Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 24, 2012

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

D.R. HORTON, INC.

Co-registrants are listed on the following pages.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   75-2386963

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

301 Commerce Street, Suite 500

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

(817) 390-8200

 

Thomas B. Montano

Vice President, Corporate & Securities Counsel

301 Commerce Street, Suite 500

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

(817) 390-8200

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)   (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

The Commission is requested to mail copies of all orders, notices and communications to:

Richard M. Russo

Robyn E. Zolman

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

1801 California Street, Suite 4200

Denver, Colorado 80202-2641

(303) 298-5700

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.     ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.     þ

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     ¨

If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.     þ

If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.     ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   þ     Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of

securities to be registered

 

Amount

to be

registered

  Amount of
registration fee

Debt Securities, Preferred Stock (par value $.10 per share), Depositary Shares, Common Stock (par value $.01 per share), Warrants, Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units(2)

  (1)   (1)

Guarantees of Debt Securities by direct and indirect subsidiaries of D.R. Horton, Inc.(3)(4)

   

Units comprising one or more classes of securities above

   

 

 

 

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), D.R. Horton, Inc. is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.
(2) Includes an indeterminate number of shares of common stock which may be issued upon conversion of preferred stock or debt securities, which are being registered, an indeterminate amount or number of debt securities and shares of common stock and preferred stock which may be issued upon exercise of warrants, which are being registered, and an indeterminate number of shares of common stock which may be issued upon settlement of stock purchase contracts, which are being registered.
(3) Pursuant to Rule 457(n), no separate fee for the guarantees is payable.
(4) See the following page for a list of the subsidiary guarantors.

 

 

 


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The following direct and indirect subsidiaries of D.R. Horton, Inc. may guarantee the debt securities issued hereunder and are co-registrants under this registration statement. The address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, for each of the co-registrants is c/o D.R. Horton, Inc., 301 Commerce Street, Suite 500, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, (817) 390-8200.

 

Name of Co-Registrant

   Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or
Organization
   I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.

C. Richard Dobson Builders, Inc.

   Virginia    54-1082672

CH Investments of Texas, Inc.

   Delaware    86-0831611

CHI Construction Company

   Arizona    86-0533370

CHTEX of Texas, Inc.

   Delaware    74-2791268

Continental Homes, Inc.

   Delaware    86-0515339

Continental Homes of Texas, L.P.

   Texas    74-2791904

Continental Residential, Inc.

   California    86-0596757

D.R. Horton — Emerald, Ltd.

   Texas    75-2926873

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Birmingham

   Alabama    62-1666398

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Chicago

   Delaware    75-2795240

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Dietz-Crane

   Delaware    75-2926868

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Fresno

   Delaware    75-2926871

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Greensboro

   Delaware    75-2599897

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Gulf Coast

   Delaware    75-2926872

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Huntsville

   Delaware    20-4973832

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Jacksonville

   Delaware    75-2460269

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Louisville

   Delaware    75-2636512

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Minnesota

   Delaware    75-2527442

D.R. Horton, Inc. — New Jersey

   Delaware    75-2665362

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Portland

   Delaware    75-2763765

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Sacramento

   California    75-2569592

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Torrey

   Delaware    75-2689997

D.R. Horton LA North, Inc.

   Delaware    65-1218941

D.R. Horton BAY, Inc.

   Delaware    65-1218940

D.R. Horton Cruces Construction, Inc.

   Delaware    65-1218942

D.R. Horton Los Angeles Holding Company, Inc.

   California    75-2589298

D.R. Horton Management Company, Ltd.

   Texas    75-2436079

D.R. Horton Materials, Inc.

   Delaware    75-2926870

D.R. Horton — Schuler Homes, LLC

   Delaware    02-0548194

D.R. Horton — Texas, Ltd.

   Texas    75-2491320

D.R. Horton Serenity Construction, LLC

   Delaware    75-2926876

D.R. Horton VEN, Inc.

   California    75-2589293

DRH Cambridge Homes, Inc.

   California    75-2589359

DRH Cambridge Homes, LLC

   Delaware    75-2797879

DRH Construction, Inc.

   Delaware    75-2633738

DRH Regrem VII, LP

   Texas    75-2926874

DRH Regrem XII, LP

   Texas    65-1218943

DRH Regrem XIV, Inc.

   Delaware    20-4974035

DRH Regrem XV, Inc.

   Delaware    20-4974123

DRH Regrem XVI, Inc.

   Delaware    20-4974218

DRH Regrem XVII, Inc.

   Delaware    20-4974283

DRH Regrem XVIII, Inc.

   Delaware    20-4974344

DRH Regrem XIX, Inc.

   Delaware    20-4974420

DRH Regrem XX, Inc.

   Delaware    20-4974895

DRH Regrem XXI, Inc.

   Delaware    20-4975007

DRH Regrem XXII, Inc.

   Delaware    20-4975092

DRH Regrem XXIII, Inc.

   Delaware    20-4975165


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Name of Co-Registrant

   Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or
Organization
   I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.

DRH Regrem XXIV, Inc.

