SECTION 1.2.
Other Definitions
.
Term
|
|
|
|
“
Accredited Investor Note
”
|
2.1(b)
|
“
Additional Restricted Notes
”
|
2.1(b)
|
“
Affiliate Transaction
”
|
3.8(a)
|
“
Agent Members
”
|
2.1(g)(2)
|
“
Asset Disposition Offer
”
|
3.5(b)
|
“
Asset Sale Payment Date
”
|
3.5(f)(2)
|
“
Authenticating Agent
”
|
2.2
|
“
Automatic Exchange
”
|
2.6(e)
|
“
Automatic Exchange Date
”
|
2.6(e)
|
“
Automatic Exchange Notice
”
|
2.6(e)
|
“
Automatic Exchange Notice Date
”
|
2.6(e)
|
Term
|
|
|
|
“
bankruptcy provisions
”
|
6.1(a)(5)(F)
|
“
Change of Control Offer
”
|
3.9(a)
|
“
Change of Control Payment
”
|
3.9(a)(2)
|
“
Change of Control Payment Date
”
|
3.9(a)
|
“
Clearstream
”
|
2.1(b)
|
“
Covenant Defeasance
”
|
8.3
|
“
cross acceleration provision
”
|
6.1(a)(4)(B)
|
“
Defaulted Interest
”
|
2.15
|
“
Defeasance Trust
”
|
8.4(1)
|
“
Euroclear
”
|
2.1(b)
|
“
Event of Default
”
|
6.1(a)
|
“
Excess Proceeds
”
|
3.5(b)
|
“
Global Notes
”
|
2.1(b)
|
“
Guaranteed Obligations
”
|
10.1
|
“
Initial Agreement
”
|
3.4(b)
|
“
Initial Lien
”
|
3.6
|
“
Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note
”
|
2.1(b)
|
“
Institutional Accredited Investor Notes
”
|
2.1(b)
|
“
Issuers Order
”
|
2.2
|
“
judgment default provision
”
|
6.1(a)(7)
|
“
Legal Defeasance
”
|
8.2
|
“
Legal Holiday
”
|
12.8
|
“
New York Presence Obligor
”
|
12.21(b)
|
“
New York Process Agent
”
|
12.21(b)
|
“
Notes Register
”
|
2.3
|
Term
|
|
|
|
“
payment default
”
|
6.1(a)(4)(A)
|
“
Permitted Debt
”
|
3.2(b)
|
“
Permitted Payments
”
|
3.3(b)
|
“
Process Agent
”
|
12.21(a)
|
“
protected purchaser
”
|
2.11
|
“
Redemption Date
”
|
5.7(a)
|
“
Refunding Capital Stock
”
|
3.3(b)
|
“
Registrar
”
|
2.3
|
“
Regulation S Global Note
”
|
2.1(b)
|
“
Regulation S Notes
”
|
2.1(b)
|
“
Resale Restriction Termination Date
”
|
2.6(b)
|
“
Restricted Global Note
”
|
2.6(e)
|
“
Restricted Payment
”
|
3.3(a)(4)
|
“
Reversion Date
”
|
3.19(b)
|
“
Rule 144A Global Note
”
|
2.1(b)
|
“
Rule 144A Notes
”
|
2.1(b)
|
“
Special Interest Payment Date
”
|
2.15(a)
|
“
Special Record Date
”
|
2.15(a)
|
“
Successor Company
”
|
4.1(a)(1)
|
“
Suspended Covenants
”
|
3.19(a)
|
“
Suspension Period
”
|
3.19(b)
|
“
Taxes
”
|
3.23(a)
|
“
Third Party Process Agent
”
|
12.21(c)
|
“
Unrestricted Global Note
”
|
2.6(e)
|
SECTION 1.3.
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:
“
Commission
” means the SEC.
“
obligor
” on the indenture securities means the Issuers and any other obligor on the indenture securities.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined in the TIA by reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
SECTION 1.4.
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) “including” means including without limitation;
(5) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;
(6) “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;
(7) all amounts expressed in this Indenture or in any of the Notes in terms of money refer to the lawful currency of the United States of America;
(8) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;
(9) unless otherwise specifically indicated, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person refers to such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and excludes from such consolidation any Unrestricted Subsidiary as if such Unrestricted Subsidiary were not an Affiliate of such Person; and
(10) For the purposes of
Section 6.1(a)(6)(D)
, in respect of Parent, the making of a declaration that the affairs of Parent are
en etat de désastre
shall be deemed to be similar relief granted under foreign law.
ARTICLE II
THE NOTES
SECTION 2.1.
Form, Dating and Terms
.
(a) The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof will be in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000. In addition, the Issuers may issue, from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, Additional Notes (as provided herein). Furthermore, Notes may be authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer, exchange or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to
Sections 2.2
,
2.6
,
2.11
,
2.13
,
5.6
or
9.5
, in connection with an Asset Disposition Offer pursuant to
Section 3.5
or in connection with a Change of Control Offer pursuant to
Section 3.9
.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Issuers may not issue any Additional Notes, unless such issuance is in compliance with
Sections 3.2
and
3.6
.
With respect to any Additional Notes, the Issuers shall set forth in (i) an Officer’s Certificate or (ii) one or more indentures supplemental hereto, the following information:
(A) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;
(B) the issue price and the issue date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which interest shall accrue; and
(C) whether such Additional Notes shall be Restricted Notes.
In authenticating and delivering Additional Notes, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel and Officer’s Certificate required by
Section 12.4
, an Opinion of Counsel as to the due authorization, execution, delivery, validity and enforceability of such Additional Notes.
The Initial Notes, and the Additional Notes shall be considered collectively as a single class for all purposes of this Indenture. Holders of the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes will vote and consent together on all matters to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent as one class, and none of the Holders of the Initial Notes or the 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.
If any of the terms of any Additional Notes are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Issuers, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Issuers and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate or an indenture supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of the Additional Notes.
(b) The Initial Notes are being offered and sold by the Issuers pursuant to a Purchase Agreement, dated July 29, 2014, among the Issuers and the Initial Purchasers. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes (if issued as Restricted Notes) (the “
Additional Restricted Notes
”) will be resold initially only to (A) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (B) Non-U.S. Persons in reliance on Regulation S. Such Initial Notes and Additional Restricted Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S, AIs and IAIs in accordance with Rule 501 under the Securities Act, in each case, in accordance with the procedure described herein. Additional Notes offered after the date hereof may be offered and sold by the Issuers from time to time pursuant to one or more purchase agreements in accordance with applicable law.
Initial Notes and Additional Restricted Notes offered and sold to QIBs in the United States of America in reliance on Rule 144A (the “
Rule 144A Notes
”) will be issued in the form of a permanent global Note substantially in the form of
Exhibit A
, which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, including appropriate legends as set forth in
Section 2.1(d)
and
(e)
(the “
Rule 144A Global Note
”), deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Rule 144A Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.
Initial Notes and any Additional Restricted Notes offered and sold outside the United States of America (the “
Regulation S Notes
”) in reliance on Regulation S will be issued in the form of a global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A, including appropriate legends as set forth in
Section 2.1(d)
and
(e)
(the “
Regulation S Global Note
”). Each Regulation S Global Note will be deposited upon issuance with, or on behalf of, the Trustee as custodian for DTC in the manner described in this
Article II
for credit to the respective accounts of the purchasers (or to such other accounts as they may direct), including, but not limited to, accounts at Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“
Euroclear
”) or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“
Clearstream
”).
Investors may hold their interests in the Regulation S Global Note through organizations other than Euroclear or Clearstream that are participants in DTC’s system or directly through Euroclear or Clearstream, if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such systems. If such interests are held through Euroclear or Clearstream, Euroclear and Clearstream will hold such interests in the applicable Regulation S Global Note on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in their respective names on the books of their respective depositaries. Such depositaries, in turn, will hold such interests in the applicable Regulation S Global Note in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.
The Regulation S Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.
Initial Notes and Additional Restricted Notes resold to IAIs (the “
Institutional Accredited Investor Notes
”) in the United States of America will be issued in the form of a permanent global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A including appropriate legends as set forth in
Section 2.1(d)
and
(e)
(the “
Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note
”) deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.
Initial Notes and Additional Restricted Notes resold to AIs in the United States of America will be issued in the form of a Definitive Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A including the legend as set forth in
Section 2.1(d)
(an “
Accredited Investor Note
”).
The Rule 144A Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note, and the Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note are sometimes collectively herein referred to as the “
Global Notes
.”
The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of the Paying Agent designated by the Company maintained for such purpose (which shall initially be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose), or at such other office or agency of the Company as may be maintained for such purpose pursuant to
Section 2.3
;
provided
,
however
, that, at the option of the Paying Agent, each installment of interest may be paid by (i) check mailed to addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear on the Notes Register or (ii) wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the payee, subject to the last sentence of this paragraph. Payments in respect of Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by DTC. Payments in respect of Notes represented by Definitive Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) held by a Holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by Definitive Notes will be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 15 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).
The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage, in addition to those set forth on
Exhibit A
and
Exhibit B
and in
Section 2.1(d)
,
(e)
and
(f)
. The Issuers shall approve any notation, endorsement or legend on the Notes. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Notes set forth in
Exhibit A
and
Exhibit B
are part of the terms of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Issuers and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to be bound by such terms.
(c)
Denominations
. The Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(d)
Restrictive Legends
. Unless and until (i) an Initial Note or an Additional Note issued as a Restricted Note is sold under an effective registration statement or (ii) the Trustee receives an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to it to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act. The Rule 144A Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note, the Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note and the Accredited Investor Note shall each bear the following legend on the face thereof:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3), OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR”), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUERS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON ITS BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE FOR THIS SECURITY), (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUERS SO REQUEST), OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY, IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE ISSUERS SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
Each Global Note, whether or not an Initial Note, shall bear the following legend on the face thereof:
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“
DTC
”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN 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 DTC, 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.
(f)
[Reserved]
(g)
Book-Entry Provisions
. (i) This
Section 2.1(g)
shall apply only to Global Notes deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC.
(1) Each Global Note initially shall (x) be registered in the name of DTC or the nominee of DTC, (y) be delivered to the Notes Custodian for DTC and (z) bear legends as set forth in
Section 2.1(e)
. Transfers of a Global Note (but not a beneficial interest therein) will be limited to transfers thereof in whole, but not in part, to the DTC, its successors or its respective nominees, except as set forth in
Section 2.1(g)(4)
and
2.1(h)
. If a beneficial interest in a Global Note is transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Notes Custodian will (x) record a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note being transferred or exchanged equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (y) record a like increase in the principal amount of the other Global Note. Any beneficial interest in one Global Note that is transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in another Global Note, or exchanged for an interest in another Global Note, will, upon transfer or exchange, cease to be an interest in such Global Note and become an interest in the other Global Note and, accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer and exchange restrictions, if any, and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Note for as long as it remains such an interest.
(2) Members of, or participants in, DTC (“
Agent Members
”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by DTC or by the Notes Custodian as the custodian of DTC or under such Global Note, and DTC may be treated by the Issuers, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC or impair, as between DTC and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of DTC governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.
(3) In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interest in a Global Note pursuant to
Section 2.1(h)
to beneficial owners who are required to hold Definitive Notes, the Notes Custodian shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Note to be transferred, and the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, one or more Definitive Notes of like tenor and amount.
(4) In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to
Section 2.1(h)
, such Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to each beneficial owner identified by DTC in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations.
(5) The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including Agent Members and persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.
(6) Any Holder of a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (i) the Holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (ii) any holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.
(h)
Definitive Notes
. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes will not be entitled to receive Definitive Notes. Definitive Notes shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Note if (A) DTC notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Note and the Issuers fail to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days of such notice, (B) the Issuers, at their option, notify the Trustee that they elect to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes or (C) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Notes under this Indenture and DTC shall have requested the issuance of Definitive Notes. In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in the second preceding sentence or in clause (A), (B) or (C) of the preceding sentence, the Issuers shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes. In addition, any Note transferred to an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Issuers or evidencing a Note that has been acquired by an affiliate in a transaction or series of transactions not involving any public offering must, until one year after the last date on which either the Issuers or any affiliate of the Issuers was an owner of the Note, be in the form of a Definitive Note and bear the legend regarding transfer restrictions in
Section 2.1(d)
. If required to do so pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, beneficial owners may also obtain Definitive Notes in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Note upon written request in accordance with DTC’s and the Registrar’s procedures.
(7) Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to
Section 2.1(g)
shall, except as otherwise provided by
Section 2.6(d)
, bear the applicable legend regarding transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Note set forth in
Section 2.1(d)
.
(8) If a Definitive Note is transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note, the Trustee will (x) cancel such Definitive Note, (y) record an increase in the principal amount of such Global Note equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (z) in the event that such transfer or exchange involves less than the entire principal amount of the canceled Definitive Note, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to the transferring Holder a new Definitive Note representing the principal amount not so transferred.
