflict.

 

Section 4.11                              Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates .

 

(a)                                  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the

 

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benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company, in each case, other than any such transaction or series of transactions that does not involve consideration in excess of $2.0 million (each, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”), unless:

 

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

 

(ii)                                   the Company delivers to the Trustee, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25.0 million, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 4.11 and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company or the Company’s Conflicts Committee (or other committee serving a similar function).

 

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

 

(i)                                      any employment, severance, employee benefit, director or officer indemnification, equity award, equity option or equity appreciation or other compensation agreement or plan entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and payments, awards, grants or issuances of securities pursuant thereto (including any of the foregoing for the benefit of employees, officer and directors of Affiliates of the Company);

 

(ii)                                   transactions between or among any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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

 

(iv)                               transactions effected in accordance with (a) the terms of agreements or arrangements in effect on the Issue Date, including the Master Services Agreement and the Partnership Agreement, (b) any amendment or replacement of any of such agreements or (c) any agreements entered into hereafter that are similar to any of such agreements, so long as, in the case of clause (b) or (c), the terms of any such amendment or replacement agreement or future agreement are, on the whole either not materially less advantageous to the Company or not materially less favorable to the Holders than the agreement so amended or replaced or the similar agreement referred to in the preceding clause (a), respectively;

 

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(v)                                  customary compensation, indemnification and other benefits made available to officers, directors or employees of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, including reimbursement or advancement of out-of-pocket expenses and provisions of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance;

 

(vi)                               sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to Affiliates of the Company, or receipt by the Company of capital contributions from holders of its Equity Interests, or payments to Affiliates with respect to Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with its terms, provided that the Affiliate is treated no more favorably than other holders of such Indebtedness;

 

(vii)                            Permitted Investments or Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 4.07 ;

 

(viii)                         payments to the General Partner with respect to reimbursement for expenses in accordance with the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, so long as any such amendment, modification or supplement is no less favorable to the Company in any material respect than the agreement prior to such amendment, modification or supplement;

 

(ix)                               (a) guarantees by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of performance of obligations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures in the ordinary course of business, except for guarantees of Indebtedness in respect of borrowed money, and (b) pledges by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Capital Stock in Unrestricted Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures for the benefit of lenders or other creditors of Unrestricted Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures as contemplated by the definition of “Permitted Liens” with respect to clause (b) so long as any such transaction, if involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25.0 million, has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company or the Conflicts Committee of the Company;

 

(x)                                  transactions between the Company and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the General Partner or, if applicable, the Company; provided, however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the General Partner or, if applicable, the Company on any matter involving such other Person; and

 

(xi)                               any transaction in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or that such transaction meets the requirements of Section 4.11(a) ; and

 

(xii)                            in the case of contracts for supplies, raw materials, inventory or other goods or services or activities reasonably related or ancillary thereto, or other operational contracts, any such contracts are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company

 

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or any Restricted Subsidiary and third parties, or if neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a similar contract with a third party, then the terms are no less favorable than those that would reasonably be expected to be available from third parties on an arm’s-length basis.

 

Section 4.12                              Limitation on Liens .

 

The Company will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) securing Indebtedness upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, is secured on an equal and ratable basis with (or on a senior basis (to at least the same extent as the Notes are senior in right of payment) to, in the case of obligations subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be) the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien. Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to the preceding sentence shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the initial Lien.

 

Section 4.13                              Additional Subsidiary Guarantees .

 

If, after the Issue Date, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not already a Guarantor guarantees any other Indebtedness of either of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Facility of the Company, then that Subsidiary will become a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto and delivering it to the Trustee within 20 Business Days of the date on which it guaranteed or incurred such Indebtedness, as the case may be, together with any Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel required by Section 8.06 ; provided, however , that the preceding shall not apply to Subsidiaries of the Company that have properly been designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with this Indenture for so long as they continue to constitute Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the preceding, any Subsidiary Guarantee of a Restricted Subsidiary that was incurred pursuant to this Section 4.13 will be subject to the limitations and provisions, including the release provisions, described under Article Nine .

 

Section 4.14                              Existence .

 

Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms hereof (including consolidation and merger permitted by Section 5.01 or Section 9.04 ), the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its partnership existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however , that the Company shall not be required to preserve the existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except Finance Corp.) if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

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Section 4.15                              Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control .

 

(a)                                  Within 30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 , the Company shall make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to repurchase all or any part (in minimum denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price (the “ Change of Control Payment ”) in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of settlement (the “ Change of Control Settlement Date ”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date. Within 30 days following a Change of Control, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 , the Company shall send a notice of the Change of Control Offer to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating:

 

(i)                                      that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be accepted for payment;

 

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

 

(iii)                                that the Change of Control Offer will expire as of the time specified in such notice on the Change of Control Purchase Date and that the Company shall pay the Change of Control Payment for all Notes accepted for purchase as of the Change of Control Purchase Date promptly thereafter on the Change of Control Settlement Date;

 

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

 

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

 

(vi)                               that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, properly endorsed for transfer, together with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes completed and such customary documents as the Company may reasonably request, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the termination of the Change of Control Offer on the Change of Control Purchase Date;

 

(vii)                            that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, prior to the termination of the Change of Control Offer, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have the Notes purchased; and

 

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(viii)                         that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be in minimum denominations of $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

 

(b)                                  If any of the Notes subject to a Change of Control Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depository applicable to repurchases. Further, the Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.15 , the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such conflict.

 

(c)                                   On the Change of Control Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) properly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Change of Control Offer. Promptly thereafter on the Change of Control Settlement Date the Company shall:

 

(i)                                      deposit with the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered (and not validly withdrawn); and

 

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

 

(d)                                  On the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Paying Agent shall mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes (or, if all the Notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of the Depository) and the Trustee shall 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, however , that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Purchase Date.

 

(e)                                   The Change of Control provisions of this Section 4.15 shall be applicable whether or nor any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable.

 

(f)                                    The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if (i) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.15 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer, (ii) irrevocable notice of redemption of

 

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all Notes has been given pursuant to Section 3.07 , unless there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price, or (iii) in connection with a transaction that would constitute a Change of Control, the Company or a third-party has made an offer to purchase all Notes properly tendered at a price higher than the Change of Control Payment and has purchased all Notes properly tendered in such offer (an “ Alternate Offer ”).

 

(g)                                   A Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in effect for the Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer.

 

(h)                                  In the event that upon consummation of a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer less than 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) that were originally issued are held by Holders other than the Issuers or Affiliates thereof, the Issuers will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer described above, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes that remain outstanding, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

Section 4.16                              No Inducements .

 

The Company will not, and the Company will not permit any of its Subsidiaries, either directly or indirectly, to pay or cause to be paid any cash consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Beneficial Owner or Holder of any Notes for or as an inducement to any consent to any waiver, amendment or supplement of any terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes, unless such consideration is offered to be paid (or agreed to be paid) to all Beneficial Owners and Holders of the Notes which so consent in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent.

 

Section 4.17                              Permitted Business Activities .

 

(a)                                  The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than a Permitted Business, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

(b)                                  Finance Corp. shall not incur Indebtedness unless (1) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary is an obligor or a co-obligor or guarantor of such Indebtedness or (2) the net proceeds of such Indebtedness are loaned to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, used to acquire outstanding debt securities issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary used to repay Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as permitted under Section 4.09 . Finance Corp. shall not engage in any business not related directly or indirectly to obtaining money or arranging financing for the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 4.18                              Money for Notes Payments to Be Held in Trust .  If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to the Notes, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Notes of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

Whenever the Issuers shall have one or more Paying Agents for the Notes, the Issuers will, on or prior to 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Notes of that series, deposit (or, if the Issuers have deposited any trust funds with a trustee pursuant to Section 7.04(1) , cause such trustee to deposit) with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Issuers will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Issuers will cause each Paying Agent for the Notes other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Notes of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Notes of that series.

 

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

 

Subject to applicable law, 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 or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Issuer Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may, at the expense of the Issuers or such Guarantor, as the case may be, cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

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Section 4.19                              Covenant Suspension .

 

If at any time (a) the rating assigned to the Notes by S&P and Moody’s is an Investment Grade Rating, (b) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture and (c) the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate certifying to the matters specified in clauses (a) and (b) of this sentence as of the date of such certificate, the following provisions will be suspended (collectively, the “ Suspended Covenants ”): Section 3.09 , Section 4.07 , Section 4.08 , Section 4.09 , Section 4.10 , Section 4.11 , Section 4.17 , Section 4.20 , and Section 5.01(a)(iv) . However, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will remain subject to all of the other provisions of this Indenture.

 

Thereafter, if either S&P or Moody’s withdraws its ratings or downgrades the ratings assigned to the Notes below the Investment Grade Rating so that the Notes do not have an Investment Grade Rating from both S&P and Moody’s, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants, subject to the terms, conditions and obligations set forth in this Indenture (each such date of reinstatement being the “ Reinstatement Date ”). The Issuers shall give prompt notice to the Trustee of any Reinstatement Date. Compliance with the Suspended Covenants with respect to Restricted Payments made after the Reinstatement Date will be calculated in accordance with Section 4.07 as though Section 4.07 had been in effect during the entire period of time from which the Notes are issued; provided that no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of any failure to comply with any Suspended Covenant that occurs during any period during which such Suspended Covenants are not in effect.

 

Section 4.20                              Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries .

 

(a)                                  The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary properly designated will either be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation that will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a)  or represent Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation shall only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Subsidiary so designated otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

(b)                                  The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09 , either as “Permitted Debt” or pursuant to the first paragraph thereof with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

 

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ARTICLE FIVE
SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01                              Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets .

 

(a)                                  Neither of the Issuers may, directly or indirectly, (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not such Issuer is the survivor), or (2) sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to another Person, unless:

 

(i)                                      either (1) such Issuer is the survivor or (2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer ) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided, however , that Finance Corp. may not consolidate or merge with or into any Person unless the Person formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger is a corporation satisfying such requirement so long as the Company is not a corporation;

 

(ii)                                   the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of such Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture;

 

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

 

(iv)                               in the case of a transaction involving the Company and not Finance Corp., either;

 

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

 

(b)                                  immediately after giving effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made, will be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such transactions; and

 

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(v)                                  such Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture and the opinion shall state the obligations under such supplemental indenture constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Issuer; provided, however , that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of officers of the General Partner.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the restrictions described in Section 5.01(a)(iv) , (i) any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Finance Corp.) may consolidate with, merge into or dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or (ii) the Company may consolidate or merge with or into a Subsidiary of the Company, in each case, without the Company being required to comply with Section 5.01(a)(iv)  in connection with any such consolidation, merger or disposition.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding Section 5.01(a) , the Company may reorganize as any other form of entity in accordance with the following procedures, provided that:

 

(i)                                      the reorganization involves the conversion (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) of the Company into a form of entity other than a limited partnership formed under Delaware law;

 

(ii)                                   the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(iii)                                the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture;

 

(iv)                               immediately after such reorganization no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(v)                                  such reorganization is not materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes (for purposes of this clause (v) a reorganization will not be considered materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes solely because the successor or survivor of such reorganization (a) is subject to federal or state income taxation as an entity or (b) is considered to be an “includible corporation” of an affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of Section 1504(b) of the Code or any similar state or local law).