   Delaware    20-4975234

DRH Regrem XXV, Inc.

   Delaware    75-2440439

DRH Regrem XXVI, LLC

   Delaware    46-1018273

DRH Regrem XXVII, LLC

   Delaware    46-1022394

DRH Regrem XXVIII, LLC

   Delaware    46-1030683

DRH Regrem XXIX, LLC

   Delaware    46-1038842

DRH Regrem XXX, LLC

   Delaware    46-1040657

DRH Southwest Construction, Inc.

   California    75-2589289

DRH Tucson Construction, Inc.

   Delaware    75-2709796

HPH Homebuilders 2000 L.P.

   California    68-0368156

KDB Homes, Inc.

   Delaware    86-0565376

Meadows I, Ltd.

   Delaware    75-2436082

Meadows II, Ltd.

   Delaware    51-0342206

Meadows VIII, Ltd.

   Delaware    75-2824511

Meadows IX, Inc.

   New Jersey    75-2684821

Meadows X, Inc.

   New Jersey    75-2684823

Melmort Co.

   Colorado    84-1261600

Melody Homes, Inc.

   Delaware    88-0309544

Schuler Homes of Arizona LLC

   Delaware    99-0350555

Schuler Homes of California, Inc.

   California    99-0328127

Schuler Homes of Oregon, Inc.

   Oregon    99-0330791

Schuler Homes of Washington, Inc.

   Washington    99-0329483

Schuler Mortgage, Inc.

   Delaware    99-0349664

Schuler Realty Hawaii, Inc.

   Hawaii    99-0290556

SGS Communities at Grande Quay, L.L.C.

   New Jersey    22-3481784

SHA Construction LLC

   Delaware    86-1002579

SHLR of California, Inc.

   California    99-0350554

SHLR of Colorado, Inc.

   Colorado    99-0336801

SHLR of Nevada, Inc.

   Nevada    99-0343628

SHLR of Utah, Inc.

   Utah    99-0336937

SHLR of Washington, Inc.

   Washington    99-0334375

SRHI LLC

   Delaware    99-0343629

SSHI LLC

   Delaware    91-1842222

Vertical Construction Corporation

   Delaware    22-3216488

Western Pacific Funding, Inc.

   California    68-0346564

Western Pacific Housing, L.P.

   California    33-0634552

Western Pacific Housing, Inc.

   Delaware    95-4887164

Western Pacific Housing Management, Inc.

   California    95-4692688

Western Pacific Housing-Antigua, LLC

   Delaware    95-4750872

Western Pacific Housing-Aviara, L.P.

   California    95-4550008

Western Pacific Housing-Boardwalk, LLC

   Delaware    95-4871227

Western Pacific Housing-Broadway, LLC

   Delaware    95-4850687

Western Pacific Housing-Canyon Park, LLC

   Delaware    95-4716219

Western Pacific Housing-Carmel, LLC

   Delaware    95-4717091

Western Pacific Housing-Carrillo, LLC

   Delaware    95-4815705

Western Pacific Housing-Communications Hill, LLC

   Delaware    95-4637162

Western Pacific Housing-Copper Canyon, LLC

   Delaware    95-4817406

Western Pacific Housing-Creekside, LLC

   Delaware    95-4769848

Western Pacific Housing-Culver City, L.P.

   California    95-4539563

Western Pacific Housing-Del Valle, LLC

   Delaware    95-4887242

Western Pacific Housing-Lomas Verdes, LLC

   Delaware    95-4783214

Western Pacific Housing-Lost Hills Park, LLC

   Delaware    95-4652041


Table of Contents

Name of Co-Registrant

   Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or
Organization
   I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.

Western Pacific Housing-McGonigle Canyon, LLC

   Delaware    95-4735759

Western Pacific Housing-Mountaingate, L.P.

   California    95-4539564

Western Pacific Housing-Norco Estates, LLC

   Delaware    95-4686652

Western Pacific Housing-Oso, L.P.

   California    95-4496774

Western Pacific Housing-Pacific Park II, LLC

   Delaware    95-4636584

Western Pacific Housing-Park Avenue East, LLC

   Delaware    52-2350169

Western Pacific Housing-Park Avenue West, LLC

   Delaware    95-4888647

Western Pacific Housing-Playa Vista, LLC

   Delaware    95-4879655

Western Pacific Housing-Poinsettia, L.P.

   California    95-4619838

Western Pacific Housing-River Ridge, LLC

   Delaware    95-4870837

Western Pacific Housing-Robinhood Ridge, LLC

   Delaware    95-4838666

Western Pacific Housing-Santa Fe, LLC

   Delaware    95-4741001

Western Pacific Housing-Scripps, L.P.

   California    95-4608187

Western Pacific Housing-Scripps II, LLC

   Delaware    95-4688133

Western Pacific Housing-Seacove, L.P.