(9) If a Definitive Note is transferred or exchanged for another Definitive Note, (x) the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Note being transferred or exchanged, (y) the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, one or more new Definitive Notes in authorized denominations having an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange to the transferee (in the case of a transfer) or the Holder of the canceled Definitive Note (in the case of an exchange), registered in the name of such transferee or Holder, as applicable, and (z) if such transfer or exchange involves less than the entire principal amount of the canceled Definitive Note, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the Holder thereof, one or more Definitive Notes in authorized denominations having an aggregate principal amount equal to the untransferred or unexchanged portion of the canceled Definitive Notes, registered in the name of the Holder thereof.
SECTION 2.2.
Execution and Authentication
. One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuers by manual, facsimile or PDF signature. If the Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.
A Note shall not be valid until an authorized officer of the Trustee manually authenticates the Note. The signature of the Trustee on a Note shall be conclusive evidence that such Note has been duly and validly authenticated and issued under this Indenture. A Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery: (1) Initial Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000, (2) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes for original issue in an unlimited principal amount, and (3) under the circumstances set forth in
Section 2.6(e)
, Initial Notes in the form of an Unrestricted Global Note, in each case upon a written order of the Issuers signed by one Officer (the “
Issuers Order
”). Such Issuers Order shall specify whether the Notes will be in the form of Definitive Notes or Global Notes, the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated, the holder of the Notes and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes or Additional Notes.
The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “
Authenticating Agent
”) reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuers. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by the Authenticating Agent. An Authenticating Agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.
In case the Issuers, pursuant to
Article IV
, shall be consolidated or merged with or into any other Person or shall convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the successor Person resulting from such consolidation, or surviving such merger, or into which the Issuers or any Guarantor shall have been merged, or the Person which shall have received a conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition as aforesaid, shall have executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to
Article IV
, any of the Notes authenticated or delivered prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition may (but shall not be required), from time to time, at the request of the successor Person, be exchanged for other Notes executed in the name of the successor Person with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate to reflect such successor Person, but otherwise in substance of like tenor as the Notes surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon the Issuers Order of the successor Person, shall authenticate and make available for delivery Notes as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange. If Notes shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a successor Person pursuant to this
Section 2.2
in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Notes, such successor Person, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Notes at the time outstanding for Notes authenticated and delivered in such new name.
SECTION 2.3.
Registrar and Paying Agent
. The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “
Registrar
”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange (the “
Notes Register
”). The Issuers may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent and the term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar.
The Issuers shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of each such agent. If the Issuers fail to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to
Section 7.7
. The Issuers or any Guarantor may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or transfer agent.
The Issuers initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“
DTC
”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. The Issuers initially appoints the Trustee as the Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes and the Issuers may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent without prior notice to the Holders, but upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee;
provided
,
however
, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) acceptance of any appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuers and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee and the passage of any waiting or notice periods required by DTC procedures or (ii) written notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Issuers and the Trustee.
SECTION 2.4.
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust
. Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time, on each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note is due and payable, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient in immediately available funds to pay such principal, premium or interest when due. The Issuers shall require the Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (whether such assets have been distributed to it by the Issuers or other obligors on the Notes), shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Issuers or any Guarantor in making any such payment and shall during the continuance of any default by the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes) in the making of any payment in respect of the Notes, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith deliver to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Notes together with a full accounting thereof. If the Issuers or a Subsidiary of the Issuers acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds or assets disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this
Section 2.4
, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuers or a Subsidiary of the Issuers) shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Issuers, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
SECTION 2.5.
Holder Lists
. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, or to the extent otherwise required under the TIA, the Issuers, on their own behalf and on behalf of each of the Guarantors, shall furnish or cause the Registrar to furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders and the Issuers shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).
SECTION 2.6.
Transfer and Exchange
.
(a) A Holder may transfer a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) to another Person or exchange a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) for another Note or Notes of any authorized denomination by presenting to the Trustee a written request therefor stating the name of the proposed transferee or requesting such an exchange, accompanied by any certification, opinion or other document required by this
Section 2.6
. The Trustee will promptly register any transfer or exchange that meets the requirements of this
Section 2.6
by noting the same in the Notes Register maintained by the Trustee for the purpose, and no transfer or exchange will be effective until it is registered in such Notes Register. The transfer or exchange of any Note (or a beneficial interest therein) may only be made in accordance with this
Section 2.6
and
Section 2.1(g)
and
2.1(h)
, as applicable, and, in the case of a Global Note (or a beneficial interest therein), the applicable rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream. The Trustee shall refuse to register any requested transfer or exchange that does not comply with this paragraph.
(b)
Transfers of Rule 144A Notes and Institutional Accredited Investor Notes
. The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed registration of transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of its original issue and the last date on which the Issuers or any Affiliate of the Issuers was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “
Resale Restriction Termination Date
”):
(1) a registration of transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB shall be made upon the representation of the transferee in the form as set forth on the reverse of the Note that it is purchasing for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuers as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A;
provided
that no such written representation or other written certification shall be required in connection with the transfer of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note to a transferee in the form of a beneficial interest in that Rule 144A Global Note in accordance with this Indenture and the applicable procedures of DTC.
(2) a registration of transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note or a beneficial interest therein to an IAI or an AI shall be made upon receipt by the Registrar or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in
Section 2.8
or
Section 2.10
, respectively, from the proposed transferee and the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to it; and
(3) a registration of transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note or a beneficial interest therein to a Non-U.S. Person shall be made upon receipt by the Registrar or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in
Section 2.9
from the proposed transferee and the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to it.
(c)
Transfers of Regulation S Notes
. The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed transfer of a Regulation S Note:
(1) a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB shall be made upon the representation of the transferee, in the form of assignment on the reverse of the certificate, that it is purchasing the Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuers as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A;
(2) a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to an IAI or an AI shall be made upon receipt by the Registrar or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in
Section 2.8
or
Section 2.10
, respectively, from the proposed transferee and the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to the Issuers; and
(3) a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to a Non-U.S. Person shall be made upon receipt by the Registrar or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in
Section 2.9
hereof from the proposed transferee and receipt by the Registrar or its agent of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to the Issuers.
(d)
Restricted Notes Legend
. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes not bearing a Restricted Notes Legend, the Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear a Restricted Notes Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing a Restricted Notes Legend, the Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear a Restricted Notes Legend unless (1) an Initial Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement, (2) Initial Notes are being exchanged for Notes that do not bear the Restricted Notes Legend in accordance with
Section 2.6(e)
or (3) there is delivered to the Registrar an Opinion of Counsel satisfactory to it stating that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act. Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.
(e)
Automatic Exchange from Global Note Bearing Restricted Notes Legend to Global Note Not Bearing Restricted Notes Legend
. Upon the Issuers’ satisfaction that the Restricted Notes Legend shall no longer be required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act, beneficial interests in a Global Note bearing the Restricted Notes Legend (a “
Restricted Global Note
”) may be automatically exchanged into beneficial interests in a Global Note not bearing the Restricted Notes Legend (an “
Unrestricted Global Note
”) without any action required by or on behalf of the Holder (the “
Automatic Exchange
”) at any time on or after the date that is the 366th calendar day after (1) with respect to the Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Issue Date or (2) with respect to Additional Notes, if any, the issue date of such Additional Notes, or, in each case, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (the “
Automatic Exchange Date
”). Upon the Issuers’ satisfaction that the Restricted Notes Legend shall no longer be required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act, the Issuers shall (i) provide written notice to DTC and the Trustee at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the Automatic Exchange Date, instructing DTC to exchange all of the outstanding beneficial interests in a particular Restricted Global Note to the Unrestricted Global Note, which the Issuers shall have previously otherwise made eligible for exchange with the DTC, (ii) provide prior written notice (the “
Automatic Exchange Notice
”) to each Holder at such Holder’s address appearing in the register of Holders at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the Automatic Exchange Date (the “
Automatic Exchange Notice Date
”), which notice must include (w) the Automatic Exchange Date, (x) the section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Automatic Exchange shall occur, (y) the “CUSIP” number of the Restricted Global Note from which such Holder’s beneficial interests will be transferred and (z) the “CUSIP” number of the Unrestricted Global Note into which such Holder’s beneficial interests will be transferred, and (iii) on or prior to the Automatic Exchange Date, deliver to the Trustee for authentication one or more Unrestricted Global Notes, duly executed by the Issuers, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Restricted Global Notes to be exchanged into such Unrestricted Global Notes. At the Issuers’ written request on no less than five (5) calendar days’ notice prior to the Automatic Exchange Notice Date, the Trustee shall deliver, in the Issuers’ name and at its expense, the Automatic Exchange Notice to each Holder at such Holder’s address appearing in the register of Holders;
provided
that the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee the information required to be included in such Automatic Exchange Notice.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 2.6(e)
, during the fifteen (15) calendar day period prior to the Automatic Exchange Date, no transfers or exchanges other than pursuant to this
Section 2.6(e)
shall be permitted without the prior written consent of the Issuers. As a condition to any Automatic Exchange, the Issuers shall provide, and the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the Issuers to the effect that the Automatic Exchange shall be effected in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Notes Legend shall no longer be required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and that the aggregate principal amount of the particular Restricted Global Note is to be transferred to the particular Unrestricted Global Note by adjustment made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary to reflect the Automatic Exchange. Upon such exchange of beneficial interests pursuant to this
Section 2.6(e)
, the aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes shall be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, to reflect the relevant increase or decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note resulting from the applicable exchange. The Restricted Global Note from which beneficial interests are transferred pursuant to an Automatic Exchange shall be cancelled following the Automatic Exchange.
(f)
Retention of Written Communications
. The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to
Section 2.1
or this
Section 2.6
. The Issuers shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable prior written notice to the Registrar.
(g)
Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes
. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers shall, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article II, execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Issuers’ and Registrar’s written request.
No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require the Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax assessments or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charges payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to
Sections 2.2
,
2.6
,
2.11
,
2.13
,
3.5
,
5.6
or
9.5
).
The Issuers (and the Registrar) shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note (A) for a period beginning (1) 15 calendar days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Notes and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or (2) 15 calendar days before an interest payment date and ending on such interest payment date or (B) called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to paragraph 2 of the forms of Notes attached hereto as
Exhibits A
,
B
and
C
) interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, including without limitation the transfer or exchange of such Note, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to
Section 2.1(h)
shall, except as otherwise provided by
Section 2.6(d)
, bear the applicable legend regarding transfer restrictions applicable to the Definitive Note set forth in
Section 2.1(d)
.
All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
(h)
No Obligation of the Trustee
. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in, DTC or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than DTC) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or purchase) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Notes (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be DTC or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through DTC subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by DTC with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among DTC participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. Neither the Trustee nor any of its agents shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by DTC.
SECTION 2.7.
[Reserved
]
SECTION 2.8.
Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers to IAIs
.
[Date]
Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP
Ladder Capital Finance Corporation
345 Park Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10154
Attention: Marc Fox and Pamela McCormack
Facsimile: (212) 715-3199
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1544
Attention: Ladder Capital Administrator
Facsimile: (612) 217-5651
Re: Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP and
Ladder Capital Finance Corporation (the “
Issuers
”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[_________] principal amount of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “
Notes
”) of Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP and Ladder Capital Finance Corporation (the “
Issuers
”).
Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:
Name:
Address:
Taxpayer ID Number:
The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:
1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “
Securities Act
”)) purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” of at least $250,000 principal amount of the Notes, and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risk of our investment in the Notes and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.
2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which the Issuers or any affiliate of the Issuers was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “
Resale Restriction Termination Date
”) only (a) to the Issuers or any Subsidiary thereof, (b) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (c) in a transaction complying with the requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, to a person we reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” under Rule 144A of the Securities Act (a “
QIB
”) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a QIB and to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (d) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (e) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor,” in each case in a minimum principal amount of Notes of $250,000 for investment purposes and not with a view to or for offer or sale in connection with any distribution in violation of the Securities Act or (f) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, subject in each of the foregoing cases to any requirement of law that the disposition of our property or the property of such investor account or accounts be at all times within our or their control and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (e) above prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Issuers and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuers and the Trustee reserve the right prior to any offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clauses (d), (e) or (f) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to the Issuers.
3. We [are][are not] an Affiliate of the Issuers.
TRANSFEREE:
BY:
SECTION 2.9.
Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S
.
[Date]
Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP
Ladder Capital Finance Corporation
345 Park Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10154
Attention: Marc Fox and Pamela McCormack
Facsimile: (212) 715-3199
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1544
Attention: Ladder Capital Administrator
Facsimile: (612) 217-5651
Re: Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP and
Ladder Capital Finance Corporation (the “
Issuers
”)
5.875% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “Notes”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale of $[________] aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “
Securities Act
”), and, accordingly, we represent that:
(a) the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;
(b) either (i) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States or (ii) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated off-shore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;
(c) no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(a)(2) or Rule 904(a)(2) of Regulation S, as applicable; and
(d) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
In addition, if the sale is made during a restricted period and the provisions of Rule 903(b)(2), Rule 903(b)(3) or Rule 904(b)(1) of Regulation S are applicable thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 903(b)(2), Rule 903(b)(3) or Rule 904(b)(1), as the case may be.