 

Section 5.02                              Successor Substituted .

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of an Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01 , the successor formed by such consolidation or into or with which such Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, such Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as such Issuer in this Indenture and the Notes and shall be substituted for such Issuer (so that from and after the date of

 

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such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture and the Notes referring to the “Company” or “Finance Corp.,” as the case may be, shall refer instead to the successor and not to the Company or Finance Corp., as the case may be); and thereafter, if an Issuer is dissolved following a transfer of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in accordance with this Indenture and the Notes it shall be discharged and released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes. The Trustee shall enter into a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession and substitution of such successor and such discharge and release of such Issuer.

 

ARTICLE SIX
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01                              Events of Default .

 

(a)                                  An “ Event of Default ” occurs if one of the following shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be involuntary or be effected by operation of law):

 

(i)                                      the Issuers default in the payment when due of interest with respect to the Notes and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

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

 

(iii)                                the Company fails to comply with the provisions of Section 5.01, or to comply with its obligation to offer to repurchase notes when required under Section 4.10 or Section 4.15;

 

(iv)                               the Company fails to comply with the provisions of Section 4.03 for 180 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding of such failure;

 

(v)                                  the Company fails to comply with any other covenant or other agreement in this Indenture or the Notes for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding of such failure;

 

(vi)                               a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the Issue Date, if such default:

 

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

 

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

 

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $30.0 million or more; provided, however , that if any such Payment Default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 60 days from the continuation of such Payment Default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree;

 

(vii)                            the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries fails to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $30.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

 

(viii)                         any Subsidiary Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee (other than, in any such case, by reason of release of a Guarantor in accordance with Section 9.05 ); and

 

(ix)                               the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

 

(a)                                  commences a voluntary case,

 

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

 

(c)                                   consents in writing to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

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

 

(e)                                   admits in writing it generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

 

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

 

(a)                                  is for relief against the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken

 

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together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company in an involuntary case;

 

(b)                                  appoints a Custodian of the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company; or

 

(c)                                   orders the liquidation of the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company;

 

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

 

Section 6.02                              Acceleration .

 

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee by written notice to the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Notwithstanding the preceding, if an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(ix)  or (x)  occurs with respect to the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if (i) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree; (ii) all existing Events of Default (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, interest or premium, if any, that have become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived; (iii) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due other than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid; and (iv) the Issuers have paid the Trustee its compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its expenses, disbursements and advances. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

Section 6.03                              Other Remedies .

 

(a)                                  If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of and interest and

 

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premium, if any, on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

 

(b)                                  The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

Section 6.04                              Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Except as provided in Section 8.02 , Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.05                              Control by Majority .

 

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or 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; provided, however , that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

 

Section 6.06                              Limitation on Suits .

 

(a)                                  A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantees, only if:

 

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

 

(2)                                  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;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b)                                  A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

 

Section 6.07                              Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment .

 

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

 

Section 6.08                              Collection Suit by Trustee .

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(i)  or (ii)  occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers and the Guarantors for the whole amount of principal of, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the compensation, reasonable 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 compensation, reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes), their creditors or their property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 11.07 of this Indenture. 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 11.07 of this Indenture out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes

 

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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.

 

Section 6.10                              Priorities .

 

(a)                                  If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article Six , it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

 

First : to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 11.07 of this Indenture, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the Trustee’s costs and expenses of collection;

 

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

 

Third : to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

(b)                                  The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10 .

 

Section 6.11                              Undertaking for Costs .

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 , or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 7.01                              Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

 

The Issuers may, at their option evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, exercise their rights under either Section 7.02 or Section 7.03 with respect to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Seven .

 

Section 7.02                              Legal Defeasance and Discharge .

 

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 7.01 of the option applicable to this Section 7.02 , the Issuers shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 7.04 hereof, be deemed to have discharged their obligations with respect to this Indenture and all

 

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outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have discharged its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee, on the date the conditions set forth in Section 7.04 below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged its Subsidiary Guarantee (which in each case shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 7.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below) and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes or Subsidiary Guarantee and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute such instruments reasonably requested by the Issuers acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 7.04 , and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Section 1.07 , Section 1.08 , Section 1.09 and Section 4.02 , (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith and (d) the Legal Defeasance provisions of this Article Seven . Subject to compliance with this Article Seven , the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 7.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of their option under Section 7.03 hereof.

 

If the Issuers exercise their Legal Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, and any security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

 

Section 7.03                              Covenant Defeasance .

 

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 7.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 7.03 , the Issuers shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 7.04 , be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Article Four (other than those in Section 4.01 , Section 4.02 , Section 4.06 and Section 4.14 ), Section 3.09 and Section 5.01(a)(iii ) or Section 5.01(a)(iv)  on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Notes, the Issuers and any Guarantor may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 , but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby.

 

If the Issuers exercise their Covenant Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and any security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

 

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Section 7.04                              Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

(1)                                  the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient (which in the case of a deposit in whole or in part of non-callable Government Securities will be evidenced by the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants) to pay the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the outstanding Notes on the date of fixed maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuers must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to the date of fixed maturity or to a particular redemption date;

 

(2)                                  in the case of an election under Section 7.02 , the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

 

(a)                                  the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

 

(b)                                  since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred; provided, however , that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of Officers of the General Partner;

 

(3)                                  in the case of an election under Section 7.03 , the Issuers shall 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 federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred; provided, however , that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of Officers of the General Partner;

 

(4)                                  no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness or other borrowing of funds, or the grant of Liens securing such Indebtedness or other borrowing, all or a portion of which are to be applied to such deposit);

 

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(5)                                  such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

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

 

(7)                                  the Issuers shall 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; provided, however , that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of Officers of the General Partner.

 

Section 7.05                              Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 7.06 , all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.04 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, interest and premium, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(b)                                  The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 7.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

(c)                                   Anything in this Article Seven to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the written request of the Issuers any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 7.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 7.04(a) ), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance, or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be.

 

Section 7.06                              Repayment to Issuers .

 

Subject to applicable escheat and abandoned property laws, any money or non-callable Government Securities deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by an Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on any Note and

 

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remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, interest or premium, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on their written request or (if then held by an Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money or non-callable Government Securities, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

 

Section 7.07                              Reinstatement .

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 7.05 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 7.02 or Section 7.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 7.05 ; provided, however , that, if an Issuer makes any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, such Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 8.01                              Without Consent of Holders of Notes .

 

Notwithstanding Section 8.02 , the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

 

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

 

(2)                                  to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

 

(3)                                  to provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s obligations to the Holders of Notes pursuant to Article Five ;

 

(4)                                  to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee;

 

(5)                                  to secure the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.12 or otherwise;

 

(6)                                  to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture;

 

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(7)                                  to add any additional Guarantor with respect to the Notes or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee, in each case, in accordance with Article Nine ;

 

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

 

(9)                                  to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes;

 

(10)                           to provide for the reorganization of the Company as any other form of entity in accordance with Section 5.01(c) ; or

 

(11)                           to conform the text of this Indenture or the Notes to any provision of the Section entitled “Description of notes” in the Offering Memorandum.

 

Upon the request of the Company, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 8.06 , the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 8.02                              With Consent of Holders of Notes .

 

Except as provided above in Section 8.01 and below in this Section 8.02 , the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and, subject to Section 6.07 , any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, tender offer or exchange offer for Notes. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

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

 

(2)                                  reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other notice provisions or as provided in Section 3.09 , Section 4.10 and Section 4.15 );

 

(3)                                  reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

 

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

 

(5)                                  make any Note payable in currency other than that stated in the Notes;

 

(6)                                  make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or Events of Default or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the Notes (other than payments required by Section 3.09 , Section 4.10 and Section 4.15 );

 

(7)                                  waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Section 3.09 , Section 4.10 and Section 4.15 );

 

(8)                                  release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

 

(9)                                  make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.

 

Upon the request of the Issuers, 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 8.06 , the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture, unless such amended or supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 8.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall send to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 8.03                              Compliance with Trust Indenture Act .

 

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver under this Indenture or the Notes by any Holder given in connection with a purchase, tender or exchange of such Holder’s Notes shall not be rendered invalid by such purchase, tender or exchange.

 

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Section 8.04                              Effect of Consents .

 

After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through (9) of Section 8.02 , in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder of a Note who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same indebtedness as the consenting Holder’s Note.

 

Section 8.05                              Notation on or Exchange of Notes .

 

(a)                                  The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers, in exchange for all Notes, may issue and the Trustee shall, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

(b)                                  Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 8.06                              Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. .

 

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article Eight if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to the provisions of Section 11.01 of this Indenture) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent are satisfied.

 

Section 8.07                              Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

 

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

 

ARTICLE NINE
GUARANTEES

 

Section 9.01                              Subsidiary Guarantees .

 

(a)                                  Subject to this Article Nine , 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 Indenture or the Notes held thereby and the Obligations of the Issuers under the Notes or this Indenture, that: (a) the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and premium and (to the extent permitted by law) interest on the Notes, and all other payment Obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee under the Notes or this

 

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Indenture will be promptly paid in full and 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, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise. Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately.

 

(b)                                  The Guarantors hereby agree that, except as expressly provided in this Article Nine, their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against an Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor further, to the extent permitted by law, hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of an Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against an Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(c)                                   If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to an Issuer, the Guarantors, or any Custodian, Trustee or other similar official acting in relation to any of the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid by an Issuer or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, the Subsidiary Guarantees, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to, and hereby waives, any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Obligations guaranteed hereby.

 

(d)                                  Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (a) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Six for the purposes of its Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby, and (b) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article Six , such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purpose of its Subsidiary Guarantee. The Guarantors shall 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 Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

Section 9.02                              Limitation on Guarantor Liability .

 

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the

 

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obligations of such Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

Section 9.03                              Subsidiary Guarantee Evidenced by Indenture; No Notation of Subsidiary Guarantee .

 

(a)                                  The Subsidiary Guarantee of any Guarantor shall be evidenced solely by its execution and delivery of this Indenture (or, in the case of any Guarantor that is not party to this Indenture on the Issue Date, a supplemental indenture) and not by an endorsement on, or attachment to, any Note of any Subsidiary Guarantee or notation thereof. To effect any Subsidiary Guarantee of any Guarantor not a party to this Indenture on the Issue Date, such future Guarantor shall execute and deliver a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, which supplemental indenture shall be executed and delivered on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer of such Guarantor.

 

(b)                                  Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 9.01 shall be and remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on any Note a notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

(c)                                   The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Subsidiary Guarantees set forth in this Indenture on behalf of each of the Guarantors.

 

Section 9.04                              Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms .

 

(a)                                  No Guarantor shall sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or 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) either (1) the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture under the Notes, this Indenture and its Subsidiary Guarantee, or (2) such transaction does not violate the provisions of Section 4.10 , and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists.

 

(b)                                  In the case of any such consolidation or merger and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, of the Subsidiary Guarantee and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor.

 

Section 9.05                              Releases of Guarantors .