   California    95-4473471

Western Pacific Housing-Studio 528, LLC

   Delaware    95-4877069

Western Pacific Housing-Terra Bay Duets, LLC

   Delaware    95-4878114

Western Pacific Housing-Torrance, LLC

   Delaware    95-4879653

Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Commercial, LLC

   Delaware    95-4769208

Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Meadows, LLC

   Delaware    95-4878113

Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Multi-Family, LLC

   Delaware    95-4781243

Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Village Center, LLC

   Delaware    95-4837541

Western Pacific Housing-Vineyard Terrace, LLC

   Delaware    95-4761820

Western Pacific Housing-Windemere, LLC

   Delaware    95-4879656

Western Pacific Housing-Windflower, L.P.

   California    95-4504317

WPH-Camino Ruiz, LLC

   Delaware    95-4802985


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PROSPECTUS

D.R. Horton, Inc.

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Common Stock

Warrants

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units

Guarantees of Debt Securities

Units of These Securities

 

 

We will provide specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus at the time we offer or sell any of these securities. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

Investing in these securities involves risks. See “ Risk Factors ” on page 1 of this prospectus, in the applicable prospectus supplement we will deliver with this prospectus and in the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “DHI.”

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This prospectus is dated September 24, 2012


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We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representation that is different from, or in addition to, the information contained in this prospectus or any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If anyone provides you with different, additional or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, or the information contained in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus, is accurate as of any date other than the date of each such document, unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     i   

RISK FACTORS

     1   

THE COMPANY

     1   

SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

     2   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     3   

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     3   

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     4   

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK, PREFERRED STOCK AND DEPOSITARY SHARES

     10   

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     14   

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

     15   

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

     16   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     17   

LEGAL MATTERS

     19   

EXPERTS

     19   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     20   

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     20   

The distribution of this prospectus may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. You should inform yourself about and observe any of these restrictions. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make the offer or solicitation.

 

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms the “Company,” “we” and “our” refer to D.R. Horton, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its predecessors and subsidiaries.


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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may be construed as “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. These forward-looking statements typically include the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “consider,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “projection,” “seek,” “strategy,” “target,” “will” or other words of similar meaning. Any or all of the forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may not approximate actual experience, and the expectations derived from them may not be realized, due to risks, uncertainties and other factors. As a result, actual results may differ materially from the expectations or results we discuss in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to:

 

   

our substantial debt, the incurrence of future debt, and our ability to comply with related debt covenants, restrictions and limitations;

 

   

potential deterioration in homebuilding industry conditions and the current weak U.S. economy;

 

   

the cyclical nature of the homebuilding industry and changes in general economic, real estate and other conditions;

 

   

constriction of the credit markets, which could limit our ability to access capital and increase our costs of capital;

 

   

reductions in the availability of mortgage financing and the liquidity provided by government-sponsored enterprises, the effects of government programs, a decrease in our ability to sell mortgage loans on attractive terms and an increase in mortgage interest rates;

 

   

the risks associated with our land and lot inventory;

 

   

supply shortages and other risks for acquiring land, building materials and skilled labor;

 

   

increases in the costs of owning a home;

 

   

the effects of governmental regulation and environmental matters on our homebuilding operations;

 

   

the effects of governmental regulation on our financial services operations;

 

   

the uncertainties inherent in home warranty and construction defect claims matters;

 

   

competitive conditions within our industry;

 

   

our ability to effect any future growth strategies successfully;

 

   

the impact of an inflationary or deflationary environment;

 

   

our ability to realize the full amount of our deferred income tax asset; and

 

   

information technology failures and data security breaches.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, any further disclosures made on related subjects in subsequent documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus should be consulted. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance and risk factors that have the potential to affect us is contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended December 31, 2011, March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012, including the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” as well as the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict and beyond our control and that involve uncertainties that may materially affect our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, or the value of these securities. These risks and uncertainties include those described in the risk factors and other sections of the documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Subsequent prospectus supplements may contain a discussion of additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the particular type of securities we are offering under the prospectus supplements. You should carefully consider these risks and uncertainties and all of the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in our securities.

THE COMPANY

D.R. Horton, Inc. is one of the largest homebuilding companies in the United States. We construct and sell homes through our operating divisions in 26 states and 75 markets of the United States, primarily under the name of D.R. Horton, America’s Builder . Our homes generally range in size from 1,000 to 4,000 square feet and in price from $90,000 to $600,000. For the year ended September 30, 2011, we closed 16,695 homes with an average closing sales price of approximately $212,200. For the nine months ended June 30, 2012, we closed 13,315 homes with an average closing sales price of approximately $220,100. For the three months ended June 30, 2012, we closed 4,957 homes with an average closing sales price of approximately $225,000.

Through our financial services operations, we provide mortgage financing and title agency services to homebuyers in many of our homebuilding markets. DHI Mortgage, our wholly-owned subsidiary, provides mortgage financing services principally to our homebuilding customers and generally sells the mortgages it originates and the related servicing rights to third-party purchasers. DHI Mortgage originates loans in accordance with purchaser guidelines and historically has sold most of its mortgage production within 30 days of origination. Our subsidiary title companies serve as title insurance agents by providing title insurance policies, examination and closing services, primarily to our homebuilding customers.