We also hereby certify that we [are][are not] an Affiliate of the Issuers and, to our knowledge, the transferee of the Notes [is][is not] an Affiliate of the Issuers.
The Trustee and the Issuers are entitled to conclusively rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
|
Very truly yours,
|
|
|
|
|
[Name of Transferor]
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
Authorized Signature
|
SECTION 2.10.
Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers to AIs
.
[Date]
Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP
Ladder Capital Finance Corporation
345 Park Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10154
Attention: Marc Fox and Pamela McCormack
Facsimile: (212) 715-3199
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1544
Attention: Ladder Capital Administrator
Facsimile: (612) 217-5651
Re: Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP and
Ladder Capital Finance Corporation (the “
Issuers
”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[_________] principal amount of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “
Notes
”) of Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP and Ladder Capital Finance Corporation (the “
Issuers
”).
Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:
Name:
Address:
Taxpayer ID Number:
The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:
4. I am an “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(4) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “
Securities Act
”)) and I am acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. I have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risk of my investment in the Notes and I invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of my business. I am able to bear the economic risk of my investment.
5. I understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. I agree on my own behalf to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which the Issuers or any affiliate of the Issuers was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “
Resale Restriction Termination Date
”) only (a) to the Issuers or any Subsidiary thereof, (b) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (c) in a transaction complying with the requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, to a person I reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” under Rule 144A of the Securities Act (a “
QIB
”) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a QIB and to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (d) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (e) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor,” in each case in a minimum principal amount of Notes of $200,000 for investment purposes and not with a view to or for offer or sale in connection with any distribution in violation of the Securities Act or (f) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, subject in each of the foregoing cases to any requirement of law that the disposition of my property be at all times within my control and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuers and the Trustee reserve the right prior to any offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clauses (d), (e) or (f) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to the Issuers.
6. I understand and acknowledge that upon the issuance thereof, and until such time as the same is no longer required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act or state securities laws, the Notes that I acquire will be certificated Notes that will bear, and all certificates issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof will bear, a restrictive legend set forth in Section 2.1(d) of the Indenture.
7. I am an Affiliate of the Issuers.
SECTION 2.11.
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes
.
If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Issuers and the Trustee that such Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar has not registered a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuers and the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “
protected purchaser
”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee;
provided
,
however
, if after the delivery of such replacement Note, a protected purchaser of the Note for which such replacement Note was issued presents for payment or registration such replaced Note, the Trustee and/or the Issuers shall be entitled to recover such replacement Note from the Person to whom it was issued and delivered or any Person taking therefrom, except a protected purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Issuers or the Trustee in connection therewith. Such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the (i) Trustee to protect the Trustee and (ii) the Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar, from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced, and, in the absence of notice to the Issuers, any Guarantor or the Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Issuers shall execute, and upon receipt of an Issuers Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for any such mutilated Note or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note of like tenor and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuers in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.
Upon the issuance of any new Note under this
Section 2.11
, the Issuers may require that such Holder pay 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 counsel and of the Trustee) in connection therewith.
Subject to the proviso in the initial paragraph of this
Section 2.11
, every new Note issued pursuant to this
Section 2.11
, in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Issuers, any Guarantor (if applicable) and any other obligor upon the Notes, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this
Section 2.11
are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.
SECTION 2.12.
Outstanding Notes
. Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those paid pursuant to
Section 2.11
and those described in this Section as not outstanding. A Note does not cease to be outstanding in the event the Issuers or an Affiliate of the Issuers holds the Note;
provided
,
however
, that (i) for purposes of determining which are outstanding for consent or voting purposes hereunder, the provisions of
Section 12.6
shall apply and (ii) in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making a determination whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Notes are present at a meeting of Holders of Notes for quorum purposes or have consented to or voted in favor of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, amendment or modification hereunder, or relying upon any such quorum, consent or vote, only Notes which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be held by the Issuers or an Affiliate of the Issuers shall not be considered outstanding.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to
Section 2.11
(other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuers receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement pursuant to
Section 2.11
.
If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a Redemption Date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and the Paying Agent is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
SECTION 2.13.
Temporary Notes
. In the event that Definitive Notes are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form, and shall carry all rights, of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes. After the preparation of Definitive Notes, the temporary Notes shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at any office or agency maintained by the Issuers for that purpose and such exchange shall be without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Notes, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuers Order, authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor, one or more Definitive Notes representing an equal principal amount of Notes. Until so exchanged, the Holder of temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as a Holder of Definitive Notes.
SECTION 2.14.
Cancellation
. The Issuers at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and dispose of such Notes in accordance with its internal policies and customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act and the Trustee). If the Issuers or any Guarantor acquires any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to this
Section 2.14
. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for any reason other than in connection with a transfer or exchange.
At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by DTC to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Notes Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, to reflect such reduction.
SECTION 2.15.
Payment of Interest; 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 such Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such payment at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose pursuant to
Section 2.3
.
Any interest on any Note which is payable, but is not paid when the same becomes due and payable and such nonpayment continues for a period of 30 days shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the regular record date, and such defaulted interest and (to the extent lawful) interest on such defaulted interest at the rate borne by the Notes (such defaulted interest and interest thereon herein collectively called “
Defaulted Interest
”) shall be paid by the Issuers, at their election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:
i) The Issuers may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date (as defined below) 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 Note and the date (not less than 30 days after such notice) of the proposed payment (the “
Special Interest Payment Date
”), 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
Section 2.15(a)
. Thereupon the Issuers shall fix a record date (the “
Special Record Date
”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which date shall be not more than 20 calendar days and not less than 15 calendar days prior to the Special Interest Payment Date and not less than 10 calendar days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of such Special Record Date, and in the name and at the expense of the Issuers, the Trustee shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor to be given in the manner provided for in
Section 12.2
, not less than 10 calendar days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid on the Special Interest Payment Date to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the provisions in
Section 2.15(b)
.
ii) The Issuers may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after written notice given by the Issuers to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this
Section 2.15(b)
, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this
Section 2.15
, 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 2.16.
CUSIP and ISIN Numbers
. The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP and “ISIN” numbers in notices of redemption or purchase as a convenience to Holders;
provided
,
however
, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption or purchase and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or purchase shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such CUSIP and ISIN numbers. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP and ISIN numbers.
SECTION 2.17.
Joint and Several Liability
. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, from and after the Issue Date, the Issuers shall be jointly and severally liable for the performance of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes.
ARTICLE III
COVENANTS
SECTION 3.1.
Payment of Notes
. The Issuers shall promptly pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
The Issuers shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Issuers may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America from principal or interest payments hereunder.
SECTION 3.2.
Limitation on Indebtedness
.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness);
provided
,
however
, that the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur Non-Funding Indebtedness, if on the date of such Incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including pro forma application of the proceeds thereof), the Consolidated Non-Funding Debt to Equity Ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not greater than 1.75 to 1.00.
(b)
Section 3.2(a)
will not prohibit the Incurrence of the following Indebtedness (collectively, “
Permitted Debt
”):
(1) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to any Credit Facility (including letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued or created under any Credit Facility), and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and Guarantees in respect of such Indebtedness in a maximum aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not exceeding (i) the greater of $150.0 million or 4.0% of Total Assets, plus (ii) in the case of any refinancing of any Indebtedness permitted under this clause or any portion thereof, the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses Incurred in connection with such refinancing;
(2) Guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness is permitted under the terms of this Indenture;
(3) Indebtedness of the Company owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
,
however
, that:
(a)
any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Indebtedness being beneficially 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 Indebtedness to a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,
shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;
(4) Indebtedness represented by (i) the Notes (other than any Additional Notes), including any Guarantee thereof, (ii) any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred pursuant to
Section 3.2(b)(1)
and
(3)
) outstanding on the Issue Date, (iii) Refinancing Indebtedness (including, in the case of the Notes (other than any Additional Notes) and any Guarantee thereof Incurred in respect of any Indebtedness described in this clause or clauses (5), (6), (7), (9), (10) or (15) of this
Section 3.2(b)
or Incurred pursuant to
Section 3.2(a)
, and (iv) Management Advances;
(5) Indebtedness of (x) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred or issued to finance an acquisition or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
provided
that after giving effect to such acquisition, merger or consolidation, either
(c)
the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Non-Funding Debt to Equity Ratio test set forth in
Section 3.2(a);
(d)
the Consolidated Non-Funding Debt to Equity Ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would not be greater than immediately prior to such acquisition, merger or consolidation; or
(e)
such Indebtedness constitutes Acquired Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness Incurred in contemplation of the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary);
provided
that the only obligors with respect to such Indebtedness shall be those Persons who were obligors of such Indebtedness prior to such acquisition, merger or consolidation;
(6) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes);
(7) Indebtedness represented by Capitalized Lease Obligations or Purchase Money Obligations in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause and then outstanding and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, does not exceed the greater of (i) $10.0 million and (ii) 1.0% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence;
(8) Indebtedness in respect of (i) workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, performance, indemnity, surety, judgment, appeal, advance payment, customs, value added or other tax or other guarantees or other similar bonds, instruments or obligations and completion guarantees and warranties provided by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or relating to liabilities, obligations or guarantees Incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;
provided
,
however
, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of Incurrence; (iii) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods or services purchased in the ordinary course of business; (iv) letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, guarantees or other similar instruments or obligations issued or relating to liabilities or obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (v) any customary cash management, cash pooling or netting or setting off arrangements in the ordinary course of business;
(9) Indebtedness arising from agreements providing for guarantees, indemnification, obligations in respect of earn-outs or other adjustments of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business or assets, Person or any Capital Stock of a Subsidiary;
(10) Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause and then outstanding, will not exceed 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from the issuance or sale (other than to a Subsidiary) of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock or an Excluded Contribution) or otherwise contributed to the equity (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or an Excluded Contribution) of the Company, in each case, subsequent to the Issue Date;
provided
,
however
, that (i) any such Net Cash Proceeds that are so received or contributed shall not increase the amount available for making Restricted Payments to the extent the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries Incur Indebtedness in reliance thereon and (ii) any Net Cash Proceeds that are so received or contributed shall be excluded for purposes of Incurring Indebtedness pursuant to this clause to the extent the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries make a Restricted Payment;
(11) Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any current or former employee, director or consultant of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Parents (or permitted transferees, assigns, estates, or heirs of such employee, director or consultant), to finance the purchase or redemption of Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Parents that is permitted by
Section 3.3
;
(12) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(13) Permitted Funding Indebtedness;
(14) Permitted Securitization Indebtedness and Indebtedness under Credit Enhancement Agreements or arising out of or to fund purchases of all remaining outstanding asset-backed securities of any Securitization Entity for the purpose of relieving the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company of the administrative expense of servicing such Securitization Entity; and
(15) Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause and then outstanding, will not exceed $40.0 million.
(c) For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to and in compliance with, this
Section 3.2
:
(1) in the event that all or any portion of any item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in
Section 3.2(a)
and
(b)
, the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify such Indebtedness and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of the clauses of
Section 3.2(a)
or
(b)
;
(2) additionally, all or any portion of any item of Indebtedness may later be reclassified as having been Incurred pursuant to any type of Indebtedness described in
Section 3.2(a)
and
(b)
so long as such Indebtedness is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to such provision and any related Liens are permitted to be Incurred at the time of reclassification;
(3) Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments relating to, or Liens securing, Indebtedness that is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included;
(4) if obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments are Incurred pursuant to any Credit Facility and are being treated as Incurred pursuant to clause (1), (7) or (10) of
Section 3.2(b)
or
Section 3.2(a)
and the letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included;
(5) the principal amount of any Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, will be equal to the greater of the maximum mandatory redemption or repurchase price (not including, in either case, any redemption or repurchase premium) or the liquidation preference thereof;
(6) Indebtedness permitted by this
Section 3.2
need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this
Section 3.2
permitting such Indebtedness; and
(7) the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined on the basis of GAAP.
(d) Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the reclassification of commitments or obligations not treated as Indebtedness due to a change in GAAP, will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this
Section 3.2
. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (a) the accreted value thereof in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount and (b) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, or liquidation preference thereof, in the case of any other Indebtedness.
(e) If at any time an Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be Incurred as of such date under this
Section 3.2
, the Company shall be in default of this
Section 3.2
).
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 3.2
, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary may Incur pursuant to this
Section 3.2
shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.
(g) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is subordinated or junior in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee to the extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated to other Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be.
(h) Unsecured Indebtedness shall not be treated as subordinated or junior to secured Indebtedness merely because such Indebtedness is unsecured. Senior Indebtedness shall not be treated as subordinated or junior to any other senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral or is secured by different collateral.
SECTION 3.3.