 

(a)                                  The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be released: (1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of such Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) an Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the

 

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sale or other disposition does not violate the provisions of Section 4.10 ; (2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of such Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) an Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if as a result of such sale or disposition the Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and the sale or other disposition does not violate the provisions of Section 4.10 ; (3) if the Company designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.20 ; (4) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance or Discharge in accordance with Article Seven or Article Ten ; (5) upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor, provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred that is continuing; or (6) at such time as such Guarantor ceases to guarantee any other Indebtedness of either of the Issuers or any other Guarantor under a Credit Facility (provided, that, if at any time following such release, such Guarantor guarantees any other Indebtedness of either of the Issuers or any other Guarantors under a Credit Facility, then such Guarantor will be required to provide a Subsidiary Guarantee as provided under Section 4.13).

 

(b)                                  Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the effect that all conditions precedent have been complied with, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Company in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee. Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes and for the other obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article Nine .

 

ARTICLE TEN
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 10.01                       Satisfaction and Discharge .

 

This Indenture shall be satisfied and discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder (except for (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in clause (b) of this Section 10.01 , and as more fully set forth in such clause (b), payments in respect of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Section 1.07 , Section 1.08 , Section 1.09 and Section 4.02 and (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith), 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 been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuers, 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 or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise, and the

 

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Issuers 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 noncallable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of fixed maturity or redemption;

 

(2)                                  the Issuers or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture ;

 

(3)                                  the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at fixed maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be; and

 

(4)                                  the Issuers have delivered an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture (“ Discharge ”) have been satisfied; provided, however , that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of officers of the General Partner.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN
THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 11.01                       Certain Duties and Responsibilities . (a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

 

(1)                                  the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and as are provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and, except for implied covenants or obligations under the Trust Indenture Act, no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2)                                  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 Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

(i)                                      this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of the first paragraph of this Section;

 

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

 

(iii)                                the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of any series, determined as provided in Section 6.05 , relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Notes of such series; and

 

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

 

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

 

(6)                                  The Trustee is hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver the Escrow Agreement.

 

Section 11.02                       Notice of Defaults . If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Notes of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Notes of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 6.01(a)(iii)-(v)  with respect to Notes of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “ default ” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Notes of such series.

 

Section 11.03                       Certain Rights of Trustee . Subject to the provisions of Section 11.01 :

 

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

 

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(b)                                  any request or direction of the Issuers mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Issuer Request or Issuer Order or Officers’ Certificate and any request or direction of a Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate of such Guarantor, and any resolution of the Board of Directors of an Issuer shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution of such Issuer and any resolution of a Guarantor’s Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by such Guarantor’s Board Resolution;

 

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

 

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

 

(e)                                   the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(i)                                      the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

 

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

 

(k)                                  the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its rights to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder;

 

(l)                                      The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for punitive, 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 actions;

 

(m)                              The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture;

 

(n)                                  any permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking actions enumerated in this Indenture or other Note Documents shall not be construed as a duty; and

 

(o)                                  the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

 

Section 11.04                       Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes . The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Issuers, and the Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Issuers of Notes or the proceeds thereof.

 

Section 11.05                       May Hold Notes . The Trustee, any authenticating agent, any Paying Agent, any Registrar or any other agent of the Issuers or any Guarantor, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and, subject to Sections 11.08 and Section 11.13 , may otherwise deal with the Issuers or any Guarantor with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, authenticating agent, Paying Agent, Registrar or such other agent.

 

Section 11.06                       Money Held in Trust . Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be

 

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under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Issuers or any Guarantor.

 

Section 11.07                       Compensation and Reimbursement .

 

The Issuers agree

 

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

 

(b)                                  except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a non-appealable court of competent jurisdiction; and

 

(c)                                   to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and its officers, directors, agents and employees for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims or expenses including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the earnings or income of the Trustee) incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuers, a Holder or any other Person), enforcing this indemnity or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Issuers under this Section the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Notes.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

 

Section 11.08                       Conflicting Interests . If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Notes of more than one series.

 

Section 11.09                       Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility . There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Notes of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for the Notes of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and has its Corporate Trust Office in the continental United States of

 

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America. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Notes of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 11.10                       Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor . No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 11.11 .

 

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Notes of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Issuers. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 11.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Issuers, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of such series.

 

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Notes of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Issuers. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 11.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of a notice of removal pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Issuers, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of such series.

 

If at any time:

 

(a)                                  the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 11.08 after written request therefor by the Issuers or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(b)                                  the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 11.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Issuers or by any such Holder, or

 

(c)                                   the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (A) the Issuers by a Board Resolution of each Issuer may remove the Trustee with respect to all Notes, or (B) subject to Section 6.11 , any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Notes and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Notes of one or more series, the Issuers, by a Board Resolution of each Issuer, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Notes of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Notes of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Notes of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 11.11 . If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Issuers, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of such series. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of such series delivered to the Issuers and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 11.11 , become the successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of any series shall have been so appointed by the Issuers or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 11.11 , any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of such series.

 

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Notes of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of any series to all Holders of Notes of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.10 . Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 11.11                       Acceptance of Appointment by Successor . In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Notes, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Issuers, any Guarantor and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Issuers or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of one or more (but not all) series, the Issuers, any Guarantor, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm

 

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to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Notes of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Notes, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Notes of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co–trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Notes of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Issuers or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Notes of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Issuers and any Guarantor shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

 

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

 

Section 11.12                       Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business . Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Notes shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Notes so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Notes.

 

Section 11.13                       Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers . If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Issuers (or any such other obligor).

 

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Section 11.14                       Appointment of Authenticating Agent . The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent or agents with respect to the Notes which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate the Notes of such Series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer, partial conversion or partial redemption or pursuant to Section 1.10 , and Notes of such series so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Notes of such series by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an authenticating agent so appointed with respect to such series and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an authenticating agent so appointed with respect to such series. Each authenticating agent shall be acceptable to the Issuers and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as authenticating agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such authenticating agent publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such authenticating agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an authenticating agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such authenticating agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

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

 

An authenticating agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Issuers.

 

The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an authenticating agent by giving written notice thereof to such authenticating agent and to the Issuers. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such authenticating agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor authenticating agent with respect to the Notes which shall be acceptable to the Issuers and shall give notice of such appointment to all Holders of Notes of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.10 . Any successor authenticating agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an authenticating agent. No successor authenticating agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

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The Trustee agrees to pay to each authenticating agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Issuers for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 11.07 .

 

If an appointment is made pursuant to this Section with respect to Notes of any series, the Notes of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

This is one of the Notes designated herein and referred to in the within–mentioned Indenture.

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

ARTICLE TWELVE
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01                       Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes .

 

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

 

Section 12.02                       Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .

 

(a)                                  Upon any request or application by an Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, such Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(i)                                      an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.03 ) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

 

(ii)                                   an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.03 ) stating that, in

 

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the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

 

Section 12.03                       Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

115



 

Section 12.04                       Governing Law .

 

THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 12.05                       Trust Indenture Act Controls .

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by the Trust Indenture Act §318(c), such imposed duties shall control. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act which is required to be a part of and govern this Indenture, such required provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the TIA that may be so modified or excluded, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or shall be excluded, as the case may be.

 

Section 12.06                       Successors .

 

All agreements of the Issuers and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

Section 12.07                       Severability .

 

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

 

Section 12.08                       Counterparts .

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture, and each party hereto may sign any number of separate copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

Section 12.09                       No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders .

 

None of the General Partner or any past, present or future director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the General Partner, the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or this 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 issuance of the Notes and the Guarantees.

 

116



 

Section 12.10                       Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. .

 

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

 

Section 12.11                       No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuers or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture insofar as relating to the Notes.

 

Section 12.12                       Patriot Act .

 

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

 

Section 12.13                       Benefits of this Indenture .

 

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

 

Section 12.14                       Notices .

 

Any notice or communication by the Issuers, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing in the English language and delivered in Person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

 

If to the Issuers and/or any Guarantor:

 

Enviva Partners, LP

Enviva Partners Finance Corp.

7200 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 1000

Bethesda, MD 20814

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

1001 Fannin, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

Facsimile No.: (713) 615-5650

 

117



 

Attention: Ramey Layne

 

If to the Trustee:

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association

50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

Facsimile: (612) 217-5651

Attention.: Hallie Field

Email: hfield@wilmingtontrust.com

 

The Issuers, 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 transmitted by facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

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

 

If the Issuers send a notice or communication to Holders, they will send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

118



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

 

 

 

 

ISSUERS:

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Enviva Partners GP, LLC, as its sole general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTORS:

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA GP, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA, LP

 

 

 

 

 

By: Enviva Partners GP, LLC, as its sole general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 



 

 

 

ENVIVA MATERIALS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS AHOSKIE, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS AMORY, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS NORTHAMPTON, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS SOUTHAMPTON, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

120



 

 

 

ENVIVA PORT OF CHESAPEAKE, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS COTTONDALE, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA ENERGY SERVICES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS PERKINSTON, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

121



 

 

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association,

 

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Hallie E. Field

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Hallie E. Field

 

 

 

Title:

Assistant Vice President

 

[ Indenture Signature Page ]

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO AN ISSUER 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 IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.](1)

 

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 


(1)               Include only on Global Note.

 

A- 1



 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

No.

 

$

 

 

CUSIP No.

 

 

ISIN No.

 

8.5% Senior Note due 2021

 

Enviva Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and Enviva Partners Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally promise to pay to                       , or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto](1) on November 1, 2021.

 

Interest Payment Dates: May 1 and November 1.
Record Dates: April 15 and October 15.

 

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 


(1)               If this Note is a Global Note, add this provision and include the attachment captioned “[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES] — SCHEDULE A — SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE”.

 

A- 2



 

 

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Enviva Partners GP, LLC, as its sole general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

A- 3



 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association,
as Trustee, certifies that this is one
of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

A- 4



 

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]
8.5% Senior Note due 2021

 

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

 

1.             Interest . Enviva Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Company ”), and Enviva Partners Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Corp. ,” and, together with the Company, the “ Issuers ”), jointly and severally promise to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of this Note at 8.5% per annum. [The Issuers will also pay Additional Interest if required pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.](1) The Issuers will pay interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year (each an “ Interest Payment Date ”), commencing May 1, 2017. If an Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the interest payment to be made on such Interest Payment Date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, and no additional interest will accrue solely as a result of such delayed payment. 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 original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date. The Issuers shall pay (i) interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is the then applicable interest rate on the Notes and (ii) interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate, in each case, to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

2.             Method of Payment . The Issuers will pay interest on the Notes to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the April 15 or October 15 next preceding each Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 1.06 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect payments of principal and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest due at maturity. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest by wire transfer of immediately available funds for any amounts due on all Global Notes. Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Notes in certificated form will be payable at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Issuers, 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, except that if a Holder of at least $5.0 million principal amount of notes has given wire transfer instructions to the Issuers, the Issuers will pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on that Holder’s Notes in accordance with those instructions. Until otherwise designated by the Issuers, the Issuers’ office or agency will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if this Note is a Global Note, payment may be made pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depository as permitted in

 


(1)  Delete for Exchange Notes

 

A- 5



 

the Indenture. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3.             Paying Agent and Registrar . Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association, the Trustee under the 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 . The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of November 1, 2016 (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “ Indenture ”) among the Issuers, the Initial Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. Any conflict between the Notes and the Indenture will be governed by the Indenture. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, agrees to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Indenture, as the same may be amended from time to time. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes is unlimited.