Our financial reporting segments consist of six homebuilding segments and a financial services segment. Our homebuilding operations are the most substantial part of our business, comprising approximately 98% and 97% of consolidated revenues of $3.6 billion and $3.0 billion for the year ended September 30, 2011 and for the nine months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. Our homebuilding operations generate most of their revenues from the sale of completed homes, with a lesser amount from the sale of land and lots. In addition to building traditional single-family detached homes, we also build attached homes, such as town homes, duplexes, triplexes and condominiums, which share common walls and roofs. The sale of detached homes generated approximately 88% of home sales revenues for the year ended September 30, 2011 and 90% of home sales revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2012. Our financial services segment generates its revenues from originating and selling mortgages and collecting fees for title insurance agency and closing services.

For more information about our business, please refer to the “Business” section in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Our principal executive offices are located at 301 Commerce Street, Suite 500, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. Our telephone number is (817) 390-8200, and our Internet website address is www.drhorton.com . Information on or connected to our Internet website is not a part of this prospectus.

 

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SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

Types of Securities

The types of securities that we may offer and sell from time to time by this prospectus are:

 

   

debt securities, which we may issue in one or more series and which may include provisions regarding conversion or exchange of the debt securities into our common stock or other securities;

 

   

guarantees of the debt securities by certain of our subsidiaries;

 

   

preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series;

 

   

depositary shares;

 

   

common stock;

 

   

warrants entitling the holders to purchase common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or other securities;

 

   

stock purchase contracts;

 

   

stock purchase units;

 

   

units of the above securities; or

 

   

any derivative security of a security listed above or any security listed above containing a derivative feature such as a put or call option.

When we sell securities, we will determine the amounts of securities we will sell and the prices and other terms on which we will sell them.

Additional Information

We will describe in a prospectus supplement, which we will deliver with this prospectus, the terms of particular securities which we may offer in the future. In each prospectus supplement we will include, among other things, the following information:

 

   

the type and amount of securities which we propose to sell;

 

   

the initial public offering price of the securities;

 

   

the names of the underwriters, agents or dealers, if any, through or to which we will sell the securities;

 

   

the compensation, if any, of those underwriters, agents or dealers;

 

   

the plan of distribution for the securities;

 

   

if applicable, information about securities exchanges on which the securities will be listed;

 

   

material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the securities;

 

   

any material risk factors associated with the securities; and

 

   

any other material information about the offer and sale of the securities.

In addition, the prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. In that case, the prospectus supplement should be read as superseding this prospectus. For more details on the terms of the securities, you should read the exhibits filed with our registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part. You should also read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the information described under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as may be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes. These purposes may include:

 

   

providing additional working capital to our business operations;

 

   

acquiring and developing land;

 

   

constructing new homes;

 

   

acquiring companies in homebuilding or other businesses;

 

   

repaying or repurchasing existing debt; and

 

   

purchasing other investments.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 and for the five years ended September 30, 2011:

 

     Nine Months
Ended June 30,

2012
     Year Ended September 30,  
        2011      2010      2009      2008      2007  

Ratio(1)(2)

     2.52x         1.18x         1.75x         —           —           —     

 

(1) For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income, including distributions received from equity investments, before income taxes, interest expensed, interest amortized to cost of sales and income attributable to noncontrolling interests. Fixed charges consist of interest incurred, whether expensed or capitalized, including amortization of debt issuance costs, if applicable, and the portion of rent expense deemed to represent interest.
(2) Earnings for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were insufficient to cover fixed charges for the periods by $528.1 million, $2,454.3 million and $998.4 million, respectively.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue debt securities under one or more indentures entered into or to be entered into between us and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, Brooklyn, New York, as trustee, or another trustee chosen by us, qualified to act as such under the Trust Indenture Act and appointed under an indenture. The indentures are or will be governed by the Trust Indenture Act.

The following is a summary of the indentures. It does not restate the indentures entirely. We urge you to read the indentures. We have filed the indentures as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and we will file the indentures we enter into and the supplemental indentures or authorizing resolutions with respect to particular series of debt securities as exhibits to current or other reports we file with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies of the indentures and the supplemental indentures or authorizing resolutions. You may also inspect copies of the documents for the particular series at the office of the trustee. References below to an “indenture” are references to the applicable indenture, as supplemented, under which a particular series of debt securities is issued.

Terms of the Debt Securities

Our debt securities will be unsecured obligations of D.R. Horton, Inc. We may issue them in one or more series. Authorizing resolutions or a supplemental indenture will set forth the specific terms of each series of debt securities. We will provide a prospectus supplement for each series of debt securities that will describe:

 

   

the title of the debt securities and whether the debt securities are senior, senior subordinated, or subordinated debt securities;

 

   

the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities and any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the series of debt securities, and, if the series is to be issued at a discount from its face amount, the method of computing the accretion of such discount;

 

   

the percentage of the principal amount at which debt securities will be issued and, if other than the full principal amount thereof, the percentage of the principal amount of the debt securities which is payable if maturity of the debt securities is accelerated because of a default;

 

   

the date or dates on which principal of the debt securities will be payable and the amount of principal which will be payable;