Limitation on Restricted Payments
.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to:
(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on or in respect of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) except:
(f)
dividends or distributions payable in Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock; and
(g)
dividends or distributions payable to any of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (and, in the case of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary making such dividend or distribution, to holders of its Capital Stock other than the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary on no more than a
pro rata
basis);
(2) purchase, repurchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Capital Stock of the Company or any Parent of the Company held by Persons other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(3) purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than (i) any such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case, due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement and (ii) any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to
Section 3.2(b)(3)
); or
(4) make any Restricted Investment;
(any such dividend, distribution, purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, other acquisition, retirement or Restricted Investment referred to in clauses (1) through (4) are referred to herein as a “
Restricted Payment
”), if at the time the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:
(h)
a Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result immediately thereafter therefrom);
(i)
the Company is not able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to
Section 3.2(a)
after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to such Restricted Payment; or
(j)
the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments made subsequent to the RP Reference Date (and not returned or rescinded) (including Permitted Payments permitted by
Section 3.3(b)(1)
(without duplication of the declaration of the dividend or delivery of a redemption notice),
(6)
,
(10)
,
(11)
and
(17)
, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by
Section 3.3(b)
) would exceed the sum of (without duplication):
(A) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter in which the RP Reference Date occurs to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of such Restricted Payment for which internal consolidated financial statements of the Company are available (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit);
(B) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by the Company from the issue or sale of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or as the result of a merger or consolidation with another Person subsequent to the RP Reference Date or otherwise contributed to the equity (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock) of the Company subsequent to the RP Reference Date (other than (x) Net Cash Proceeds or property or assets or marketable securities received from an issuance or sale of such Capital Stock to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (y) Net Cash Proceeds or property or assets or marketable securities to the extent that any Restricted Payment has been made from such proceeds in reliance on
Section 3.3(b)(6)
and (z) Excluded Contributions;
(C) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the issuance or sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary subsequent to the RP Reference Date of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock that has been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) plus, without duplication, the amount of any cash, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange;
(D) 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by means of: (i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the RP Reference Date; or (ii) the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent of the amount of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to
Section 3.3(b)(10)
or
(14)
or to the extent of the amount of the Investment that constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the RP Reference Date; and
(E) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the merger or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after the RP Reference Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or the assets transferred), as determined in good faith of the Company at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of such merger or consolidation or transfer of assets (after taking into consideration any Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or merged or consolidated or Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred), other than to the extent of the amount of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to
Section 3.3(b)(10)
or
(14)
or to the extent of the amount of the Investment that constituted a Permitted Investment.
(b)
Section 3.3(a)
will not prohibit any of the following (collectively, “
Permitted Payments
”):
(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture or the redemption, repurchase or retirement of Indebtedness if, at the date of any irrevocable redemption notice, such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture as if it were and is deemed at such time to be a Restricted Payment at the time of such notice;
(2) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Capital Stock or Subordinated Indebtedness made by exchange (including any such exchange pursuant to the exercise of a conversion right or privilege in connection with which cash is paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares) for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) (“
Refunding Capital Stock
”) or a substantially concurrent contribution to the equity (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or through an Excluded Contribution) of the Company;
provided
,
however
, that to the extent so applied, the Net Cash Proceeds, or fair market value of property or assets or of marketable securities, from such sale of Capital Stock or such contribution will be excluded from
Section 3.3(a)(4)(iii)
;
(3) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to
Section 3.2
;
(4) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Preferred Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary made by exchange for or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of Preferred Stock (other than an issuance of Disqualified Stock of the Company or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary to replace Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company) of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that, in each case, is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to
Section 3.2
;
(5) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary:
(k)
from Net Available Cash to the extent permitted under
Section 3.5
, but only if the Issuers shall have first complied with the terms described under
Section 3.5
and purchased all Notes tendered pursuant to any offer to repurchase all the Notes required thereby, prior to purchasing, repurchasing, redeeming, defeasing or otherwise acquiring or retiring such Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; or
(l)
to the extent required by the agreement governing such Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, following the occurrence of a Change of Control (or other similar event described therein as a “change of control”), but only if the Company shall have first complied with the terms described under
Section 3.9
and purchased all Notes tendered pursuant to the offer to repurchase all the Notes required thereby, prior to purchasing, repurchasing, redeeming, defeasing or otherwise acquiring or retiring such Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; or
(m)
consisting of Acquired Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness Incurred (A) to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) otherwise in connection with or contemplation of such acquisition);
(6) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any of its Parents held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Parents (or permitted transferees, assigns, estates, trusts or heirs of such employee, director or consultant) either pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or upon the termination of such employee, director or consultant’s employment or directorship;
provided
,
however
, that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause do not exceed $10.0 million in any fiscal year (with unused amounts in any fiscal year being carried over to succeeding fiscal years subject to a maximum of $20.0 million in any fiscal year);
provided further
that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:
(n)
the cash proceeds from the sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and, to the extent contributed to the capital of the Company (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or an Excluded Contribution), Capital Stock of any of the Company’s Parents, in each case to members of management, directors or consultants of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Parents that occurred after the Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Capital Stock have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of
Section 3.3(a)(4)(iii)
;
plus
(o)
the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;
less
(p)
the amount of any Restricted Payments made in previous calendar years pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this clause (6);
and
provided further
that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from members of management, directors, employees or consultants of the Company, or any of its Parents or Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Parent will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this
Section 3.3
or any other provision of this Indenture;
(7) the declaration and payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, Incurred in accordance with the terms of
Section 3.2
;
(8) purchases, repurchases, redemptions, defeasances or other acquisitions or retirements of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price thereof;
(9) dividends, loans, advances or distributions to any Parent or other payments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in amounts equal to (without duplication):
(q)
the amounts required for any Parent to pay any Parent Expenses;
(r)
distributions in respect of Related Taxes; or
(s)
amounts constituting or to be used for purposes of making payments to the extent specified in
Section 3.8(b)(2)
,
(3)
and
(5)
;
(10) the declaration and payment by the Company of dividends on the common stock or common equity interests of the Company or any Parent following a public offering of such common stock or common equity interests, in an amount not to exceed 6% in any fiscal year of the aggregate proceeds received by or contributed to the Company in or from all such public offerings;
(11) payments by the Company, or loans, advances, dividends or distributions to any Parent to make payments, to holders of Capital Stock of the Company or any Parent in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of such Capital Stock;
provided
,
however
, that any such payment, loan, advance, dividend or distribution shall not be for the purpose of evading any limitation of this
Section 3.3
or otherwise to facilitate any dividend or other return of capital to the holders of such Capital Stock (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors);
(12) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;
(13) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock;
provided
,
however
, that for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Refunding Capital Stock, after giving effect to such issuance on a pro forma basis the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the test set forth in
Section 3.2(a)
;
(14) dividends or other distributions of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (unless the Unrestricted Subsidiary’s principal asset is cash and Cash Equivalents);
(15) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees, sales contributions and other transfers of Securitization Assets and purchases of Securitization Assets pursuant to a Securitization Repurchase Obligation, in each case in connection with a Securitization;
(16) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (or would result from), Restricted Payments (including loans or advances) in an aggregate amount outstanding at the time made not to exceed $25.0 million; and
(17) mandatory redemptions of Preferred Stock issued as a Restricted Payment or as consideration for a Permitted Investment.
(c) The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any cash Restricted Payment shall be their face amount, and the fair market value of any non-cash Restricted Payment, property or assets other than cash, in each case over $25.0 million, shall be determined conclusively by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith.
SECTION 3.4.
Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries
.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions in cash or otherwise on its Capital Stock or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) make any loans or advances to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or
(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that (x) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock and (y) the subordination of (including the application of any standstill requirements to) loans or advances made to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed to constitute such an encumbrance or restriction.
(b)
Section 3.4(a)
shall not prohibit:
(1) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to any Credit Facilities or any other agreement or instrument, in each case, in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date;
(2) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees;
(3) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to applicable law, rule, regulation or order;
(4) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement or instrument of a Person or relating to any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of a Person, entered into on or before the date on which such Person was acquired by or merged, consolidated or otherwise combined with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or was designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or on which such agreement or instrument is assumed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition of assets (other than Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Company or was merged, consolidated or otherwise combined with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or entered into in contemplation of or in connection with such transaction) and outstanding on such date; provided that, for the purposes of this clause, if another Person is the Successor Company, any Subsidiary thereof or agreement or instrument of such Person or any such Subsidiary shall be deemed acquired or assumed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary when such Person becomes the Successor Company;
(5) any encumbrance or restriction:
(t)
that restricts in a customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is subject to a lease, license or similar contract or agreement, or the assignment or transfer of any lease, license or other contract or agreement;
(u)
contained in mortgages, pledges, charges or other security agreements permitted under this Indenture or securing Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary permitted under this Indenture to the extent such encumbrances or restrictions restrict the transfer or encumbrance of the property or assets subject to such mortgages, pledges, charges or other security agreements; or
(v)
pursuant to customary provisions restricting dispositions of real property interests set forth in any reciprocal easement agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(6) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to Purchase Money Obligations and Capitalized Lease Obligations permitted under this Indenture, in each case, that impose encumbrances or restrictions on the property so acquired;
(7) any encumbrance or restriction imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the direct or indirect sale or disposition to a Person of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (or the property or assets that are subject to such restriction) pending the closing of such sale or disposition;
(8) customary provisions in leases, licenses, Joint Venture agreements and other similar agreements and instruments;
(9) encumbrances or restrictions arising or existing by reason of applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order, or required by any regulatory authority;
(10) any encumbrance or restriction on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(11) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to Hedging Obligations;
(12) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be Incurred or issued subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to
Section 3.2
that impose restrictions solely on the Foreign Subsidiaries party thereto or their Subsidiaries;
(13) provisions in agreements evidencing Permitted Funding Indebtedness and restrictions or requirements created in connection with any Securitization Facility that are necessary or advisable to effect such Securitization Facility or applicable to any special purpose Subsidiary of the Company formed in connection therewith;
(14) any encumbrance or restriction arising pursuant to an agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to
Section 3.2
if the encumbrances and restrictions contained in any such agreement or instrument taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to the Holders than (i) the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the Credit Facilities, together with the security documents associated therewith as in effect on the Issue Date or (ii) in comparable financings (as determined in good faith by the Company) and where, in the case of clause (ii), either (A) the Company determines at the time of issuance of such Indebtedness that such encumbrances or restrictions will not adversely affect, in any material respect, the Company’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes or (B) such encumbrance or restriction applies only during the continuance of a default relating to such Indebtedness;
(15) any encumbrance or restriction existing by reason of any lien permitted under
Section 3.6
; or
(16) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement or instrument effecting a refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to, or that otherwise refinances, an agreement or instrument referred to in clauses (1) to (15) of this
Section 3.4(b)
(an “
Initial Agreement
”) or contained in any amendment, extension, renewal, restatement, refunding, replacement, refinancing, supplement or other modification to an agreement referred to in clauses (1) to (15) of this
Section 3.4(b)
or this clause (16);
provided
,
however
, that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such agreement or instrument are no less favorable in any material respect to the Holders taken as a whole than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the Initial Agreement or Initial Agreements to which such refinancing or amendment, supplement or other modification relates (as determined in good faith by the Company).
SECTION 3.5.
Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock
.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition unless:
(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) at least equal to the fair market value (such fair market value to be determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Disposition), as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if such Asset Disposition is a Permitted Asset Swap);
(2) in any such Asset Disposition, or series of related Asset Dispositions (except to the extent the Asset Disposition is a Permitted Asset Swap), at least 75% of the consideration from such Asset Disposition (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; and
(3) an amount equal to 100% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition is applied by the Issuers or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be:
(w)
to the extent the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, elects (or is required by the terms of any Indebtedness), (A) to prepay, repay or purchase any Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor, Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien or Permitted Funding Indebtedness (in each case, other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) within 365 days from the later of (1) the date of such Asset Disposition and (2) the receipt of such Net Available Cash;
provided
,
however
, that, in connection with any prepayment, repayment or purchase of Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (i), the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary will retire such Indebtedness and will cause the related commitment (if any) to be reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid or purchased; or (B) to prepay, repay or purchase Pari Passu Indebtedness;
provided further
that, to the extent the Company redeems, repays or repurchases Pari Passu Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (B), the Company shall equally and ratably reduce obligations under the Notes as provided under
Section 5.7
, through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Disposition Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid; or
(x)
to the extent the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary elects, to invest in or commit to invest in Additional Assets (including Securitization Assets and by means of an investment in Additional Assets by a Restricted Subsidiary with Net Available Cash received by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) within 365 days from the later of (A) the date of such Asset Disposition and (B) the receipt of such Net Available Cash;
provided
,
however
, that any such reinvestment in Additional Assets made pursuant to a definitive binding agreement or a commitment approved by the Board of Directors of the Company that is executed or approved within such time will satisfy this requirement, so long as such investment is consummated within 180 days of such 365th day;
provided
that, pending the final application of any such Net Available Cash in accordance with clause (i) or clause (ii) in
Section 3.5(a)(3)
, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may temporarily reduce Indebtedness (including Permitted Funding Indebtedness) or otherwise use such Net Available Cash in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.