 

5.             Optional Redemption .

 

(a)           Except as set forth in subparagraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this Paragraph 5, the Issuers shall not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to November 1, 2018. On or after November 1, 2018, the Issuers shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part at any time, upon prior notice as set forth in the Indenture, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on November 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

 

Percentage

 

2018

 

104.250

%

2019

 

102.125

%

2020 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to November 1, 2018, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of 108.5% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), in an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture on the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the

 

A- 6



 

occurrence of each such redemption (excluding any Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) and (ii) each such redemption occurs within 120 days of the date of the closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

(c)           Prior to November 1, 2018, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of (1) the principal amount thereof, plus (2) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), plus (3) the Make-Whole Premium at the redemption date.

 

(d)           The Notes may also be redeemed, as a whole, following certain Change of Control Offers, at the redemption price and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.15(h)  of the Indenture.

 

6.             Mandatory Redemption . Except as set forth in the Indenture, neither of the Issuers shall be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. The Issuers may, at any time and from time to time, purchase Notes in open market purchases or negotiated transactions by tender offer or otherwise.

 

7.             Special Mandatory Redemption . The Notes may be subject to Special Mandatory Redemption as provided in Section 3.10 of the Indenture. In such event, the Issuers will be required to send notice thereof to all Holders of Notes and to redeem all of the Notes on such date specified in such notice as shall be no more than five Business Days, after the sending of such notice at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price.

 

8.             Repurchase at Option of Holders .

 

(a)           Within 30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control, except as provided in the Indenture, the Company shall make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of settlement (the “ Change of Control Settlement Date ”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date.

 

(b)           In certain circumstances following an Asset Sale, the Company may be required to commence an offer to all Holders of Notes (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture, and to all holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness then outstanding, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Settlement Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Settlement Date, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

 

A- 7



 

(c)           Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be, from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes.

 

9.             Notice of Redemption . Notice of redemption will be sent at least 30 days but not more than 60 days (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture if the notice is issued in connection with a Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance, Discharge or a Special Mandatory Redemption Event) before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. If sent in the manner provided for in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, the notice of optional redemption shall be conclusively presumed to have been given whether or not a Holder receives such notice. Failure to give timely notice or any defect in the notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption. Notice of redemption may be subject to conditions specified in the notice.

 

10.          Guarantees . The payment by the Issuers of the principal of and premium and interest on the Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by each of the Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

 

11.          Denominations, Transfer, Exchange . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes due on transfer or exchange. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, they need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

12.          Persons Deemed Owners . The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

13.          Amendment, Supplement and Waiver . Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

 

14.          Defaults and Remedies . If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the preceding, in the case of an Event of Default

 

A- 8



 

arising from such events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in Section 6.01(a)(ix)  or 6.01(a)(x)  of the Indenture, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power conferred on it.

 

15.          Defeasance and Discharge . The Notes are subject to defeasance and discharge upon the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.

 

16.          No Recourse Against Others . None of the General Partner or any past, present or future director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the General Partner, the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the 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 the issuance of the Notes and the Guarantees.

 

17.          Authentication . This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

18.          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).

 

19.          [Additional Rights of Holders of Initial Notes .  In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Initial Notes will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 1, 2016, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of any Additional Notes, Holders thereof may have the rights set forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Company and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any Additional Notes (collectively, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”).](2)

 

20.          CUSIP Numbers . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers and corresponding ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers and corresponding ISIN 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.

 


(2)  Delete for Exchange Notes

 

A- 9



 

21.          Governing Law . THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

22.          Successors . In the event a successor assumes all the obligations of an Issuer under the Notes and the Indenture, pursuant to the terms thereof, such Issuer will be released from all such obligations.

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

 

Enviva Partners, LP
7200 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 1000

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

A- 10



 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

(Insert assignee’s Soc. Sec. or tax I.D. No.)

 

and irrevocably appoint                               agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:

Your

 

Signature:

 

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

 

Signature Guarantee:
(Signature must be guaranteed)

 

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.

 

A- 11



 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:

 

o  Section 4.10              o   Section 4.15

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount (in minimum denomination of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) you elected to have purchased: $                  .

 

Date:

Your

 

Signature:

 

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)

 

 

 

Soc. Sec. or Tax Identification No.:

 

Signature Guarantee:
(Signature must be guaranteed)

 

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.

 

A- 12



 

[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTE]

 

SCHEDULE A

 

[SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE *

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:]

 

Date

 

Amount of
decrease in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Note

 

Amount of
increase in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Note

 

Principal
Amount of this
Global Note

following such
decrease or
increase

 

Signature of
authorized
officer of
Trustee or
Notes Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A- 13



 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

Enviva Partners, LP

7200 Wisconsin Ave.,  Suite 1000

Bethesda, MD 20814

 

[ Registrar address block ]

 

Re:  8.5% Senior Notes due 2021

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2016 (the “ Indenture ”), among Enviva Partners, LP, as issuer (the “ Company ”) and Enviva Partners Finance Corp. (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “ Issuers ”), the Guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

                                     , (the “ Transferor ”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $            in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Transfer ”), to                             (the “ Transferee ”), as further specified in Annex A hereto.  In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

 

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

 

1.   o    Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A .  The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

2.   o    Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S .  The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the

 

B- 1



 

transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

3.   o    Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S .  The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

 

(a)                                  o   such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

 

OR

 

(b)                                  o   such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;

 

OR

 

(c)                                   o   such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

 

4.   o    Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note .

 

(a)   o    Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144 .  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B- 2



 

(b)   o    Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S .  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(c)    o    Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption .  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

B- 3



 

ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1.                                       The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

 

[CHECK ONE OF (A) OR (B)]

 

(a)                                  o    a beneficial interest in the:

 

(i)                                o    144A Global Note (CUSIP          ), or

 

(ii)                             o    Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP          ), or

 

(b)  o    a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

2.                                       After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

 

[CHECK ONE]

 

(a)  o    a beneficial interest in the:

 

(i)                                o    144A Global Note (CUSIP          ), or

 

(ii)                             o    Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP          ), or

 

(iii)                          o    Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP          ); or

 

(b)  o    a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

(c)  o    an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

 

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B- 4



 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

 

Enviva Partners, LP

7200 Wisconsin Ave.,  Suite 1000

Bethesda, MD 20814

 

[ Registrar address block ]

 

Re:  8.5% Senior Notes due 2021

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2016 (the “ Indenture ”), among Enviva Partners, LP, as issuer (the “ Company ”) and Enviva Partners Finance Corp. (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “ Issuers ”), the Guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

                                     , (the “ Owner ”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $             in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Exchange ”).  In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

 

1.                                       Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note

 

(a)  o Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note .  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(b)  o Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note .  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not

 

C- 1



 

required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(c)  o Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note .  In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(d)  o Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note .  In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

2.                                       Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

 

(a)  o Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note.   In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer.  Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

(b)  o Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note .  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] o 144A Global Note, o Regulation S Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.  Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the

 

C- 2



 

beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

C- 3



 

EXHIBIT D

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP,

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

and

 

the Guarantors named herein

 

8.5% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2021

 

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE

 

DATED AS OF                              ,

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

Trustee

 

D- 1



 

This SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of                 , (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), is among Enviva Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Company ”), Enviva Partners Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Corp. ” and, together with the Company, the “ Issuers ”), the Guarantors, each of the parties identified under the caption “New Guarantors” on the signature pages hereto (the “ New Guarantors ”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , the Issuers, the Initial Guarantors and the Trustee entered into an indenture dated November 1, 2016 (the “ Indenture ”), pursuant to which the Issuers have issued $             in the aggregate principal amount of 8.5% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “ Notes ”);

 

WHEREAS , Section 8.01 of the Indenture provides that the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture in order to add additional Guarantors to the Indenture, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes; and

 

WHEREAS , all acts and things necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement according to its terms, and a valid and legally binding amendment of and supplement to, the Indenture, have been duly done and performed.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , to comply with the provisions of the Indenture and in consideration of the above premises, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the New Guarantors and the Trustee covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

 

Section 1.01                              This Supplemental Indenture is supplemental to the Indenture and does and shall be deemed to form a part of, and shall be construed in connection with and as part of, the Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 1.02                              This Supplemental Indenture shall become effective immediately upon its execution and delivery by each of the Issuers, the Guarantors, the New Guarantors and the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

Each New Guarantor hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Guarantor with respect to the Notes and as such will have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture with respect to the Notes. Each New Guarantor agrees to be bound by all of the provisions of the Indenture applicable to a Guarantor with respect to the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture with respect to the Notes.

 

D- 2



 

ARTICLE 3

 

Section 3.01                              Except as specifically modified herein, the Indenture and the Notes are in all respects ratified and confirmed ( mutatis mutandis ) and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms with all capitalized terms used herein without definition having the same respective meanings ascribed to them as in the Indenture.

 

Section 3.02                              Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee by reason of this Supplemental Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture with the same force and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable to the Trustee with respect hereto.

 

Section 3.03                              THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 3.04                              The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guarantor.

 

Section 3.05                              The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of such executed copies together shall represent the same agreement.

 

[NEXT PAGE IS SIGNATURE PAGE]

 

D- 3



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.

 

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP

 

 

 

 

By:

Enviva Partners GP, LLC,

 

 

as its sole general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

GUARANTORS

 

 

 

[INSERT SIGNATURE BLOCK FOR EACH GUARANTOR]

 

 

 

NEW GUARANTORS

 

 

 

[INSERT SIGNATURE BLOCK FOR EACH NEW GUARANTOR]

 

D- 4



 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

D- 5


Exhibit 4.3

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated November 1, 2016 (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into by and among Enviva Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), Enviva Partners Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Finance Corp. ” and together with the Partnership, the “ Issuers ”), and the guarantors listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “ Initial Guarantors ”), and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“ J.P. Morgan ”), as representative of the several initial purchasers listed in Schedule 2 hereto (the “Initial Purchasers”).

 

On the Escrow Release Date (as defined below), if the Acquisition (as defined below) is consummated as a purchase of equity interests of one or more entities owning the Sampson plant (as defined below) and related assets (the “ Target ”), then the Target will execute the Joinder to this Agreement in Annex A (the “ Joinder ”) and the Target will, without any further action by any other person, become a party to this Agreement. Until the Target executes the Joinder, the Target (including, without limitation, its directors and officers) has no rights or obligations under this Agreement.

 

The Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers are parties to the Purchase Agreement dated October 20, 2016 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), which provides for the sale by the Issuers to the Initial Purchasers of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 8.50% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “ Securities ”) which will be guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by each of the Guarantors.  As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuers and the Guarantors have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.

 

In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Additional Guarantor ” shall mean any subsidiary of the Partnership that executes a Guarantee under the Indenture after the date of this Agreement.