 

   

the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the debt securities will bear interest, if any, or the method of calculation of such rate or rates, as well as the dates from which interest will accrue, the dates on which interest will be payable and the record date for the interest payable on any payment date;

 

   

the currency or currencies (including any composite currency) in which principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, will be payable, and if such payments may be made in a currency other than that in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner for determining such payments;

 

   

the place or places where principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable and where debt securities which are in registered form can be presented for registration of transfer or exchange;

 

   

the denominations in which the debt securities will be issuable, if different from $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

   

any provisions regarding our right to redeem or purchase debt securities or the right of holders to require us to redeem or purchase debt securities;

 

   

the right, if any, of holders of the debt securities to convert or exchange them into our common stock or other securities of any kind of us or another obligor, including any provisions intended to prevent dilution of the conversion rights and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such securities will be

 

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so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in relation thereto;

 

   

any provisions requiring or permitting us to make payments to a sinking fund to be used to redeem debt securities or a purchase fund to be used to purchase debt securities;

 

   

the terms, if any, upon which debt securities may be subordinated to our other indebtedness;

 

   

any additions to, modifications of or deletions from the terms of the debt securities with respect to events of default or covenants or other provisions set forth in the indenture for the series to which the supplemental indenture or authorizing resolution relates;

 

   

whether and upon what terms the debt securities of such series may be defeased or discharged, if different from the provisions set forth in the indenture for the series to which the supplemental indenture or authorizing resolution relates;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be issued in registered or bearer form and the terms of these forms;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security and, if applicable, the identity of the depositary for such global security;

 

   

any provision for electronic issuance of the debt securities or issuance of the debt securities in uncertificated form; and

 

   

any other material terms of the debt securities, which may be different from the terms set forth in this prospectus.

Each prospectus supplement will describe, as to the debt securities to which it relates, any guarantees by our direct or indirect subsidiaries which may guarantee the debt securities, including the identity of the subsidiaries that will be the initial guarantors of the series and the terms of subordination, if any, of any such guarantee. The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe provisions for the release of guarantor subsidiaries from their guarantees.

The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe any material covenants to which a series of debt securities will be subject and the applicability of those covenants to any of our guarantor subsidiaries. The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe provisions for guarantor subsidiaries to cease to be restricted by those covenants.

Events of Default and Remedies

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities will be defined in the indenture or applicable supplemental indenture or authorizing resolution as being:

 

   

our failure to pay interest on any debt security of such series when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for a period of 30 days;

 

   

our failure to pay the principal or premium of any debt security of such series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise;

 

   

our failure or the failure of any guarantor subsidiary to comply with any of its agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the debt securities of such series, the guarantees (as they relate thereto) or the indenture (as they relate thereto) and such failure continues for a period of 60 days after our receipt of notice of the default from the trustee or from the holders of at least 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series (except in the case of a default with respect to the provisions of the indenture regarding the consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other

 

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disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of us or any guarantor of the debt securities (or any other provision specified in the applicable supplemental indenture or authorizing resolution), which will constitute an event of default with notice but without passage of time);

 

   

the acceleration of any indebtedness (other than non-recourse indebtedness, as defined in the indenture) of us or any guarantor subsidiary that has an outstanding principal amount of $50 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, and such acceleration does not cease to exist, or such indebtedness is not satisfied, in either case within 30 days after such acceleration;

 

   

our failure or the failure of any guarantor subsidiary to make any principal or interest payment in an amount of $50 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, in respect of indebtedness (other than non-recourse indebtedness, as defined in the indenture) of us or any guarantor subsidiary within 30 days of such principal or interest becoming due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace period set forth in the documents governing such indebtedness);

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur with respect to us or any guarantor subsidiary that is a significant subsidiary (as defined in the indenture); or

 

   

any guarantee of any guarantor subsidiary that is a significant subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such guarantee and the indenture) or is declared null and void and unenforceable or found to be invalid or any guarantor denies its liability under its guarantee (other than by reason of release of a guarantor from its guarantee in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the guarantee).

The indenture provides, or will provide, that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any series of debt securities of any default, except a default in payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, with respect to such series of debt securities, if the trustee considers it in the interest of the holders of such series of debt securities to do so. The indenture provides, or will provide, that as long as any debt securities are outstanding we will be obligated to deliver written notice to the trustee of the occurrence of any default within 30 days after any of our senior officers obtains knowledge of such default.

The indenture provides, or will provide, that if any event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of such series of debt securities then outstanding may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately. However, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding by notice to the trustee may waive any existing default and its consequences with respect to such series of debt securities, other than any event of default in payment of principal or interest. Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration with respect to such series and its consequences, except an acceleration due to nonpayment of principal or interest on such series, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing events of default with respect to such series have been cured or waived.

The holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee with respect to such series, subject to limitations specified in the indenture.