(b) Any Net Available Cash from Asset Dispositions that is not applied or invested or committed to be applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute “
Excess Proceeds
” under this Indenture. On the 366th day after the later of an Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash, if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds under this Indenture exceeds $25.0 million, the Issuers will within 10 Business Days be required to make an offer (“
Asset Disposition Offer
”) to all Holders of Notes issued under this Indenture and, to the extent the Issuers elect, to all holders of other outstanding Pari Passu Indebtedness, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and any such Pari Passu Indebtedness to which the Asset Disposition Offer applies that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in respect of the Notes in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section or the agreements governing the Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable, and in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Issuers will deliver notice of such Asset Disposition Offer electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Asset Disposition and offering to repurchase the Notes for the specified purchase price on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered, pursuant to the procedures required by this Indenture and described in such notice.
(c) To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuers may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to other covenants contained in this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of the Notes surrendered in any Asset Disposition Offer by Holders and other Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders or lenders, collectively, exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Excess Proceeds shall be allocated among the Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture or the agreements governing the Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable, and in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Upon completion of any Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
(d) To the extent that any portion of Net Available Cash payable in respect of the Notes is denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, the amount thereof payable in respect of the Notes shall not exceed the net amount of funds in U.S. dollars that is actually received by the Issuers upon converting such portion into U.S. dollars.
(e) For the purposes of
Section 3.5(a)(2)
hereof, the following will be deemed to be cash:
(i) the assumption by the transferee of Indebtedness or other liabilities contingent or otherwise of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor) and the release of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from all liability on such Indebtedness or other liability in connection with such Asset Disposition;
(ii) securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from the transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Disposition;
(iii) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Disposition, to the extent that the Company and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any Guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Disposition;
(iv) consideration consisting of Indebtedness of the Company (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) received after the Issue Date from Persons who are not the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and
(v) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Dispositions having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this
Section 3.5
that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $70.0 million and 2.5% of Total Assets (with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).
(f) Upon the commencement of an Asset Disposition Offer, the Issuers shall send, or cause to be sent, electronically or by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and to each Holder at its registered address or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holder to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer. Any Asset Disposition Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Disposition Offer, shall state:
(1) that the Asset Disposition Offer is being made pursuant to this
Section 3.5
and that, to the extent lawful, all Notes tendered and not withdrawn shall be accepted for payment (unless prorated);
(2) the Asset Disposition payment amount, the Asset Disposition offered price, and the date on which Notes tendered and accepted for payment shall be purchased, which date shall be at least 30 days and not later than 60 days from the date such notices is mailed (the “
Asset Sale Payment Date
”);
(3) that any Notes not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest in accordance with the terms thereof;
(4) that, unless the Issuers default in making such payment, any Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer shall cease to accrue interest on and after the Asset Sale Payment Date;
(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to any Asset Disposition Offer shall be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days before the Asset Sale Payment Date;
(6) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than two Business Days prior to the Asset Sale Payment Date, a notice 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 its election to have such Note purchased;
(7) that if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Asset Disposition payment amount, the Issuers shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Issuers so that only Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof shall be purchased); and
(8) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry).
(g) If the Asset Sale Payment Date is on or after a record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer.
(h) On the Asset Sale Payment Date, the Issuers will, to the extent permitted by law,
(1) accept for payment all Notes issued by it or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer,
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate Asset Disposition payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered, and
(3) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuers.
(i) The Issuers will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this
Section 3.5
. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached their obligations under this Indenture by virtue thereof.
SECTION 3.6.
Limitation on Liens
. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur or permit to exist any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of its property or assets (including Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), whether owned on the Issue Date or acquired after that date, which Lien secures any Indebtedness (such Lien, the “
Initial Lien
”), without effectively providing that the Notes shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) the obligations so secured for so long as such obligations are so secured. 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 3.7.
Limitation on Guarantees
.
(a) The Company will not permit any of its Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (and non-Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries if such non-Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries Guarantee other loan facilities or debt securities (other than Permitted Funding Indebtedness) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), other than (i) a Co-Issuer or a Guarantor, (ii) an Excluded Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) a Securitization Entity, to Incur any Non-Funding Indebtedness (other than Preferred Stock) or Guarantee the payment of any loan facilities or debt securities of the Company or any other Guarantor that are Non-Funding Indebtedness, in each case, unless:
(1) such Restricted Subsidiary within 30 days executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture providing for a senior Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that (a) if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, any such Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantee with respect to the Notes substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee of the Notes; and (b) if the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee are subordinated in right of payment to such Indebtedness, the Guarantee under the supplemental indenture shall be subordinated to such Restricted Subsidiary’s Guarantee with respect to such Indebtedness substantially to the same extent as the Notes or the Guarantor’s Guarantee are subordinated to such Indebtedness; and
(2) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Guarantee until payment in full of obligations under this Indenture;
provided
that this
Section 3.7
shall not be applicable to any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary.
(b) The Company may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor, in which case, such Subsidiary shall only be required to comply with the 30-day period described in this
Section 3.7
.
(c) Any Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount that would not render the Guarantor’s obligations subject to avoidance under applicable fraudulent conveyance provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provision of foreign or state law to comply with corporate benefit, financial assistance and other laws. By virtue of this limitation, a Guarantor’s obligation under its Guarantee could be significantly less than amounts payable with respect to the Notes, or a Guarantor may have effectively no obligation under its Guarantee.
(d) The Guarantee of a Guarantor will terminate upon:
(1) a sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Guarantor (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) otherwise permitted by the indenture;
(2) the designation in accordance with the indenture of the Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or the occurrence of any event after which the Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary;,
(3) defeasance or discharge of the Notes, as provided in
Article VIII
and
XI
;
(4) to the extent that such Guarantor is not an Immaterial Subsidiary solely due to the operation of clause (i) of the definition of “Immaterial Subsidiary,” upon the release of the Guarantee referred to in such clause;
(5) such Guarantor being released from all of its obligations under all of its Guarantees of payment by the Company of any Non-Funding Indebtedness of the Company under all loan facilities and debt securities of the Company (it being understood that a release subject to reinstatement is considered a release); or
(6) upon the achievement of Investment Grade Status by the Notes;
provided
that such Guarantee shall be reinstated upon the Reversion Date.
(e) Claims of creditors of non-guarantor Subsidiaries, including trade creditors, secured creditors and creditors holding debt and guarantees issued by those Subsidiaries, and claims of preferred and minority shareholders (if any) of those Subsidiaries and claims against Joint Ventures generally will have priority with respect to the assets and earnings of those Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures over the claims of creditors of the Company, including Holders of the Notes. The Notes and each Guarantee therefore will be structurally subordinated to creditors (including trade creditors) and preferred and minority shareholders (if any) of Subsidiaries of the Company (other than the Guarantors) and Joint Ventures. Initially, none of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries will guarantee the Notes.
SECTION 3.8.
Limitation on Affiliate Transactions
.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of the Company (an “
Affiliate Transaction
”) involving aggregate value in excess of $5.0 million unless:
(1) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction or the execution of the agreement providing for such transaction in arm’s length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate; and
(2) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate value in excess of $25.0 million, the terms of such transaction have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company.
Any Affiliate Transaction shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements set forth in
Section 3.8(a)(2)
if such Affiliate Transaction is approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Company, if any.
(b)
Section 3.8(a)
shall not apply to:
(1) any Restricted Payment permitted to be made pursuant to
Section 3.3
, or any Permitted Investment;
(2) any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, options, other equity-related interests or other securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, or entering into, or maintenance of, any employment, consulting, collective bargaining or benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, related trust or other similar agreement and other compensation arrangements, options, warrants or other rights to purchase Capital Stock of the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent, restricted stock plans, long-term incentive plans, stock appreciation rights plans, participation plans or similar employee benefits or consultants’ plans (including valuation, health, insurance, deferred compensation, severance, retirement, savings or similar plans, programs or arrangements) or indemnities provided on behalf of officers, employees, directors or consultants approved by the Board of Directors of the Company in the ordinary course of business;
(3) any Management Advances and any waiver or transaction with respect thereto;
(4) any transaction between or among the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary (or entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction), or between or among Restricted Subsidiaries;
(5) the payment of compensation, reasonable fees and reimbursement of expenses to, and customary indemnities (including under customary insurance policies) and employee benefit and pension expenses provided on behalf of, directors, officers, consultants or employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (whether directly or indirectly and including through any Person owned or controlled by any of such directors, officers or employees);
(6) the entry into and performance of obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of any transaction arising out of, and any payments pursuant to or for purposes of funding, any agreement or instrument in effect as of or on the Issue Date, as these agreements and instruments may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or refinanced from time to time in accordance with the other terms of this
Section 3.8
or to the extent not more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect;
(7) any customary transaction with a Securitization Entity effected as part of a Securitization;
(8) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business, which are fair to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the management of the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary, or are on terms no less favorable than those that could reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;
(9) any transaction between or among the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person that is an Affiliate of the Company or an Associate or similar entity solely because the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or any Affiliate of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any Permitted Holder owns an equity interest in or otherwise controls such Affiliate, Associate or similar entity;
(10) issuances or sales of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or options, warrants or other rights to acquire such Capital Stock and the granting of registration and other customary rights in connection therewith or any contribution to capital of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(11) transactions in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of
Section 3.8(a)(1)
;
(12) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of, any equityholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreements related thereto) to which it is party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreement that it may enter into thereafter;
provided
,
however
, that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under any future amendment to the equityholders’ agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date will only be permitted under this clause to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respects;
(13) any purchases by the Company’s Affiliates of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries the majority of which Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is purchased by Persons who are not the Company’s Affiliates;
provided
that such purchases by the Company’s Affiliates are on the same terms as such purchases by such Persons who are not the Company’s Affiliates; and
(14) the provision of mortgage brokerage and servicing, asset management and similar services to Affiliates not prohibited by this Indenture that are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or the management of the Company) or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or the management of the Company).
SECTION 3.9.
Change of Control
.
(a) If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently delivered a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes under
Section 5.7
, the Issuers shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes (the “
Change of Control Offer
”) at a price in cash (the “
Change of Control Payment
”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the date of repurchase, subject to the right of Holders of the Notes of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event, the Issuers will deliver notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and with the following information:
(1) that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this
Section 3.9
, and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Issuers;
(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered (the “
Change of Control Payment Date
”);
(3) that any Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;
(4) that unless the Issuers default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest, on the Change of Control Payment Date;
(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed, to the Paying Agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;
(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuers to purchase such Notes;
provided
that the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day prior to the expiration date of the Change of Control Offer, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;
(7) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to at least $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000;
(8) if such notice is delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, stating that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control; and
(9) the other instructions, as determined by the Issuers, consistent with this
Section 3.9
, that a Holder must follow.
The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to each Holder of the Notes tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any;
provided
that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Issuers will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid on the relevant interest payment date to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuers will, to the extent permitted by law,
(1) accept for payment all Notes issued by it or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer,
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered, and
(3) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuers.
(c) The Issuers will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 3.9
, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.
(d) If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer and the Issuers, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuers as described in this
Section 3.9
, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuers or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.
(e) The Issuers will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached their obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.
SECTION 3.10.
Reports
.
(a) Notwithstanding that the Issuers may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Issuers shall file with the SEC within the dates set forth below:
(1) within 90 days (120 days in the case of the first fiscal year ending after the Issue Date) after the end of each fiscal year, annual reports of the Company containing substantially all of the financial information that would have been required to be contained in an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act if the Company had been a reporting company under the Exchange Act (but only to the extent similar information is included in the Offering Memorandum), including (A) “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and (B) audited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP;
(2) within 45 days (60 days in the case of the first fiscal quarter ending after the Issue Date) after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, quarterly reports of the Company containing substantially all of the financial information that would have been required to be contained in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act if the Company had been a reporting company under the Exchange Act (but only to the extent similar information is provided in the Offering Memorandum), including (A) “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and (B) unaudited quarterly financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP; and
(3) within the time periods specified for filing current reports on Form 8-K, after the occurrence of each event that would have been required to be reported in a Current Report on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act, if the Company had been a reporting company under the Exchange Act, current reports containing substantially all of the information that would have been required to be contained in a Current Report on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act if the Company had been a reporting company under the Exchange Act;
provided
,
however
, that no such current report will be required to be furnished if the Company determines in its good faith judgment that such event is not material to noteholders or the business, assets, operations, financial positions or prospects of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
provided
,
however
, that such reports (A) will not be required to comply with Section 302 or Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or related Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC, or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K (with respect to any non-GAAP financial measures contained therein) and (B) will not be required to contain the separate financial information for Guarantors contemplated by Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing so long as the Company makes available such information to prospective purchasers of Notes, in addition to providing such information to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, in each case, at the Company’s expense and by the applicable date the Company would be required to file such information pursuant to
Section 3.10(a)
. To the extent any such information is not so filed or furnished, as applicable, within the time periods specified above and such information is subsequently filed or furnished, as applicable, the Company will be deemed to have satisfied its obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been cured;
provided
that such cure shall not otherwise affect the rights of the Holders under
Section 6.1
if Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes have declared the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately and such declaration shall not have been rescinded or cancelled prior to such cure.