 

Acquisition ” shall mean the Partnership’s acquisition of (i) the entity which owns the Sampson plant (or the Sampson plant itself and related assets), (ii) the ten-year, 420,000 MTPY off-take contract with an affiliate of DONG Energy Thermal Power A/S, a Danish power generator, (iii) a 15-year, 95,000 MTPY off-take agreement with the Hancock JV and (iv) a third party shipping contract.

 

Business Day ” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

 

Escrow Release Date ” shall have the meaning in the Indenture.

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 



 

Exchange Dates ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.

 

Exchange Offer ” shall mean the exchange offer by the Issuers and the Guarantors of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

 

Exchange Offer Registration ” shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement ” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

 

Exchange Securities ” shall mean senior notes issued by the Issuers and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

Finance Corp. ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include Finance Corp.’s successors.

 

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

Free Writing Prospectus ” means each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Issuers or used or referred to by the Issuers in connection with the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities.

 

Guarantees ” shall mean the guarantees of the Securities and guarantees of the Exchange Securities by the Guarantors under the Indenture.

 

Guarantors ” shall mean the (i) Initial Guarantors, (ii)  upon the execution of the Joinder, if applicable, the Target and (iii) any Additional Guarantors and any Guarantor’s successor that Guarantees the Securities.

 

Hancock JV ” shall mean the joint venture between the Partnership’s sponsor and affiliates of John Hancock Life Insurance Company.

 

Holders ” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that, for purposes of Section 4 and Section 5 hereof, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.

 

Indemnified Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

 

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Indemnifying Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

 

Indenture ” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as of November 1, 2016 among the Issuers, the Guarantors and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Initial Purchasers ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Inspector ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiv) hereof.

 

Issuer Information ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

 

Issuers ” shall mean Enviva Partners, LP and Enviva Partners Finance Corp.

 

Joinder ” shall mean the Joinder to this Agreement in Annex A.

 

J.P. Morgan ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Majority Holders ” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, any Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Issuers or any of their affiliates shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount; and provided , further , that if the Issuers shall issue any additional Securities under the Indenture prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement, such additional Securities and the Registrable Securities to which this Agreement relates shall be treated together as one class for purposes of determining whether the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities has been obtained.

 

Notice and Questionnaire ” shall mean a notice of registration statement and selling security holder questionnaire distributed to a Holder by the Issuers upon receipt of a Shelf Request from such Holder.

 

Participating Broker-Dealers ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

 

Participating Holder ” shall mean any Holder of Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Issuers in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Partnership ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Partnership’s successors.

 

Person ” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

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Prospectus ” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.

 

Purchase Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Registrable Securities ” shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding or (iii) except in the case of Securities that otherwise remain Registrable Securities and that are held by an Initial Purchaser and that are ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, when the Exchange Offer is consummated.

 

Registration Default ” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the Exchange Offer is not completed on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required pursuant to Section 2(b)(i) or Section 2(b)(ii) hereof, has not become effective on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (iii) if the Issuers receive a Shelf Request pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii), the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed thereby has not become effective by the later of (a) the Target Registration Date and (b) 90 days after delivery of such Shelf Request, (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by this Agreement, has become effective and thereafter ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable, in each case whether or not permitted by this Agreement, at any time during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, and such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 30 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period or (v) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by this Agreement, has become effective and thereafter, on more than two occasions in any 12-month period during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, the Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable, in each case whether or not permitted by this Agreement.

 

Registration Expenses ” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Issuers and the Guarantors with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales

 

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agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuers and the Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Participating Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Participating Holders holding a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities held by such Participating Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent registered public accountants of the Issuers and the Guarantors, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.

 

Registration Statement ” shall mean any registration statement of the Issuers and the Guarantors that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

 

Sampson plant ” shall mean a contracted wood pellet production plant located in Sampson County, NC.

 

SEC ” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

Shelf Effectiveness Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Shelf Registration ” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Shelf Registration Statement ” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Issuers and the Guarantors that covers all or a portion of the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities held by the Participating Holders) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

 

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Shelf Request ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Staff ” shall mean the staff of the SEC.

 

Target ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Target Registration Date ” shall mean 365 days after November 1, 2016.

 

Trust Indenture Act ” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.

 

Trustee ” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.

 

Underwriter ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) hereof.

 

Underwritten Offering ” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.

 

2.                                       Registration Under the Securities Act .  (a)  To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to (x) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (y) have such Registration Statement become effective under the Securities Act and remain effective until 180 days after the last Exchange Date for us by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date.

 

The Issuers and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:

 

(i)                                      that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange;

 

(ii)                                   the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed) (the “ Exchange Dates ”);

 

(iii)                                that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein;

 

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(iv)                               that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to (A) surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, or (B) effect such exchange otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such Registrable Security, in each case prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and

 

(v)                                  that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by (A) sending to the institution and at the address specified in the notice, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged or (B) effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for the Registrable Securities.

 

As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Issuers and the Guarantors that (1) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (2) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (3) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Issuers or any Guarantor and (4) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

 

As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall:

 

(I)                                    accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and

 

(II)                               deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Issuers and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities tendered by such Holder.

 

The Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer.  The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff.

 

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(b)                                  In the event that (i) the Issuers and the Guarantors determine that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) hereof is not available or the Exchange Offer may not be completed as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason completed by the Target Registration Date or (iii) upon receipt of a written request (a “ Shelf Request ”) from any Initial Purchaser representing that it holds Registrable Securities that are or were ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or Shelf Request, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and to have such Shelf Registration Statement become effective; provided that no Holder will be entitled to have any Registrable Securities included in any Shelf Registration Statement, or entitled to use the prospectus forming a part of such Shelf Registration Statement, until such Holder shall have delivered a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire and provided such other information regarding such Holder to the Issuers as is contemplated by Section 3(b) hereof.

 

In the event that the Issuers and the Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to file and have become effective both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Initial Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer.

 

The Issuers and the Guarantors agree to use their reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the Securities cease to be Registrable Securities (the “ Shelf Effectiveness Period” ).  The Issuers and the Guarantors further agree to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Issuers for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder or if reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use their reasonable best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective, if required, and such Shelf Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable.  The Issuers and the Guarantors agree to furnish to the Participating Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.

 

(c)                                   The Issuers and the Guarantors shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof.  Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

 

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(d)                                  An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC.  A Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under the Securities Act.

 

If a Registration Default occurs, the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period beginning on the day immediately following such Registration Default and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case until and including the date such Registration Default ends, up to a maximum increase of 1.00% per annum.  A Registration Default ends when the Securities cease to be Registrable Securities or, if earlier, (1) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (i) of the definition thereof, when the Exchange Offer is completed, (2) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective or is no longer required to be effective (3) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (iv) or clause (v) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes effective or is no longer required to be effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable.  If at any time more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, then, until the next date that there is no Registration Default, the increase in interest rate provided for by this paragraph shall apply as if there occurred a single Registration Default that begins on the date that the earliest such Registration Default occurred and ends on such next date that there is no Registration Default.

 

3.                                       Registration Procedures .  (a) In connection with their obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall promptly:

 

(i)                                      prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (A) shall be selected by the Issuers and the Guarantors, (B) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and (C) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof;

 

(ii)                                   prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;

 

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(iii)                                to the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, file with the SEC any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Issuers or the Guarantors with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed;

 

(iv)                               in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Participating Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating Holder, counsel or Underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and, subject to Section 3(c) hereof, the Issuers and the Guarantors consent to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Participating Holders and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;

 

(v)                                  use their commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Participating Holder shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective; cooperate with such Participating Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Participating Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Holder; provided that neither the Issuers nor any Guarantor shall be required to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (2) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;

 

(vi)                               notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders promptly and, if requested by any such Participating Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, when any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed, (2) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (3) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Issuers of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement

 

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or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (4) if, between the applicable effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Issuers or any Guarantor contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Issuers or any Guarantor receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (5) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (6) of any determination by the Issuers or any Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus would be appropriate;

 

(vii)                            use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Registration Statement on the proper form, at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder or Participating Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;

 

(viii)                         in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);

 

(ix)                               in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the Participating Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Participating Holders may reasonably request at least two Business Days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;

 

(x)                                  upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, use their commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not

 

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misleading; and the Issuers and the Guarantors shall notify the Participating Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and the Initial Purchasers and any Participating Broker-Dealers known to the Issuers (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Participating Holders, such Participating Broker-Dealers and the Initial Purchasers, as applicable, hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, until the Issuers and the Guarantors have amended or supplemented the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to correct such misstatement or omission;

 

(xi)                               a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus or of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Participating Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the Issuers and the Guarantors as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) available for discussion of such document; and the Issuers and the Guarantors shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) shall object;

 

(xii)                            obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the initial effective date of a Registration Statement;

 

(xiii)                         cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;

 

(xiv)                        in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Participating Holders (an “ Inspector ”), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, any attorneys and accountants designated by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities held by the

 

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Participating Holders and any attorneys and accountants designated by such Underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Issuers and the Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement in each case as is customary for “due diligence” examinations in the context of underwritten offerings registered under the Securities Act; provided that if any such information is identified by the Issuers or any Guarantor as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall agree to maintain the confidentiality of such information, subject to customary exceptions to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of any Inspector, Holder or Underwriter);

 

(xv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use their reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar securities issued or guaranteed by the Issuers or any Guarantor are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;

 

(xvi)                        if reasonably requested by any Participating Holder, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Participating Holder as such Participating Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Issuers have received notification of the matters to be so included in such filing; and

 

(xvii)                     in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (1) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Participating Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Partnership and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) obtain opinions of counsel to the Issuers and the Guarantors (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each Participating Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (3) obtain “comfort” letters from the independent registered public accountants of the Issuers and the Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other registered public accountant of any subsidiary of the Issuers or any Guarantor, or of any business acquired by the Issuers or any Guarantor for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to

 

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be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each Participating Holder (to the extent permitted by applicable professional standards) and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and (4) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Issuers and the Guarantors made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.

 

(b)                                  In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuers may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Issuers a Notice and Questionnaire and such other information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Issuers and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

 

(c)                                   Each Participating Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Issuers and the Guarantors of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(vi)(3) or Section 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, such Participating Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Participating Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(x) hereof and, if so directed by the Issuers and the Guarantors, such Participating Holder will deliver to the Issuers and the Guarantors all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Participating Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

(d)                                  If the Issuers and the Guarantors shall give any notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders of such Registrable Securities shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The Issuers and the Guarantors may give any such notice only twice during any 365-day period and any such suspensions shall not exceed 30 days for each suspension and there shall not be more than two suspensions in effect during any 365-day period.

 

(e)                                   The Participating Holders who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering.  In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “ Underwriter ”) that will administer the

 

14



 

offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering.

 

4.                                       Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer .  (a)  The Staff has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “ Participating Broker-Dealer ”) may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

 

The Issuers and the Guarantors understand that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available to purchasers) to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.

 

(b)                                  In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Issuers and the Guarantors agree to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of up to 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof), in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above.  The Issuers and the Guarantors further agree that Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.

 

(c)                                   The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Issuers, any Guarantor or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof.