Defeasance

The indenture permits, or will permit, us and our guarantor subsidiaries to terminate all our respective obligations under the indenture as they relate to any particular series of debt securities, other than the obligation to pay interest, if any, on and the principal of the debt securities of such series and certain other obligations, at any time by:

 

   

depositing in trust with the trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement, money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series to their maturity or redemption; and

 

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complying with other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of such right and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case otherwise.

The indenture also permits, or will permit, us and our guarantor subsidiaries to terminate all of our respective obligations under the indenture as they relate to any particular series of debt securities, including the obligations to pay interest, if any, on and the principal of the debt securities of such series and certain other obligations, at any time by:

 

   

depositing in trust with the trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement, money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series to their maturity or redemption; and

 

   

complying with other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that (A) we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the date such series of debt securities were originally issued, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall state that, holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of such right and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case otherwise.

In addition, the indenture permits, or will permit, us and our guarantor subsidiaries to terminate substantially all our respective obligations under the indenture as they relate to a particular series of debt securities by depositing with the trustee money or U.S. government obligations sufficient to pay all principal and interest on such series at its maturity or redemption date if the debt securities of such series will become due and payable at maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year of the deposit.

Transfer and Exchange

A holder will be able to transfer or exchange debt securities only in accordance with the indenture. The registrar may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the indenture.

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

Without notice to or the consent of any holder, we and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of a series to:

 

   

cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

 

   

comply with the provisions of the indenture regarding the consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of us or any guarantor of the debt securities;

 

   

provide that specific provisions of the indenture shall not apply to a series of debt securities not previously issued or to make a change to specific provisions of the indenture that only applies to any series of debt securities not previously issued or to additional debt securities of a series not previously issued;

 

   

create a series and establish its terms;

 

   

provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;

 

   

delete a guarantor subsidiary which, in accordance with the terms of the indenture, ceases to be liable on its guarantee of debt securities;

 

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add a guarantor subsidiary in respect of any series of debt securities;

 

   

comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

   

make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder.

With the exceptions discussed below, we and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of a particular series with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding. In addition, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may waive any existing default under, or compliance with, any provision of the debt securities of a particular series or of the indenture relating to a particular series of debt securities, other than any event of default in payment of interest or principal. These consents and waivers may be obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, debt securities.

Without the consent of each holder affected, we and the trustee may not:

 

   

reduce the amount of debt securities of such series whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

   

reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest;

 

   

reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or alter the provisions with respect to redemptions of debt securities;

 

   

modify the ranking or priority of the debt securities or any guarantee, or, with respect to any subordinated debt securities, modify certain subordination provisions of the applicable indenture in any manner adverse to the holders of debt securities that are senior to such subordinated debt securities;

 

   

release any guarantor from any of its obligations under its guarantee or the indenture except in accordance with the indenture;

 

   

make any change to any provision of the indenture relating to the waiver of existing defaults, the rights of holders to receive payment of principal and interest on the debt securities, or to the provisions regarding amending or supplementing the indenture or the debt securities of a particular series with the written consent of the holders of such series;

 

   

waive a continuing default or event of default in the payment of principal of or interest on the debt securities; or

 

   

make any debt security payable at a place or in money other than that stated in the debt security, or impair the right of any holder of a debt security to bring suit as permitted by the indenture.

The right of any holder to participate in any consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of the indenture, and our obligation to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such holder, may be subject to the requirement that such holder shall have been the holder of record of debt securities with respect to which such consent is required or sought as of a record date fixed by us in accordance with the indenture.

Concerning the Trustee

In the ordinary course of its business, American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC, the initial trustee, provides, and may continue to provide, service to us as transfer agent for our common stock and trustee under indentures relating to our senior notes, including our convertible senior notes. The indenture contains, or will contain, limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in specified cases or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The indenture permits, or will permit, the trustee to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

 

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The indenture provides, or will provide, that in case an event of default occurs and is not cured, the trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent person in similar circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. The trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power under the indenture, unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

Governing Law

The laws of the State of New York govern, or will govern, the indenture, the debt securities and the guarantees of the debt securities.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK, PREFERRED STOCK AND DEPOSITARY SHARES

Our authorized capital stock is 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value, and 30,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.10 par value. At September 14, 2012, 320,032,684 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock were outstanding.

Common Stock

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. The vote of the holders of a majority of the stock represented at a meeting at which a quorum is present is generally required to take stockholder action, unless a greater vote is required by law. The holders are not entitled to cumulative voting in the election of directors. Directors are elected by the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present, except that if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors are elected by a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that director.

Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights. They are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for such purpose. The common stock is not entitled to any sinking fund, redemption or conversion provisions. On our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in our net assets remaining after the payment of all creditors and liquidation preferences of preferred stock, if any. The outstanding shares of common stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. There will be a prospectus supplement relating to any offering of common stock offered by this prospectus.

The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, which currently serves as trustee for our senior notes and convertible senior notes as described in “Description of Debt Securities — Concerning the Trustee” and may also serve as trustee under other indentures for debt securities offered by this prospectus.