(c) At any time that any of the Subsidiaries of the Company are Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual reports required by
Section 3.10(a)
will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” or other comparable section, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company
.
(d) So long as the Notes are outstanding and the reports described above are not filed with the SEC, the Company will maintain a website (that may be password protected) to which noteholders, prospective investors, broker-dealers and securities analysts are given access promptly and to which all of the reports and press releases required by this
Section 3.10
are posted. The Company will hold a conference call for the Holders and securities analysts to discuss such financial information no later than 15 calendar days after filing the annual financial information described in
Section 3.10(a)(1)
and after filing the quarterly financial information described in
Section 3.10(a)(2)
. The Company will announce any such conference call at least three business days in advance and not more than ten business days after filing of the foregoing financial information.
(e) To the extent not satisfied by the reports referred to in Section 3.10(a), the Company shall furnish to noteholders, prospective investors, broker-dealers and securities analysts, upon their request, any information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so long as the notes are not freely transferable under the Securities Act.
(f) In the event that any Parent of the Company is or becomes a guarantor of the Notes, this Indenture will permit the Company to satisfy its obligations in this
Section 3.10
with respect to financial information relating to the Company by furnishing financial information relating to such Parent.
SECTION 3.11.
Maintenance of Office or Agency
.
The Issuers will maintain an office or agency where the Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose and where, if applicable, the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be delivered. The corporate trust office of the Trustee, which initially shall be located at Wilmington Trust, National Association, Global Capital Markets, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis, MN 55402-1544, Attention: Ladder Capital Administrator, shall be such office or agency of the Issuers unless the Issuers shall designate and maintain some other office or agency for one or more of such purposes. The Issuers will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders may be made or delivered to the corporate trust office of the Trustee, and the Issuers hereby appoint the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations and surrenders.
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 any such designation. The Issuers will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
SECTION 3.12.
Corporate Existence
. Except as otherwise provided in this
Article III
,
Article IV
and
Section 10.2(b)
, the Issuers will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect their corporate existence and the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of each Restricted Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuers and each Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
,
however
, that the Issuers shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise or the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of any Restricted Subsidiary if the respective Board of Directors or, with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Significant Subsidiary (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would not be a Significant Subsidiary), senior management of the Issuers determines that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuers and each of their Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not, and will not be, disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.
SECTION 3.13.
Payment of Taxes
. The Issuers shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Issuers or any Subsidiary;
provided
,
however
, that the Issuers shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim the amount, applicability or validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves, if necessary (in the good faith judgment of management of the Issuers), are being maintained in accordance with GAAP or where the failure to effect such payment will not be disadvantageous to the Holders.
SECTION 3.14.
Payments for Consent
. The Issuers will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
SECTION 3.15.
Compliance Certificate
. The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuers an Officer’s Certificate, which shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Secretary of each of the Issuers, stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an Officer of the Issuers he or she would normally have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default and whether or not the signer knows of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during the previous fiscal year;
provided
that no such Officer’s Certificate shall be required for any fiscal year ended prior to the Issue Date. If such Officer does have such knowledge, the certificate shall describe the Default or Event of Default, its status and the action the Issuers is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Issuers also shall comply with TIA Section 314(a)(4).
SECTION 3.16.
Further Instruments and Acts
. Upon request of the Trustee or as necessary to comply with future developments or requirements, the Issuers will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.
SECTION 3.17.
Conduct of Business
. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any businesses other than Similar Businesses, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
SECTION 3.18.
Statement by Officers as to Default
. The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Issuers become aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default, its status and the actions which the Issuers are taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
SECTION 3.19.
Suspension of Certain Covenants
.
(a) Following the first day: (1) the Notes have achieved Investment Grade Status; and (2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, then, beginning on that day and continuing until the Reversion Date (as defined below), the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to
Sections 3.2
,
3.3
,
3.4
,
3.5
,
3.7
,
3.8
and
4.1(a)(3)
(collectively, the “
Suspended Covenants
”).
(b) If at any time the Notes cease to have such Investment Grade Status or if a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Suspended Covenants will thereafter be reinstated as if such covenants had never been suspended (the “
Reversion Date
”) and be applicable pursuant to the terms of this Indenture (including in connection with performing any calculation or assessment to determine compliance with the terms of this Indenture), unless and until the Notes subsequently attain Investment Grade Status and no Default or Event of Default is in existence (in which event the Suspended Covenants shall no longer be in effect for such time that the Notes maintain an Investment Grade Status and no Default or Event of Default is in existence);
provided
,
however
, that no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind shall be deemed to exist under this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees with respect to the Suspended Covenants based on, and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall bear any liability for, any actions taken or events occurring during the Suspension Period (as defined below), or any actions taken at any time pursuant to any contractual obligation arising prior to the Reversion Date, regardless of whether such actions or events would have been permitted if the applicable Suspended Covenants remained in effect during such period. The period of time between the date of suspension of the covenants and the Reversion Date is referred to as the “
Suspension Period
.” During the Suspension Period no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
(c) On the Reversion Date, all Indebtedness Incurred during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been Incurred pursuant to
Section 3.2(a)
or one of the clauses set forth in
Section 3.2(b)
(to the extent such Indebtedness would be permitted to be Incurred thereunder as of the Reversion Date and after giving effect to the Indebtedness Incurred prior to the Suspension Period and outstanding on the Reinstatement Date). To the extent such Indebtedness would not be so permitted to be Incurred pursuant to
Section 3.2(a)
or
(b)
, such Indebtedness will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under
Section 3.2(b)(4)(iii)
. On and after the Reversion Date, all Liens created during the Suspension Period will be considered Permitted Liens. Calculations made after the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under
Section 3.3
will be made as though
Section 3.3
had been in effect since the Issue Date and throughout the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under
Section 3.3(a)
. In addition, any future obligation to grant further Guarantees shall be released. All such further obligation to grant Guarantees shall be reinstated upon the Reversion Date.
(d) The Issuers shall send prompt written notice to the Trustee if the conditions in Section 3.19(a) are satisfied or if a Reversion Date occurs. The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any suspension of covenants or Reversion Date unless a Trust Officer has received the notice referred to in this Section 3.19(d).
SECTION 3.20.
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
.
(a) Except for during a Suspension Period, the Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under
Section 3.3
or under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of the Company may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if that redesignation would not cause a Default.
(b) 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 of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the preceding conditions and was permitted by
Section 3.3
. 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 3.2
, the Company will be in default of
Section 3.2
.
(c) 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 3.2
calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable reference period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation. Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the preceding conditions.
ARTICLE IV
SUCCESSOR ISSUERS;
SUCCESSOR PERSON
SECTION 4.1.
Merger and Consolidation
.
(a) The Company will not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:
(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “
Successor Company
”) will be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company (if not the Company) will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture and if such Successor Company is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation organized or existing under such laws;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the Successor Company as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, either (i) the Successor Company would be able to Incur at least an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to
Section 3.2(a)
or (ii) the Consolidated Non-Funding Debt to Equity Ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would not be greater than it was immediately prior to giving effect to such transaction; and
(4) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such supplemental indenture (if any) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and is a legal, valid and binding agreement enforceable against the Successor Company;
provided
that in giving an Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate as to any matters of fact, including as to satisfaction of
Section 4.1(a)(2)
and
(3)
.
(b) For purposes of this
Section 4.1
, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.
(c) The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture but in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, the predecessor company will not be released from its obligations under this Indenture or the Notes.
(d) Notwithstanding
Section 4.1(a)(2)
,
(a)(3)
and
(a)(4)
(which do not apply to transactions referred to in this sentence), (i) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate or otherwise combine with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or otherwise combine with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to any other Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) the Company may consolidate or otherwise combine with or merge into an Affiliate incorporated or organized for the purpose of changing the legal domicile of the Company, reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction, or changing the legal form of the Company and (d) this covenant does not apply to any Required Asset Sale that complies with
Section 3.5
as if such Required Asset Sale were considered an Asset Disposition.
(e) The foregoing provisions (other than the requirements of
Section 4.1(a)(2)
) shall not apply to the creation of a new Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.
ARTICLE V
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 5.1.
Notices to Trustee
.
If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of
Section 5.7
hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth:
(1) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur;
(2) the redemption date;
(3) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and
(4) the redemption price.
Any optional redemption referenced in such Officer’s Certificate may be cancelled by the Issuers at any time prior to notice of redemption being sent to any Holder and thereafter shall be null and void.
SECTION 5.2.
Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased
.
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select the applicable Notes for redemption in compliance with the requirements of the principal securities exchange, if any, on which such Notes are listed, as certified to the Trustee by the Issuers, and in compliance with the requirements of DTC, or if Notes are not so listed or such exchange prescribes no method of selection and such Notes are not held through DTC or DTC prescribes no method of selection, on a pro rata basis, subject to adjustments so that no Note in an unauthorized denomination is redeemed in part and further;
provided
,
however
, that no Note of $2,000 in aggregate principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part.
SECTION 5.3.
Notice of Redemption
.
(a) At least 30 but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Issuers will send or cause to be sent, by electronic delivery, if held at DTC, or by first class mail postage prepaid, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to
Articles VIII
or
XI
hereof.
The notice will identify the Notes (including the CUSIP or ISIN number) to be redeemed and will state:
(1) the redemption date;
(2) the redemption price;
(3) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;
(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(6) that, unless the Issuers default in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(7) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or ISIN number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Issuers’ name and at their expense; provided, however, that the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date (or such shorter period as the Trustee may agree but in no event less than 35 days), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.
(b) If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, in which case a portion of the original Note will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. In the case of a Global Note, an appropriate notation will be made on such Note to decrease the principal amount thereof to an amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof. Subject to the terms of the applicable redemption notice (including any conditions contained therein), Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, unless the Issuers default in the payment of the redemption payment, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of them called for redemption.
SECTION 5.4.
Effect of Notice of Redemption
. Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with
Section 5.3
hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. Notice of redemption may, at the Issuers’ option and discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an Equity Offering (in the case of redemption pursuant to
Section 5.7(b)
hereof) or Change of Control (in the case of purchase pursuant to
Section 3.9
hereof), as the case may be.
SECTION 5.5.
Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price
. Prior to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the redemption or purchase date, the Issuers will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest, if any, on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued interest, if any, on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.
If the Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuers to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in
Section 3.1
hereof.
SECTION 5.6.
Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part
. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuers will issue and, upon receipt of an Issuers Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered;
provided
, that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
SECTION 5.7.
Optional Redemption
.
(a) At any time prior to August 1, 2017, the Issuers may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at their option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice by electronic delivery or by first class mail, postage prepaid, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Notes Register, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the date of redemption (the “
Redemption Date
”), subject to the rights of holders of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.
(b) At any time and from time to time prior to August 1, 2017, the Issuers may redeem Notes with the net cash proceeds received by the Issuers from any Equity Offering at a redemption price equal to 105.875% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, in an aggregate principal amount for all such redemptions not to exceed 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes);
provided
that (1) in each case the redemption takes place not later than 180 days after the closing of the related Equity Offering, and (2) not less than 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately thereafter (excluding Notes held by the Issuers or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries). The Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described under
Sections 5.1
through
5.6
.
(c) At any time and from time to time on or after August 1, 2017, the Issuers may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at their option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant Redemption Date (subject to the right of holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve month period beginning on August 1 of the year set forth below:
Redemption Period
|
Price
|
2017
|
104.40625%
|
2018
|
102.93750%
|
2019
|
101.46875%
|
2020 and thereafter
|
100.00000%
|
(d) Unless the Issuers default in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable Redemption Date.
(e) Any redemption pursuant to this
Section 5.7
shall be made pursuant to the provisions of
Sections 5.1
through
5.6
.
SECTION 5.8.
Mandatory Redemption
. The Issuers are not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes;
provided
however, that under certain circumstances, the Issuers may be required to offer to purchase Notes under
Section 3.5
and
Section 3.9
. The Issuers may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in open-market transactions, tender offers or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.1.
Events of Default
.