 

5.                                   Indemnification and Contribution .  (a)  The Issuers and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to

 

15



 

make the statements therein not misleading, or (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“ Issuer Information ”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser or information relating to any Holder furnished to the Issuers in writing through J.P. Morgan or any selling Holder, respectively, expressly for use therein.  In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their respective affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information.

 

(b)                                  Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors of the Issuers and the Guarantors, each officer of the Issuers and the Guarantors who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Issuers, the Guarantors, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Issuers in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(c)                               If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the “ Indemnified Person ”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “ Indemnifying Person ”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided , further , that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above.  If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the

 

16



 

fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred.  In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.  It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by J.P. Morgan, (y) for any Holder, its directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Partnership.  The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.  No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

 

(d)                                  If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuers and the

 

17



 

Guarantors from the offering of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Issuers and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the Issuers and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other 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 Issuers and the Guarantors or by the Holders and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

(e)                                   The Issuers, the Guarantors and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above.  The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several and not joint.

 

(f)                                    The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

 

(g)                                   The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Issuers or the Guarantors or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling the Issuers or the Guarantors, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

18



 

6.                                       General .

 

(a)                                  No Inconsistent Agreements.   The Issuers and the Guarantors represent, warrant and agree that (i) the rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by the Issuers or any Guarantor under any other agreement and (ii) neither the Issuers nor any Guarantor has entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

 

(b)                                  Amendments and Waivers.   The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Issuers and the Guarantors have obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder.  Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

(c)                                   Notices.   All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Issuers by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Issuers and the Guarantors, initially at the Issuers’ address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c).  All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.  Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indenture.

 

(d)                                  Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture.  If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be

 

19



 

conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.  The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Issuers or the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Third Party Beneficiaries.   Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.

 

(f)                                    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(g)                                   Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(h)                                  Governing Law.  This Agreement, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

(j)                                     Entire Agreement; Severability.   This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto.  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.  The Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

ISSUERS

 

 

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP

 

 

 

 

By: Enviva Partners GP, LLC, as its sole general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

20



 

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTORS

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA GP, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA, LP

 

 

 

 

 

By: Enviva Partners GP, LLC, as its sole general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA MATERIALS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

21



 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS AHOSKIE, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS AMORY, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS NORTHAMPTON, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

22



 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS SOUTHAMPTON, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PORT OF CHESAPEAKE, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS COTTONDALE, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENVIVA ENERGY SERVICES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

23



 

 

ENVIVA PELLETS PERKINSTON, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Name:

Stephen F. Reeves

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

24



 

Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

 

For itself and on behalf of the
several Initial Purchasers

 

By

/s/ Edward S. Pyne

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 



 

Schedule 1

 

Initial Guarantors

 

Enviva GP, LLC

Enviva, LP

Enviva Materials, LLC

Enviva Pellets Ahoskie, LLC

Enviva Pellets Amory, LLC

Enviva Pellets Northampton, LLC

Enviva Pellets Southampton, LLC

Enviva Port of Chesapeake, LLC

Enviva Pellets Cottondale, LLC

Enviva Energy Services, LLC

Enviva Pellets Perkinston, LLC

 



 

Schedule 2

 

Initial Purchasers

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Barclays Capital Inc.

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 



 

Annex A

 

Joinder to Registration Rights Agreement

 

The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees as a Guarantor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 1, 2016 by and among Enviva Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), Enviva Partners Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Finance Corp. ” and together with the Partnership, the “ Issuers ”), the guarantors party thereto and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, on behalf of itself and the other Initial Purchasers) to be bound by the terms and provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement with all attendant rights, duties and obligations stated therein, with the same force and effect as if originally named as the “Guarantor” and as if such Guarantor executed the Registration Rights Agreement on the date thereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Joinder as of                      , 201 .

 

 

[GUARANTOR]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 


Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Enviva Partners, LP Reports Strong Financial Results for Third Quarter 2016, Announces Drop-Down Transaction, and Provides Guidance for 2017

 

BETHESDA, MD, November 3, 2016 — Enviva Partners, LP (NYSE: EVA) (the “Partnership” or “we”) today reported financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2016.

 

Highlights:

 

·                   Generated net income of $13.0 million and adjusted EBITDA of $25.5 million for the third quarter of 2016, up from $8.8 million and $19.8 million, respectively, for the corresponding period in 2015

·                   Agreed to acquire Enviva Pellets Sampson, LLC for $175.0 million

·                   Issued $300.0 million of 8.5% senior unsecured notes due 2021

·                   Provided full-year 2017 guidance for net income in a range of $31.0 million to $35.0 million and adjusted EBITDA in a range of $110.0 million to $114.0 million, including the impact of the proposed acquisition of Enviva Pellets Sampson, LLC but excluding the impact of any other potential drop-downs or third-party acquisitions

 

“Strong operating and financial performance for the quarter continues to underpin our durable, growing contracted cash flows,” said John Keppler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “In addition to maintaining our track record of quarter-over-quarter distribution increases, we have agreed to terms for our second drop-down transaction, an accretive acquisition of the Sampson plant and associated off-take contracts.  The financing needs for the drop-down gave us the opportunity to transform our balance sheet to a more permanent capital structure with substantial flexibility that can be the foundation for financing future growth.”

 

Financial Results

 

For the third quarter of 2016, we generated net revenue of $109.8 million, a decrease of 5.8 percent, or $6.8 million, from the corresponding quarter of 2015.  Included in net revenue was product sales of $102.6 million on volume of 534,000 metric tons of wood pellets.  Product sales decreased from the corresponding quarter of last year due to lower wood pellet sales revenue recognized as a result of timing of product delivered to our customers.  Other revenue increased to $7.2 million for the third quarter of 2016 from $1.5 million for the corresponding quarter in 2015, primarily due to fees earned by us related to customer requests to delay and cancel shipments.  During 2016, a third-party pellet producer committed to purchase a series of shipments of wood pellets from us on a short-term basis because it was unable to meet volume, quality, and sustainability commitments under its customer contract.  The third-party pellet producer then requested to delay, and ultimately cancel, the remaining shipments of wood pellets from us in return for a $5.7 million make-whole payment.

 



 

For the third quarter of 2016, gross margin improved to $22.9 million, an increase of $6.3 million from the corresponding period in 2015, and we generated net income of $13.0 million compared to $8.8 million for the corresponding quarter in 2015.  Adjusted EBITDA improved to $25.5 million in the third quarter of 2016, a 28.9 percent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2015.  The increases in gross margin, net income, and adjusted EBITDA were driven by increased other revenue, partially offset by lower wood pellet sales volumes as a result of shipment timing.  Adjusted gross margin per metric ton was $54.97 for the third quarter of 2016, as compared to $40.12 for the third quarter of 2015.  Excluding the other revenue transaction discussed above, adjusted gross margin per metric ton for the third quarter of 2016 was $44.39.

 

The Partnership’s distributable cash flow, net of amounts attributable to incentive distribution rights, increased from $15.5 million for the third quarter of 2015 to $20.9 million for the third quarter of 2016, resulting in a distribution coverage ratio of 1.57 times.

 

Distribution

 

As announced yesterday, the board of directors of the Partnership’s general partner declared a distribution of $0.5300 per common and subordinated unit for the third quarter of 2016. This distribution is 1.0 percent higher than the distribution for the second quarter of 2016 and 20.5 percent higher than the distribution for the third quarter of 2015.  The distribution will be paid Tuesday, November 29, 2016, to unitholders of record as of the close of business Monday, November 14, 2016.

 

Sampson Acquisition

 

The Partnership has agreed to purchase Enviva Pellets Sampson, LLC (“Sampson”) from Enviva Wilmington Holdings, LLC (the “Hancock JV”), a joint venture between an affiliate of Enviva Holdings, LP (the “Sponsor”) and affiliates of John Hancock Life Insurance Company, for $175.0 million.  Sampson owns a wood pellet production plant in Sampson County, North Carolina (“the Sampson plant”) and is a party to a ten-year, 420,000 metric tons per year (“MTPY”) off-take contract with an affiliate of DONG Energy Thermal Power A/S (“DONG Energy”), a 15-year, 95,000 MTPY off-take contract with the Hancock JV, and matching third-party shipping contracts.  The Partnership expects the transaction to close on or about January 3, 2017, subject to customary closing conditions.  After completion of the Sampson acquisition, the weighted average remaining term of the Partnership’s off-take contracts would extend to 9.7 years as of January 1, 2017.  Evercore served as exclusive financial advisor and Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP served as legal counsel to the conflicts committee of the board of directors of the Partnership’s general partner. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. served as legal counsel to the Hancock JV.

 

The Sampson plant is expected to produce approximately 500,000 MTPY of wood pellets in 2017 and to reach its full production capacity of approximately 600,000 MTPY in 2019.  The Sampson plant is expected to generate incremental net income and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $2.3 million and $22.0 million for 2017, respectively, increasing to approximately $6.5 million and $27.0 million, respectively, once full production capacity is achieved.

 

Financing Activity

 

On November 1, 2016, the Partnership and Enviva Partners Finance Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, issued $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.5% senior

 

2



 

unsecured notes due 2021 (the “Senior Notes”) to eligible purchasers in a private placement.  The proceeds from the Senior Notes were deposited into an escrow account pending completion of the acquisition of Sampson.  If the Sampson acquisition is completed, the Partnership expects to use a portion of the proceeds from the Senior Notes, together with cash on hand and $30.0 million in equity to be issued to our Sponsor’s joint venture partner, to fund the consideration payable in connection with the Sampson acquisition.  The remainder of the proceeds from the Senior Notes will be used to repay certain outstanding term loan indebtedness under the Partnership’s senior secured credit facilities.  With the repayment of certain term loan indebtedness, the Partnership’s revolver capacity under its senior secured credit facilities will increase from $25.0 million to $100.0 million.

 

“As a first time issuer, we were delighted with the significant institutional investor interest in our debt offering,” said John Keppler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Enviva. “With the new, more permanent capital structure in place for the Partnership and the significant liquidity available under our expanded undrawn revolver, we have strategically repositioned the Partnership to take further advantage of any accretive opportunities, from our Sponsor or third-parties, in our rapidly growing industry.”

 

To date, the Partnership has sold 281,507 common units under the At-The-Market equity program for net proceeds of $7.2 million after $0.1 million of commissions.  Net proceeds from sales under the program were used for general partnership purposes.  Currently, $92.7 million aggregate sales amount of common units remain available for issuance under the program.

 

Outlook and Guidance

 

The Partnership has adjusted its full-year 2016 guidance to reflect the additional interest expense associated with the Senior Notes used to pre-fund the Sampson acquisition.  The Partnership now expects full-year 2016 net income to be in the range of $34.0 million to $36.0 million, while adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be in or slightly above the range of $86.0 million to $88.0 million.  The Partnership expects to incur maintenance capital expenditures of $4.0 million and interest expense net of amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount of $16.0 million in 2016.  As a result, the Partnership expects full-year distributable cash flow to be in the range of $66.0 million to $68.0 million, prior to any distributions attributable to incentive distribution rights paid to the general partner.  For full-year 2016, the Partnership continues to expect to distribute at least $2.10 per common and subordinated unit.