The following provisions in our charter or bylaws may make a takeover of our company more difficult:

 

   

an article in our charter prohibiting stockholder action by written consent;

 

   

an article in our charter requiring the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of common stock to remove a director;

 

   

an article in our charter and a bylaw limiting the persons who may call special meetings of stockholders to our board of directors or a committee authorized to call a meeting by the board or the bylaws; and

 

   

bylaws establishing an advance written notice procedure for stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters which can be acted upon at stockholders’ meetings.

These provisions may delay stockholder actions with respect to business combinations and the election of new members to our board of directors. As such, the provisions could discourage open market purchases of our common stock because a stockholder who desires to participate in a business combination or elect a new director may consider them disadvantageous. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock could delay or prevent a change of control or other corporate action.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute . As a Delaware corporation, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prevents an “interested stockholder” from engaging in a “business combination” with us for three years following the date that person became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

   

before that person became an interested stockholder, our board of directors approved the transaction in which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder or approved the business combination;

 

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upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the interested stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding stock held by persons who are both directors and officers of our corporation or by certain employee stock plans; or

 

   

on or following the date on which that person became an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66  2 / 3 % of our outstanding voting stock excluding shares held by the interested stockholder.

An “interested stockholder” is generally a person owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. A “business combination” includes mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder.

Preferred Stock

We may issue preferred stock in series with any rights and preferences which may be authorized by our board of directors. We will distribute a prospectus supplement with regard to each particular series of preferred stock. Each prospectus supplement will describe, as to the series of preferred stock to which it relates:

 

   

the title of the series of preferred stock;

 

   

any limit upon the number of shares of the series of preferred stock which may be issued;

 

   

the preference, if any, to which holders of the series of preferred stock will be entitled upon our liquidation;

 

   

the date or dates on which we will be required or permitted to redeem the preferred stock;

 

   

the terms, if any, on which we or holders of the preferred stock will have the option to cause the preferred stock to be redeemed or purchased;

 

   

the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the preferred stock;

 

   

the dividends, if any, which will be payable with regard to the series of preferred stock, which may be fixed dividends or participating dividends and may be cumulative or non-cumulative;

 

   

the right, if any, of holders of the preferred stock to convert it into another class of our stock or securities, including provisions intended to prevent dilution of those conversion rights;

 

   

any provisions by which we will be required or permitted to make payments to a sinking fund to be used to redeem preferred stock or a purchase fund to be used to purchase preferred stock; and

 

   

any other material terms of the preferred stock.

Holders of shares of preferred stock will not have preemptive rights.

Depositary Shares

General . We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we exercise this option, we will issue to the public receipts for depositary shares, and each of these depositary shares will represent a fraction (to be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement) of a share of a particular series of preferred stock.

The shares of any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company selected by us. The depositary will have its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion, to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock underlying that depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying that depositary share. Those rights may include dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights.

 

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The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement, which will be governed by New York law. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares, in accordance with the terms of the offering. Copies of the forms of deposit agreement and depositary receipt will be filed as exhibits to current or other reports we file with the SEC. The following summary of the deposit agreement, the depositary shares and the depositary receipts is not complete. You should refer to the forms of the deposit agreement and depositary receipts that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the specific depositary shares.

Pending the preparation of definitive depositary receipts, the depositary may, upon our written order, issue temporary depositary receipts substantially identical to the definitive depositary receipts but not in definitive form. These temporary depositary receipts entitle their holders to all the rights of definitive depositary receipts which are to be prepared without unreasonable delay. Temporary depositary receipts will then be exchangeable for definitive depositary receipts at our expense.

Dividends and Other Distributions . The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received with respect to the preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to the preferred stock in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders.

If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares that are entitled to receive the distribution, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the applicable holders.

Redemption of Depositary Shares . If a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of that series of preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable redemption fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to that series of the preferred stock. Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock that are held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock so redeemed. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the depositary.

Voting the Preferred Stock . Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in such notice to the record holders of the depositary shares underlying the preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of the preferred stock represented by the holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will then try, as far as practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying those depositary shares in accordance with such instructions. We will agree to take all actions which may be deemed necessary by the depositary to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will not vote the shares of preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares underlying the preferred stock.

Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement . The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us or by the depositary only if (a) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or (b) there has been a final distribution of the underlying preferred stock in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and the preferred stock has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.

 

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Charges of Depositary . We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will also pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and those other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.

Miscellaneous . The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that we deliver to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.

Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our respective obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and those of the depositary will be limited to performance in good faith of our respective duties under the deposit agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary . The depositary may resign at any time by delivering notice to us of its election to resign. We may remove the depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or units of two or more of these types of securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement governed by New York law to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any registered holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants. A copy of the warrant agreement will be filed with the SEC in connection with any offering of warrants.

We will distribute a prospectus supplement with regard to each issue of warrants. Each prospectus supplement will describe:

 

   

the title of the warrants;

 

   

the offering price for the warrants, if any;

 

   

the aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

   

the designation, number and terms of the common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or other securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants and procedures by which the number of these securities may be adjusted;

 

   

the exercise price of the warrants;

 

   

the period during which you may exercise the warrants;

 

   

any minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

   

any provision adjusting the securities that may be purchased on exercise of the warrants, and the exercise price of the warrants, to prevent dilution or otherwise;

 

   

if the exercise price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the foreign currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the exercise price is denominated;

 

   

any terms relating to the modification of the warrants;

 

   

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

   

any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the warrants; and

 

   

any other material terms of the warrants.