(a) Each of the following is an “
Event of Default
”:
(1) default in any payment of interest, on any Note when due and payable, continued for 30 days;
(2) default in the payment of the principal amount of or premium, if any, on any Note issued under this Indenture when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;
(3) (a) failure to comply with
Section 3.9
and
Section 4.1
for 30 days after written notice by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or by the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes with any agreement or obligation contained in this Indenture and (b) failure to comply with the agreements or obligations contained in this Indenture for 60 days after written notice by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or by the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes;
(4) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or Non-Recourse Indebtedness whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date hereof, which default:
(A) is caused by a failure to pay principal of such Indebtedness, at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) provided in such Indebtedness (“
payment default
”); or
(B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its stated final maturity (the “
cross acceleration provision
”);
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;
(5) any Issuer:
(A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;
(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;
(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for substantially all of its property;
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
(E) consents to or acquiesces in the institution of a bankruptcy or an insolvency proceeding against it; or
(F) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency (collectively, the “
bankruptcy provisions
”);
(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(A) is for relief against Parent, the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, in an involuntary case;
(B) appoints a Custodian of Parent, the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, for substantially all of its property;
(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of Parent, the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or
(D) or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order, decree or relief remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;
(7) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $30.0 million other than any judgments covered by indemnities provided by, or insurance policies issued by, reputable and creditworthy companies, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed (the “
judgment default provision
”); and
(8) any Guarantee of the Notes ceases to be in full force and effect, other than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or a Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Guarantee of the Notes, other than in accordance with the terms thereof or upon release of such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a default under
Section 6.1(a)(3)
,
(4)
or
(7)
will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Company of the default and, with respect to
Section 6.1(a)(3)
or
(7)
the Company does not cure such default within the time specified in
Section 6.1(a)(3)
or
(7)
, as applicable, after receipt of such notice.
SECTION 6.2.
Acceleration
.
(a) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in
Section 6.1(a)(5)
and
(a)(6)
) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Issuers or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Issuers and the Trustee may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be immediately due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal, premium and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately.
In the event of any Event of Default specified in
Section 6.1(a)(4)
, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 30 days after such Event of Default arose:
(1) (x) the Indebtedness that gave rise to such Event of Default shall have been discharged in full; or
(y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or
(z) if the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured; and
(2) (x) the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and
(y) all existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal, premium or interest, if any, on the Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.
(b) If an Event of Default described in
Section 6.1(a)(5)
and
(a)(6)
occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.
SECTION 6.3.
Other Remedies
. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder 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. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.
SECTION 6.4.
Waiver of Past Defaults
. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all of the Holders, (a) waive, by their consent (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture except (i) a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on a Note or (ii) a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under
Section 9.2
cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected and (b) rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences if (1) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, (2) all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration, (3) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest, premium, if any, and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid, (4) the Issuers have paid the Trustee its compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances and (5) in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in clause (4) of
Section 6.1
, the Trustee shall have received an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such Event of Default has been cured or waived. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto. When a Default or Event of Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any consequent right.
SECTION 6.5.
Control by Majority
. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or the Notes or, subject to
Sections 7.1
and
7.2
, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders or would 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. Prior to taking any such action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it against all fees, losses, liabilities and expenses (including attorney’s fees and expenses) caused by or that might be caused by taking or not taking such action.
SECTION 6.6.
Limitation on Suits
. Subject to
Section 6.7
, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;
(2) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested in writing the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) such Holders have offered in writing the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;
(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the written request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a written direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.
A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).
SECTION 6.7.
Rights of Holders to Receive Payment
. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture (including, without limitation,
Section 6.6
), the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Notes, 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 6.8.
Collection Suit by Trustee
. If an Event of Default specified in
Section 6.1(a)(1)
or
(2)
occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest, if any, to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in
Section 7.7
.
SECTION 6.9.
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers, their Subsidiaries or its or their respective creditors or properties and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may be entitled and empowered to participate as a member of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make 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 it for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.7
.
No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.10.
Priorities
.
(a) If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this
Article VI
, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:
FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due to it under
Section 7.7
;
SECOND: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal of, or premium, if any, and interest ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal of, or premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: to the Issuers, or to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Guarantor, to such Guarantor.
(b) The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this
Section 6.10
. At least 15 days before such record date, the Issuers shall send or cause to be sent to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.
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 Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This
Section 6.11
does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by the Issuers, a suit by a Holder pursuant to
Section 6.7
or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in outstanding principal amount of the Notes.
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.1.
Duties of Trustee
.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth as duties of the Trustee in this Indenture or the Notes and 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, opinions or orders furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this
Section 7.1
;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to
Section 6.5
; and
(d) No provision of this Indenture or the Notes shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or thereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(e) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this
Section 7.1
.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuers.
(g) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(h) 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 7.1
and to the provisions of the TIA.
SECTION 7.2.
Rights of Trustee
. Subject to
Section 7.1
:
iii) The Trustee may conclusively rely on and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. The Trustee shall receive and retain financial reports and statements of the Issuers as provided herein, but shall have no duty to review or analyze such reports or statements to determine compliance with covenants or other obligations of the Issuers.
iv) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on an Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
v) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts and powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
vi) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
vii) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of counsel relating to this Indenture or the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder or under the Notes in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
viii) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default or whether any entity or group of entities constitutes a Significant Subsidiary unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or of any such Significant Subsidiary is received by the Trustee at the corporate trust office of the Trustee specified in
Section 3.11
, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.
ix) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
x) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture or the Notes at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.
xi) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any fact or matter unless such fact or matter is actually known to a Trust Officer of the Trustee.
xii) Whenever in the administration of this Indenture or the Notes the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder or thereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate.
xiii) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, coupon 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, during business hours and upon reasonable notice, the books, records and premises of the Issuers and the Restricted Subsidiaries, 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.
xiv) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
xv) The Trustee may request that the Issuers deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture or the Notes.
xvi) In no event shall the Trustee be liable to any Person for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage.
xvii) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuers shall be sufficient if signed by one Officer of each of the Issuers.
SECTION 7.3.
Individual Rights of Trustee
. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers, Guarantors or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with
Sections 7.10
and
7.11
. In addition, the Trustee shall be permitted to engage in transactions with the Issuers;
provided
,
however
, that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest under the TIA, the Trustee must (i) eliminate such conflict within 90 days of acquiring such conflicting interest, (ii) apply to the SEC for permission to continue acting as Trustee or (iii) resign.
SECTION 7.4.
Trustee’s Disclaimer
. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes, shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee or any money paid to the Issuers pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuers in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.
SECTION 7.5.
Notice of Defaults
. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof, the Trustee shall send electronically or by first class mail to each Holder at the address set forth in the Notes Register notice of the Default or Event of Default within 60 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any Note (including payments pursuant to the optional redemption or required repurchase provisions of such Note), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders.
SECTION 7.6.
Reports by Trustee to Holders
. Within 60 days after each March 31 beginning March 31, 2015, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of such March 31 that complies with TIA Section 313(a) if and to the extent required thereby. The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed. The Issuers agree to notify the Trustee promptly in writing whenever the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof and the Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 313(d).
SECTION 7.7.
Compensation and Indemnity
. The Issuers shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services hereunder and under the Notes as the Issuers and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuers shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including, but not limited to, costs of collection, costs of preparing reports, certificates and other documents, costs of preparation and mailing of notices to Holders. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the agents, counsel, accountants and experts of the Trustee. The Issuers shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all fees, loss, liability, damages, claims or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon the income of the Trustee) (including reasonable attorneys’ and agents’ fees and expenses) incurred by it without willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, on its part in connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder and under the Notes, including the fees, costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture (including this
Section 7.7
) and the Notes and of defending itself against any claims (whether asserted by any Holder, the Issuers or otherwise). The Trustee shall notify the Issuers promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity of which it has received written notice. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers shall not relieve the Issuers of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuers’ expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel;
provided
that the Issuers shall not be required to pay the fees and expenses of such separate counsel if it assumes the Trustee’s defense, and, in the reasonable judgment of outside counsel to the Trustee, there is no conflict of interest between the Issuers and the Trustee in connection with such defense.
To secure the Issuers’ payment obligations in this
Section 7.7
, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee. Such lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Trustee’s respective right to receive payment of any amounts due under this
Section 7.7
shall not be subordinate to any other liability or Indebtedness of the Issuers.
The Issuers’ payment obligations pursuant to this
Section 7.7
shall survive the discharge of this Indenture and any resignation or removal of the Trustee. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs fees, expenses or renders services after the occurrence of a Default specified in
Section 6.1(a)(5)
or
(a)(6)
, the fees and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 7.8.
Replacement of Trustee
. The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the removed Trustee in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such removal and may appoint a successor Trustee with the Company’s written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with
Section 7.10
hereof;
(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;
(3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee as described in the preceding paragraph, or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall, at the expense of the Company, promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in
Section 7.7
.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition, at the Company’s expense, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee fails to comply with
Section 7.10
, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in TIA Section 310(b), any Holder, who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at least six months, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this
Section 7.8
, the Company’s obligations under
Section 7.7
shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee. The predecessor Trustee shall have no liability for any action or inaction of any successor Trustee.
SECTION 7.9.
Successor Trustee by Merger
. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee;
provided
that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall only apply to its successor or successors by merger, consolidation or conversion.
SECTION 7.10.
Eligibility; Disqualification
. This Indenture shall always have a Trustee that satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5) in every respect. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b);
provided
,
however
, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuers are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(1) are met.
SECTION 7.11.
Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuers
. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.
SECTION 7.12.
Trustee’s Application for Instruction from the Issuers
. Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Issuers may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than three Business Days after the date any Officer of the Issuers actually receives such application, unless any such Officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
ARTICLE VIII
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.1.
Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance; Defeasance
. The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have either
Section 8.2
or
8.3
hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth in this
Article VIII
.
SECTION 8.2.
Legal Defeasance and Discharge
. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under
Section 8.1
hereof of the option applicable to this
Section 8.2
, the Issuers and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section 8.4
hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Guarantees) on the date the conditions set forth in
Section 8.4
are satisfied (hereinafter, “
Legal Defeasance
”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of
Section 8.5
hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all of their other obligations under such Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on written demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same) and to have cured all then existing Events of Default, except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(1) the rights of Holders of Notes issued under this Indenture to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust referred to in
Section 8.4
hereof;
(2) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to the Notes under
Article II
concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and
Section 3.11
hereof concerning the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;
(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Issuers’ or Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and
(4) this
Article VIII
with respect to provisions relating to Legal Defeasance.
Subject to compliance with this
Section 8.2
, the Issuers may exercise their option under
Section 8.2
notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under
Section 8.3
hereof.
SECTION 8.3.
Covenant Defeasance
. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under
Section 8.1
hereof of the option applicable to this
Section 8.3
, the Issuers and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section 8.4
hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in
Section 3.2
,
3.3
,
3.4
,
3.5
,
3.6
,
3.7
,
3.8
,
3.9
,
3.10
,
3.19
,
3.20
,
3.23
and
Section 4.1
(except
Section 4.1(a)(1)
and
(a)(2)
) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in
Section 8.4
hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “
Covenant Defeasance
”), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Guarantees, the Issuers and the Guarantors 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 6.1
hereof, but, except as specified in this Section, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under
Section 8.1
hereof of the option applicable to this
Section 8.3
, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section 8.4
hereof,
Sections 6.1(a)(3)
(solely with respect to the defeased covenants listed above),
6.1(a)(4)
,
6.1(a)(5)
(with respect only to the Company and a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary),
6.1(a)(6)
(with respect only to the Company and a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary),
6.1(a)(7)
and
6.1(a)(8)
hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.
SECTION 8.4.
Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance
. In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either
Section 8.2
or
8.3
hereof:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust (the “
Defeasance Trust
”), for the benefit of the Holders, cash in dollars or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes issued under this Indenture on the stated maturity date or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States stating that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions;
(A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
(B) since the issuance of such Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law;
in either case stating that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel in the United States shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States stating that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which, the Issuers or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuers or any Guarantor is bound;
(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, or any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally under any applicable U.S. federal or state law;
(7) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying, defrauding or preferring any creditors of the Company; and
(8) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.
SECTION 8.5.
Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions
. Subject to
Section 8.6
hereof, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this
Section 8.5
, the “
Trustee
”) pursuant to
Section 8.4
hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Issuers will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to
Section 8.4
hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Notwithstanding anything in this
Article VIII
to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the request of the Issuers any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in
Section 8.4
hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under
Section 8.4(1)
hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
SECTION 8.6.
Repayment to the Issuers
. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on its written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person or (if then held by the Issuers) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Issuers for payment thereof unless an abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease;
provided
,
however
, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense of the Issuers cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuers.
SECTION 8.7.
Reinstatement
. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. dollars or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with
Section 8.2
or
8.3
hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or Governmental Authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to
Section 8.2
or
8.3
hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with
Section 8.2
or
8.3
hereof, as the case may be;
provided
,
however
, that, if the Issuers make any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 9.1.
Without Consent of Holders
. Notwithstanding
Section 9.2
of this Indenture, the Issuers, any Guarantor (with respect to its Guarantee or this Indenture) and the Trustee may amend, supplement or modify this Indenture, any Guarantee and the Notes without the consent of any Holder:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect, error or inconsistency, conform any provision to any provision under the heading “Description of notes,” in the Offering Memorandum or reduce the minimum denomination of the Notes;
(2) to provide for the assumption by a successor Person of the obligations of any Issuer under any Note Document;
(3) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;
(4) to add to the covenants or provide for a Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(5) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect;
(6) at the Company’s election, to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if such qualification is required;
(7) to make such provisions as necessary (as determined in good faith by the Company) for the issuance of Additional Notes;
(8) to provide for any Restricted Subsidiary to provide a Guarantee in accordance with
Section 3.2
, to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes, to add security to or for the benefit of the Notes, or to confirm and evidence the release, termination, discharge or retaking of any Guarantee or Lien with respect to or securing the Notes when such release, termination, discharge or retaking is provided for under this Indenture;
(9) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee pursuant to the requirements hereof or to provide for the accession by the Trustee to any Note Document; or
(10) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance and administration of Notes;
provided
,
however
, that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes.