 

The Partnership’s full-year 2017 guidance amounts provided below include the impact of the Sampson acquisition, but do not include the impact of any other potential acquisitions from the Sponsor or others.  The Partnership expects full-year 2017 net income to be in the range of $31.0 million to $35.0 million and adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $110.0 million to $114.0 million.  The Partnership expects to incur maintenance capital expenditures of $5.0 million and interest expense net of amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount of $29.0 million in 2017.  As a result, the Partnership expects full-year distributable cash flow to be in the range of $76.0 million to $80.0 million, prior to any distributions attributable to incentive distribution rights paid to the general partner.  For full-year 2017, we expect to distribute at least $2.35 per common and subordinated unit.

 

3



 

Market and Contracting Update

 

Our sales strategy is to fully contract the production capacity of the Partnership.  Our current capacity is matched with a portfolio of off-take contracts that has a weighted-average remaining term of 9.6 years from October 1, 2016.

 

Demand for wood pellets continues to grow, driven by recent developments in our core markets including:

 

·                   The Paris climate agreement is expected to become legally binding on the countries that signed and ratified it in early November as the requirements for its effectiveness have been met.  The agreement has been signed and ratified by 85 countries to date including those in the European Union and the U.S.  Japan is expected to ratify before the end of the year.

 

·                   In the Netherlands, the second and final round of applications for the 2016 renewable incentive program commenced in September with 5.0 billion euros in funding available.  The budget for the second round was increased from 4.0 billion euros after the first round (which awarded several biomass co-firing, dedicated biomass heat, and combined heat and power (“CHP”) projects a total of 2.5 billion euros in subsidies) was oversubscribed.  Several utility-scale projects are eligible for the program and are expected to apply in the second round.

 

·                   Both Houses of the United Kingdom (“UK”) parliament have agreed to an amendment extending the government’s powers to award new contract for difference (CfD) incentives for new low-carbon energy projects out to 2026, compared to the original end date to these powers of 2020 as contained in the 2013 Energy Act.  This extension, which is expected to pass into UK law as a formality, confirms the UK government’s intention to continue to award long-term contracts to new renewable energy projects well into the future.

 

·                   DONG Energy, the largest power producer in Denmark, began burning wood pellets instead of coal at its 350 megawatt (“MW”) Studstrup unit 3 CHP plant and is currently testing wood pellets at its 215 MW Avedore unit 1 CHP plant.  Once fully ramped, the two units are expected to consume up to 1.1 million MTPY of wood pellets.  Dong Energy has stated half of the power and heat production at its Danish power stations must be based on biomass in 2020.

 

·                   Nearly 3.2 gigawatts (“GWs”) of biomass-fired capacity, implying demand of more than 10 million MTPY of biomass, have been approved through Japan’s feed-in tariff (FiT) program, of which approximately 500 MWs are commissioned.  The Japanese government has set a target of 6.0 — 7.5 GWs of biomass-fired capacity by 2030.

 

As previously announced, the Partnership’s 15-year contract with the Hancock JV to supply 375,000 MTPY to MGT Power’s Teesside Renewable Energy Plant (“MGT”) in the UK became firm in August as all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the contract were satisfied.  Deliveries under the MGT Contract are expected to commence in 2019, ramp to full supply in 2021, and continue through 2034.

 

4



 

Sponsor Activity

 

Construction of the Sponsor’s deep-water marine terminal in Wilmington, North Carolina (the “Wilmington terminal”) is substantially complete.  The Partnership expects to have the opportunity to acquire the Wilmington terminal in 2017.

 

With the Hancock JV’s contract to supply more than one million MTPY to MGT now firm, the Sponsor is developing additional production capacity to supply MGT and the expected volume growth in Europe and the emerging Asian market.  The Sponsor is currently completing the detailed design for a build-and-copy replica of the Sampson plant at the Hancock JV’s permitted site in Hamlet, North Carolina, and is evaluating additional production capacity investments at its sites in Lucedale, Mississippi, and Abbeville, Alabama, as well as other sites positioned to take advantage of the existing terminal capacity at the Port of Chesapeake and Port of Wilmington.  In addition, our Sponsor continues to evaluate its option to build and operate a marine export terminal at the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

 

Conference Call

 

We will host a conference call with executive management related to our third quarter 2016 results and to discuss the Sampson acquisition, our outlook and guidance, and a more detailed market update at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, November 3, 2016.  Information on how interested parties may listen to the conference call is available in the Investor Relations page of our website (www.envivabiomass.com).  A replay of the conference call will be available on our website after the live call concludes.

 

About Enviva Partners, LP

 

Enviva Partners, LP (NYSE: EVA) is a publicly traded master limited partnership that aggregates a natural resource, wood fiber, and processes it into a transportable form, wood pellets.  The Partnership sells a significant majority of its wood pellets through long-term, take-or-pay agreements with creditworthy customers in the United Kingdom and Europe.  The Partnership owns and operates six plants in Southampton County, Virginia; Northampton County and Ahoskie, North Carolina; Amory and Wiggins, Mississippi; and Cottondale, Florida.  We have a combined production capacity of approximately 2.3 million metric tons of wood pellets per year.  In addition, the Partnership owns a deep-water marine terminal at the Port of Chesapeake, Virginia, which is used to export wood pellets. Enviva Partners also exports pellets through the ports of Mobile, Alabama and Panama City, Florida.

 

To learn more about Enviva Partners, LP, please visit our website at www.envivabiomass.com.

 

5



 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

We use adjusted gross margin per metric ton, adjusted EBITDA, and distributable cash flow to measure our financial performance.

 

Adjusted Gross Margin per Metric Ton

 

We define adjusted gross margin as gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization included in cost of goods sold.  We believe adjusted gross margin per metric ton is a meaningful measure because it compares our off-take pricing to our operating costs for a view of profitability and performance on a per metric ton basis.  Adjusted gross margin per metric ton will primarily be affected by our ability to meet targeted production volumes and to control direct and indirect costs associated with procurement and delivery of wood fiber to our production plants and the production and distribution of wood pellets.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

We define adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss excluding depreciation and amortization, interest expense, income tax expense, early retirement of debt obligations, non-cash unit compensation expense, asset impairments and disposals, and certain other items of income or loss that we characterize as unrepresentative of our ongoing operations.  Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental measure used by our management and other users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks, and research analysts, to assess the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods or capital structure.

 

Distributable Cash Flow

 

We define distributable cash flow as adjusted EBITDA less maintenance capital expenditures and interest expense net of amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount.  We use distributable cash flow as a performance metric to compare cash generating performance of the Partnership from period to period and to compare the cash generating performance for specific periods to the cash distributions (if any) that are expected to be paid to our unitholders.  We do not rely on distributable cash flow as a liquidity measure.

 

Adjusted gross margin per metric ton, adjusted EBITDA, and distributable cash flow are not financial measures presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).  We believe that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations.  Our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.  Each of these non-GAAP financial measures has important limitations as an analytical tool because they exclude some, but not all, items that affect the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.  You should not consider adjusted gross margin per metric ton, adjusted EBITDA, or distributable cash flow in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.  Our definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing their utility.

 

6



 

The following tables present a reconciliation of adjusted gross margin per metric ton, adjusted EBITDA, and distributable cash flow to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, as applicable, for each of the periods indicated.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

2015 (Recast)

 

2016

 

2015 (Recast)

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per metric ton)

Reconciliation of gross margin to adjusted gross margin per metric ton:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metric tons sold

 

534

 

602

 

1,714

 

1,746

 

Gross margin

 

$

22,920

 

$

16,583

 

$

58,287

 

$

43,497

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

6,434

 

7,568

 

20,429

 

24,052

 

Adjusted gross margin

 

$

29,354

 

$

24,151

 

$

78,716

 

$

67,549

 

Adjusted gross margin per metric ton

 

$

54.97

 

$

40.12

 

$

45.93

 

$

38.69

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

2015 (Recast)

 

2016

 

2015 (Recast)

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Reconciliation of distributable cash flow and adjusted EBITDA to net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

13,012

 

$

8,793

 

$

32,511

 

$

14,169

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

6,439

 

7,579

 

20,452

 

24,086

 

Interest expense

 

3,365

 

2,910

 

10,095

 

8,715

 

Early retirement of debt obligation

 

 

 

 

4,699

 

Purchase accounting adjustment to inventory

 

 

 

 

697

 

Non-cash unit compensation expense

 

1,162

 

180

 

2,662

 

363

 

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

2,667

 

Asset impairments and disposals

 

1,489

 

(127

)

1,645

 

(100

)

Acquisition transaction expenses

 

2

 

431

 

61

 

431

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

25,469

 

19,766

 

67,426

 

55,727

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense net of amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount

 

2,919

 

2,555

 

8,757

 

7,485

 

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

1,375

 

1,724

 

2,758

 

3,424

 

Distributable cash flow attributable to Enviva Partners, LP

 

21,175

 

15,487

 

55,911

 

44,818

 

Less: Distributable cash flow attributable to incentive distribution rights

 

302

 

 

716

 

 

Distributable cash flow attributable to Enviva Partners, LP limited partners

 

$

20,873

 

$

15,487

 

$

55,195

 

$

44,818

 

 

7



 

The following table provides a reconciliation of the estimated range of adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow to the estimated range of net income, in each case for the twelve months ending December 31, 2016 (in millions):

 

 

 

Twelve Months 
Ending 
December 31, 
2016

 

Estimated net income

 

$

34.0 – 36.0

 

Add:

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

27.1

 

Interest expense

 

18.0

 

Non-cash unit compensation expense

 

4.3

 

Asset impairments and disposals

 

2.1

 

Acquisition transaction expenses

 

0.5

 

Estimated adjusted EBITDA

 

$

86.0 – 88.0

 

Less:

 

 

 

Interest expense net of amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount

 

16.0

 

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

4.0

 

Estimated distributable cash flow

 

$

66.0 – 68.0

 

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of the estimated range of adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow to the estimated range of net income, in each case for the twelve months ending December 31, 2017 (in millions):

 

 

 

Twelve Months 
Ending 
December 31, 
2017

 

Estimated net income

 

$

31.0 – 35.0

 

Add:

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

34.5

 

Interest expense

 

31.3

 

Non-cash unit compensation expense

 

6.6

 

Asset impairments and disposals

 

4.0

 

Early retirement of debt obligations

 

2.6

 

Estimated adjusted EBITDA

 

$

110.0 – 114.0

 

Less:

 

 

 

Interest expense net of amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount

 

29.0

 

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

5.0

 

Estimated distributable cash flow

 

$

76.0 – 80.0

 

 

8



 

The following table provides a reconciliation of the estimated adjusted EBITDA to estimated net income, in each case for the twelve months ending December 31, 2017 or December 31, 2019, associated with the Sampson plant and related contracts (in millions):

 

 

 

Twelve Months
Ending 
December 31, 
2017

 

Twelve Months 
Ending 
December 31, 
2019

 

Estimated net income

 

$

2.3

 

6.5

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

6.8

 

7.1

 

Interest expense

 

12.9

 

12.9

 

Asset impairments and disposals

 

 