Subject to
Section 9.2
, upon the request of the Issuers, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in
Sections 9.6
and
12.4
hereof, the Trustee will 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 will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.
After an amendment or supplement under this
Section 9.1
becomes effective, the Issuers shall deliver to Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment or supplement. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment or supplement under this
Section 9.1
.
SECTION 9.2.
With Consent of Holders
.
(a) Except as provided in this
Section 9.2
, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Note Documents with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and issued under this Indenture, including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes, and, subject to
Sections 6.4
and
6.7
hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of the Note Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate 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).
Section 2.12
hereof and
Section 12.6
hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this
Section 9.2
.
Upon the request of the Issuers, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in
Sections 9.6
and
12.4
hereof, the Trustee will 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 will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.
(b) Without the consent of each Holder of Notes affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not, with respect to any Notes issued thereunder and held by a nonconsenting Holder:
(1) reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;
(2) reduce the stated rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any such Note (other than provisions relating to
Sections 3.5
and
3.9
);
(3) reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any such Note;
(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any such Note or change the time at which any such Note may be redeemed, in each case as set forth in
Section 5.7
;
(5) make any such Note payable in currency other than that stated in such Note;
(6) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;
(7) waive a Default or Event of Default with respect to the nonpayment of principal, premium or interest (except pursuant to a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); or
(8) make any change in the amendment or waiver provisions which require the Holders’ consent described in this
Section 9.2
.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder of the Notes given in connection with a tender or exchange of such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender or exchange.
After an amendment or supplement under this
Section 9.2
becomes effective, the Issuers shall deliver to Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment or supplement. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment or supplement.
SECTION 9.3.
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act
. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture, any Guarantee and the Notes will be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
SECTION 9.4.
Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers
. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Note or portion of its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
The Issuers may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described in this Section or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.
SECTION 9.5.
Notation on or Exchange of Notes
. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuers Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver. Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
SECTION 9.6.
Trustee to Sign Amendments
. The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this
Article IX
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 will be entitled to receive and (subject to
Sections 7.1
and
7.2
hereof) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the documents required by
Section 12.4
hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and is valid, binding and enforceable against the Issuers or any Guarantor, as the case may be, in accordance with its terms.
ARTICLE X
GUARANTEE
SECTION 10.1.
Guarantee
. Subject to the provisions of this
Article X
, each Guarantor hereby fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, jointly and severally with each other Guarantor, to each Holder of the Notes and the Trustee the full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other obligations and liabilities of the Issuers under this Indenture (including without limitation interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Issuers or any Guarantor whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding and the obligations under
Section 7.7
) (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “
Guaranteed Obligations
”). Each Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations will rank equally in right of payment with other Indebtedness of such Guarantor, except to the extent such other Indebtedness is subordinate to the Guaranteed Obligations, in which case the obligations of the Guarantors under the Guarantees will rank senior in right of payment to such other Indebtedness.
To evidence its Guarantee set forth in this
Section 10.1
, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer of such Guarantor.
Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in
Section 10.1
hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.
If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.
Each Guarantor further agrees (to the extent permitted by law) that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound under this
Article X
notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.
Each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuers of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations.
Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein constitutes a Guarantee of payment when due (and not a Guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.
Except as set forth in
Section 10.2
, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than payment of the Guaranteed Obligations in full), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guaranteed Obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by (a) the failure of any Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuers or any other person under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any thereof; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (d) the release of any security held by any Holder for the Guaranteed Obligations; (e) the failure of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy against any other Guarantor; (f) any change in the ownership of the Issuers; (g) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (h) any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of such Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.
Each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee herein shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations or such Guarantor is released from its Guarantee in compliance with
Section 10.2
,
Article VIII
or
Article XI
. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuers or otherwise.
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuers to pay any of the Guaranteed Obligations when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee on behalf of the Holders an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid amount of such Guaranteed Obligations then due and owing and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations then due and owing (but only to the extent not prohibited by law) (including interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding relating to the Issuers or any Guarantor whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding).
Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between such Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in this Indenture for the purposes of its Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby and (y) in the event of any such declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purposes of this Guarantee.
Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all fees, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or the Holders in enforcing any rights under this Section.
SECTION 10.2.
Limitation on Liability; Termination, Release and Discharge
.
(a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder 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 Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal, foreign or state law and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.
(b) Any Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon:
(1) other than in the case of Parent or any other direct or indirect parent of the Company, a sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Guarantor (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) otherwise permitted by this Indenture,
(2) the designation in accordance with this Indenture of the Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or the occurrence of any event after which the Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary,
(3) defeasance or discharge of the Notes, as provided in
Articles VIII
or
XI
, or
(4) upon the achievement of Investment Grade Status by the Notes; provided that such Guarantee shall be reinstated upon the Reversion Date.
SECTION 10.3.
Right of Contribution
. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that any Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made on the obligations under the Guarantees, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against the Issuers or any other Guarantor who has not paid its proportionate share of such payment. The provisions of this
Section 10.3
shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of each Guarantor to the Trustee and the Holders and each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Trustee and the Holders for the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.
SECTION 10.4.
No Subrogation
. Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by each Guarantor hereunder, no Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Trustee or any Holder against the Issuers or any other Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Trustee or any Holder for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, nor shall any Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Issuers or any other Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Guarantor hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Trustee and the Holders by the Issuers on account of the Guaranteed Obligations are paid in full. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Trustee and the Holders, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to the Trustee in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Guarantor to the Trustee, if required), to be applied against the Guaranteed Obligations.
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 11.1.
Satisfaction and Discharge
. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, when:
xviii) either:
(1) all Notes that have been authenticated and delivered except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(2) all such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise or (ii) will become due and payable within one year at their Stated Maturity or (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company;
xix) the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash or U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and interest to the date of deposit (in the case of Notes that have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
xx) no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes issued hereunder shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which an Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which an Issuer or any Guarantor is bound;
xxi) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable under this Indenture;
xxii) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of such notes issued hereunder at maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be; and
xxiii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent under
Article XI
relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with;
provided
that any such counsel may rely on any Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact (including as to compliance with clauses (a), (b) and (c)).
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (b)(2) of this
Section 11.1
, the provisions of
Sections 11.2
and
8.6
hereof will survive.
SECTION 11.2.
Application of Trust Money
. Subject to the provisions of
Section 8.6
hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to
Section 11.1
hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers acting as their own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with
Section 11.1
hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or Governmental Authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuers’ and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to
Section 11.1
hereof;
provided
that if the Issuers have made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 12.1.
Trust Indenture Act Controls
. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the provision required by the TIA shall control. Each Guarantor in addition to performing its obligations under its Guarantee shall perform such other obligations as may be imposed upon it with respect to this Indenture under the TIA.
SECTION 12.2.
Notices
. Any notice, request, direction, consent or communication made pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes shall be in writing and delivered in person, sent by facsimile, sent by electronic mail in pdf format, delivered by commercial courier service or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
if to the Issuers:
Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP
Ladder Capital Finance Corporation
345 Park Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10154
Attention: Marc Fox and Pamela McCormack
Facsimile: (212) 715-3199
with a copy to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Joshua N. Korff
Facsimile: (212) 446-4900
if to the Trustee, at its corporate trust office, which corporate trust office for purposes of this Indenture is at the date hereof located at:
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1544
Attention: Ladder Capital Administrator
Facsimile: (612) 217-5651
The Issuers or the Trustee by written notice to each other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to the Issuers or the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been given or made as of the date so delivered if personally delivered or if delivered electronically, in pdf format; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and seven calendar days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (except that a notice of change of address shall not be deemed to have been given until actually received by the addressee). Any notice or communication to the Trustee shall be deemed delivered upon receipt.
Any notice or communication sent to a Holder shall be mailed to the Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears in the Notes Register and shall be sufficiently given if so sent within the time prescribed.
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is sent in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee shall be effective only upon receipt.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or purchase) to a Holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to DTC (or its designee) pursuant to the procedures of DTC or its designee.
SECTION 12.3.
Communication by Holders with other Holders
. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuers, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).
SECTION 12.4.
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent
. Upon any request or application by the Issuers or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture or the Notes, the Issuers or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:
(1) an Officer’s Certificate in form satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 12.5
hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture or the Notes relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and
(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 12.5
hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been satisfied and all covenants have been complied with.
SECTION 12.5.
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion
. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture or the Notes (other than a Certificate provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:
(1) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.
In giving such Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely as to factual matters on an Officer’s Certificate or on certificates of public officials.
SECTION 12.6.
When Notes Disregarded
. In determining whether the Holders of the required aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuers, any Guarantor or any Affiliate of them shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.
SECTION 12.7.
Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar
. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by, or at meetings of, Holders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.
SECTION 12.8.
Legal Holidays
. A “
Legal Holiday
” is a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions are authorized or required to be closed in New York, New York or the state of the place of payment. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.
SECTION 12.9.
Governing Law
. THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 12.10.
Jurisdiction
. The Issuers and the Guarantors agree that any suit, action or proceeding against the Issuers or any Guarantor brought by any Holder or the Trustee arising out of or based upon this Indenture, the Guarantee or the Notes may be instituted in any state or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of them irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any suit, action or proceeding. The Issuers and the Guarantors irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to any suit, action, or proceeding that may be brought in connection with this Indenture, the Guarantee or the Notes, including such actions, suits or proceedings relating to securities laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, in such courts whether on the grounds of venue, residence or domicile or on the ground that any such suit, action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Issuers and the Guarantors agree that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Issuers or the Guarantors, as the case may be, and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which the Issuers or the Guarantors, as the case may be, are subject by a suit upon such judgment.
SECTION 12.11.
Waivers of Jury Trial
. EACH OF THE ISSUERS, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE GUARANTEES AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
SECTION 12.12.
USA PATRIOT Act
. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA 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. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.
SECTION 12.13.
No Recourse Against Others
. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or shareholder of any Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or such (other than the Issuers and the Guarantors), shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
SECTION 12.14.
Successors
. All agreements of the Issuers and each Guarantor in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
SECTION 12.15.
Multiple Originals
. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 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 12.16.
[Reserved]
SECTION 12.17.
Table of Contents; Headings
. 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 intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 12.18.
Force Majeure
. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable best efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
SECTION 12.19.
Severability
. In case any provision in this Indenture or in 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 12.20.
[Reserved]
SECTION 12.21.
[Reserved]
SECTION 12.22.
Waiver of Immunities
. To the extent that Issuers or any Guarantor or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to them, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from set-off or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, or from attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to their obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees, the Issuers and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally, to the extent permitted by applicable law, waives and agrees not to plead or claim any such immunity and consents to such relief and enforcement.
SECTION 12.23.
Judgment Currency
. The Issuers and each Guarantor agrees to indemnify the recipient against any loss incurred by such recipient as a result of any judgment or order being given or made against the Issuers or any Guarantor for any amount due hereunder and such judgment or order being expressed and paid in a currency (the “
Judgment Currency
”) other than United States dollars and as a result of any variation as between (i) the rate of exchange at which the United States dollar amount is converted into the Judgment Currency for the purpose of such judgment or order, and (ii) the rate of exchange in The City of New York at which such party on the date of payment of such judgment or order is able to purchase United States dollars with the amount of the Judgment Currency actually received by such party if such party had utilized such amount of Judgment Currency to purchase United States dollars as promptly as practicable upon such party’s receipt thereof. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of the Issuers and each Guarantor and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid. The term “rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of, or conversion into, the relevant currency.
[Signature on following pages]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the date and year first written above.
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LADDER CAPITAL FINANCE HOLDINGS LLLP
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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LADDER CAPITAL FINANCE CORPORATION
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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LADDER CAPITAL CORP
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Each as a Guarantor:
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LADDER MIDCO LLC
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LADDER MIDCO III LLC
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LADDER MIDCO II LLC
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LADDER MEMBER CORPORATION
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LADDER CAPITAL FINANCE PORTFOLIO LLC
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LCR INCOME I LP LLC
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LADDER CAPITAL REALTY II LLC
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LADDER CAPITAL FINANCE PORTFOLIO II LLC
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LADDER CAPITAL FINANCE LLC
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LADDER CAPITAL CRE EQUITY LLC
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LADDER GRACE LAKE MEMBER LLC
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ONP JV MEMBER LLC
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LVT JV MEMBER LLC
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IOP JV MEMBER LLC
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ONP ROOFTOP JV MEMBER LLC
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CANPAC JV MEMBER LLC
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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[Indenture]