0.5

 

Estimated adjusted EBITDA

 

$

22.0

 

27.0

 

 

9



 

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements and information in this press release, including those concerning our future results of operations, acquisition opportunities, and distributions, may constitute “forward-looking statements.”  The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “foresee,” “should,” “would,” “could,” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature.  These forward-looking statements are based on the Partnership’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on the Partnership.  Although management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Partnership will be those that it anticipates.  The forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Partnership’s control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Partnership’s historical experience and its present expectations or projections.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:  (i) the volume of products that we are able to sell; (ii) the price at which we are able to sell our products; (iii) failure of the Partnership’s customers, vendors, and shipping partners to pay or perform their contractual obligations to the Partnership; (iv) the creditworthiness of our financial counterparties; (v) the amount of low-cost wood fiber that we are able to procure and process, which could be adversely affected by, among other things, operating or financial difficulties suffered by our suppliers; (vi) the amount of products that we are able to produce, which could be adversely affected by, among other things, operating difficulties; (vii) changes in the price and availability of natural gas, coal, or other sources of energy; (viii) changes in prevailing economic conditions; (ix) the ability of the Partnership to complete acquisitions, including acquisitions from our sponsor, and realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions; (x) unanticipated ground, grade, or water conditions; (xi) inclement or hazardous weather conditions, including extreme precipitation, temperatures, and flooding; (xii) environmental hazards; (xiii) fires, explosions, or other accidents; (xiv) changes in domestic and foreign laws and regulations (or the interpretation thereof) related to renewable or low-carbon energy, the forestry products industry, or power generators; (xv) changes in the regulatory treatment of biomass in core and emerging markets for utility-scale generation; (xvi) the inability to acquire or maintain necessary permits or rights for our production, transportation, and terminaling operations; (xvii) the inability to obtain necessary production equipment or replacement parts; (xviii) operating or technical difficulties or failures at our plants or ports; (xix) labor disputes; (xx) the inability of our customers to take delivery of our products or their rejection of delivery of our products; (xxi) changes in the price and availability of transportation; (xxii) changes in foreign currency exchange rates; (xxiii) changes in interest rates; (xxiv) failure of our hedging arrangements to effectively reduce our exposure to interest and foreign currency exchange rate risk; (xxv) risks related to our indebtedness; (xxvi) changes in the quality specifications for our products that are required by our customers; (xxvii) the effects of the approval of the United Kingdom of the exit of the United Kingdom (“Brexit”) from the European Union, and the implementation of Brexit, in each case on our and our customers’ businesses; and (xxviii) the ability of the Partnership to borrow funds and access capital markets.

 

For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause the Partnership’s actual results to differ from projected results, please read its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q most recently filed with the SEC.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof.  The Partnership undertakes no

 

10



 

obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

11



 

Financial Statements

 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except number of units)

 

 

 

September 30,
2016

 

December 31, 
2015

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

21,396

 

$

2,175

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $26 as of September 30, 2016 and $85 as of December 31, 2015

 

31,452

 

38,684

 

Related party receivables

 

1,148

 

94

 

Inventories

 

29,114

 

24,245

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

1,518

 

2,123

 

Total current assets

 

84,628

 

67,321

 

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $83.4 million as of September 30, 2016 and $64.7 million as of December 31, 2015

 

394,243

 

405,582

 

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $9.0 million as of September 30, 2016 and $7.0 million as of December 31, 2015

 

1,467

 

3,399

 

Goodwill

 

85,615

 

85,615

 

Other long-term assets

 

695

 

7,063

 

Total assets

 

$

566,648

 

$

568,980

 

Liabilities and Partners’ Capital

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

1,726

 

$

9,303

 

Related party payables

 

4,484

 

11,013

 

Accrued and other current liabilities

 

18,603

 

13,059

 

Deferred revenue and deposits

 

5,020

 

485

 

Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations

 

4,684

 

6,523

 

Related party current portion of long-term debt

 

3,108

 

150

 

Total current liabilities

 

37,625

 

40,533

 

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations

 

198,898

 

186,294

 

Related party long-term debt

 

 

14,664

 

Long-term interest payable

 

740

 

751

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

1,126

 

586

 

Total liabilities

 

238,389

 

242,828

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Limited partners:

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders—public (11,745,279 and 11,502,934 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)

 

215,384

 

210,488

 

Common unitholder—sponsor (1,347,161 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015)

 

19,353

 

19,619

 

Subordinated unitholder—sponsor (11,905,138 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015)

 

131,078

 

133,427

 

General Partner interest (no outstanding units)

 

(40,373

)

(40,373

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(105

)

 

Total Enviva Partners, LP partners’ capital

 

325,337

 

323,161

 

Noncontrolling partners’ interests

 

2,922

 

2,991

 

Total partners’ capital

 

328,259

 

326,152

 

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

 

$

566,648

 

$

568,980

 

 

12



 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per unit amounts)
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

2015 (Recast)

 

2016

 

2015 (Recast)

 

Product sales

 

$

102,557

 

$

115,081

 

$

322,249

 

$

335,857

 

Other revenue

 

7,217

 

1,507

 

14,486

 

4,704

 

Net revenue

 

109,774

 

116,588

 

336,735

 

340,561

 

Cost of goods sold, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

80,420

 

92,437

 

258,019

 

273,012

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

6,434

 

7,568

 

20,429

 

24,052

 

Total cost of goods sold

 

86,854

 

100,005

 

278,448

 

297,064

 

Gross margin

 

22,920

 

16,583

 

58,287

 

43,497

 

General and administrative expenses

 

6,545

 

4,954

 

15,954

 

13,347

 

Income from operations

 

16,375

 

11,629

 

42,333

 

30,150

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(3,314

)

(2,910

)

(9,534

)

(7,617

)

Related party interest expense

 

(51

)

 

(561

)

(1,097

)

Early retirement of debt obligation

 

 

 

 

(4,699

)

Other income

 

2

 

74

 

273

 

99

 

Total other expense, net

 

(3,363

)

(2,836

)

(9,822

)

(13,314

)

Income before income tax expense

 

13,012

 

8,793

 

32,511

 

16,836

 

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

2,667

 

Net income

 

13,012

 

8,793

 

32,511

 

14,169

 

Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling partners’ interests

 

21

 

14

 

69

 

30

 

Net income attributable to Enviva Partners, LP

 

$

13,033

 

$

8,807

 

$

32,580

 

$

14,199

 

Less: Predecessor loss to May 4, 2015 (prior to IPO)

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

(2,132

)

Less: Pre-acquisition income from April 10, 2015 to September 30, 2015 from operations of Enviva Pellets Southampton, LLC Drop-Down allocated to General Partner

 

 

2,395

 

 

4,234

 

Enviva Partners, LP partners’ interest in net income

 

$

13,033

 

$

6,412

 

$

32,580

 

$

12,097

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per common unit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.51

 

$

0.27

 

$

1.28

 

$

0.51

 

Diluted

 

$

0.50

 

$

0.27

 

$

1.26

 

$

0.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per subordinated unit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.51

 

$

0.27

 

$

1.28

 

$

0.51

 

Diluted

 

$

0.50

 

$

0.27

 

$

1.26

 

$

0.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common — basic

 

12,919

 

11,906

 

12,878

 

11,906

 

Common — diluted

 

13,480

 

12,193

 

13,420

 

12,179

 

Subordinated — basic and diluted

 

11,905

 

11,905

 

11,905

 

11,905

 

 

13



 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

2015 (Recast)

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

32,511

 

$

14,169

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

20,452

 

24,086

 

Amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount

 

1,338

 

1,231

 

Inventory impairment

 

890

 

 

General and administrative expense incurred by Enviva Holdings, LP

 

 

475

 

Allocation of income tax expense from Enviva Cottondale Acquisition I, LLC

 

 

2,663

 

Early retirement of debt obligation

 

 

4,699

 

Loss (gain) on disposals of property, plant and equipment

 

1,645

 

(100

)

Unit-based compensation expense

 

2,662

 

363

 

Other operating

 

 

23

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

7,197

 

(9,384

)

Related party receivables

 

(1,054

)

(607

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

936

 

(782

)

Inventories

 

(6,009

)

(4,795

)

Other long-term assets

 

6,667

 

494

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(2,892

)

11,078

 

Related party payables

 

(1,527

)

775

 

Accrued interest

 

136

 

60

 

Deferred revenue and deposits

 

4,534

 

515

 

Other liabilities

 

126

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

67,612

 

44,963

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

(7,735

)

(5,262

)

Premiums paid for purchased options

 

(78

)

 

Payment of acquisition related costs

 

 

(3,573

)

Proceeds from the sale of equipment

 

 

277

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(7,813

)

(8,558

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Principal payments on debt and capital lease obligations

 

(36,960

)

(96,529

)

Principal payments on related party debt

 

(282

)

(86,701

)

Cash paid related to debt issuance costs

 

(22

)

(5,123

)

Termination payment for interest rate swap derivatives

 

 

(146

)

Release of cash restricted for debt service

 

 

11,640

 

IPO proceeds, net

 

 

215,050

 

Cash distribution to sponsor related to IPO

 

 

(174,552

)

Cash paid for deferred offering costs

 

(591

)

(1,790

)

Proceeds from common unit issuance under At-the-Market Offering Program, net

 

5,619

 

 

Proceeds from debt issuance

 

34,500

 

178,505

 

Distributions to unitholders, distribution equivalent rights and incentive distribution rights

 

(37,840

)

(6,159

)

Distributions to sponsor related to Enviva Pellets Southampton, LLC Drop-Down

 

(5,002

)

 

Proceeds from contributions from sponsor

 

 

10,236

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(40,578

)

44,431

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

19,221

 

80,836

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

2,175

 

592

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

21,396

 

$

81,428

 

 

14



 

ENVIVA PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

2015 (Recast)

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

The Partnership acquired property, plant and equipment in non-cash transactions as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment acquired included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

940

 

$

1,438

 

Property, plant and equipment acquired under long-term debt and capital lease obligations

 

464

 

112

 

Property, plant and equipment transferred from prepaid expenses and inventory

 

782

 

319

 

Depreciation capitalized to inventories

 

436

 

495

 

Offering issuance costs included in accrued liabilities

 

22

 

21

 

Contribution of Enviva Pellets Cottondale, LLC non-cash assets

 

 

122,529

 

Distribution of Enviva Pellets Cottondale, LLC assets to sponsor

 

 

319

 

Application of deferred IPO costs to Partners’ capital

 

 

5,913

 

Related party long-term debt transferred to third-party long-term debt

 

14,757

 

 

Third-party long-term debt transferred to related party long-term debt

 

3,316

 

 

Distributions included in liabilities

 

449

 

179

 

Debt issuance costs included in accrued liabilities

 

135

 

66

 

Non-cash adjustments to financed insurance and prepaid expenses

 

 

105

 

Gain on disposal included in receivables

 

 

8

 

Non-cash capital contribution from sponsor

 

 

304

 

Supplemental information:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

8,617

 

$

7,383

 

 

Investor Contact:

 

Raymond Kaszuba

(240) 482-3856

ir@envivapartners.com

 

15