Prior to the exercise of any warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or other securities, holders of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or other securities purchasable upon exercise, including:

 

   

in the case of warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares, the right to vote or to receive any payments of dividends on the common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon exercise; or

 

   

in the case of warrants for the purchase of debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, any premium or interest on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to the holders, a fixed or varying number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares at a future date or dates. The stock purchase contracts will be governed by New York law. The consideration per share of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares may be fixed at the time stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts and may be subject to adjustment under anti-dilution formulas. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately, or as part of stock purchase units consisting of a stock purchase contract and debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, any other securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, or any combination of the foregoing, in each case securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units, as the case may be, or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations thereunder in a specified manner and in certain circumstances we may deliver newly issued prepaid stock purchase contracts upon release to a holder of any collateral securing that holder’s obligations under the original stock purchase contract. Any one or more of the above securities, common stock or the stock purchase contracts or other collateral may be pledged as security for the holders’ obligations to purchase or sell, as the case may be, the common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may also allow the holders, under certain circumstances, to obtain the release of the security for their obligations under such contracts by depositing with the collateral agent as substitute collateral U.S. government securities with a principal amount at maturity equal to the collateral so released or the maximum number of shares deliverable by such holders under stock purchase contracts requiring the holders to sell common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares to us.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid stock purchase contracts. The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete, and reference will be made to the stock purchase contract, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to such stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. Material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the stock purchase units and the stock purchase contracts will be discussed in the related prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, units will consist of one or more stock purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, debt securities guarantees, preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares or any combination thereof. The units will be issued under a unit agreement that will be governed by New York law. You should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement for:

 

   

all terms of the units and of the stock purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, debt securities guarantees, shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock, depositary shares or any combination thereof comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may or may not be traded separately;

 

   

a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; and

 

   

a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Any of the securities being offered by this prospectus may be sold:

 

   

through agents;

 

   

to or through underwriters;

 

   

through dealers;

 

   

through brokers;

 

   

directly by us to purchasers; or

 

   

through a combination of any such methods of sale.

The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices or varying prices determined at the time of sale. The distribution of securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions by means of one or more of the following transactions, which may include cross or block trades:

 

   

transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or any other organized market where the securities may be traded;

 

   

in the over-the-counter market;

 

   

in negotiated transactions;

 

   

through put or call option transactions relating to the securities;

 

   

under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments; or

 

   

a combination of such methods of sale.

Agents designated by us from time to time may solicit offers to purchase the securities. We will name any such agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and set forth any commissions payable by us to such agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities.

If underwriters are used in the sale of securities, securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, we will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for such sale is reached. We will set forth in the prospectus supplement the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, and the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers. Such compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters and others participating in any offering of securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of such securities. We will describe any such activities in the prospectus supplement. We may elect to list any class or series of securities on any exchange, but we are not currently obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters, if any, may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities we may offer.

If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities, we or an underwriter will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. The prospectus supplement may set forth the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions.

 

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If a broker is used in the sale of the securities, the broker will not acquire the securities, and we will sell the securities directly to the purchasers in the applicable market. These will be conducted as “at the market offerings” within the meaning of the Securities Act. The prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of our arrangement with the broker.

We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities, and we may sell directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding, auction or other process, if utilized.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates may be customers of ours, or engage in transactions with or perform services for us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, has rendered an opinion with respect to the validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus. Certain matters of Alabama, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Virginia and Washington law will be passed upon for us by Thomas B. Montano, our Corporate and Securities Counsel. We have filed these opinions as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. If counsel for any underwriters passes on legal matters in connection with an offering made by this prospectus, we will name that counsel in the prospectus supplement relating to that offering.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

D.R. Horton, Inc. files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You may read and copy this information at the Public Reference Room of the SEC, 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-2521. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330.

We make available free of charge on or through our Internet website, www.drhorton . com , our reports and other information filed with or furnished to the SEC as referred to below and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The SEC’s Internet website, www.sec.gov , also contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, who file electronically with the SEC. Unless specifically listed under “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” below, the information contained on our website or the SEC website is not intended to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and you should not consider that information a part of this prospectus.

You can also inspect reports, proxy statements and other information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

We and our subsidiaries who may be guarantors have filed jointly with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 that registers the securities we are offering. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us, any guarantor subsidiaries and the securities offered. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit certain information included in the registration statement from this prospectus.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this document.

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC but have not been included or delivered with this prospectus. These documents contain important information about us and our business, prospects and financial condition.

 

Filing

  

Period or Date Filed

Annual Report on Form 10-K

   Year ended September 30, 2011

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q

   Quarter ended December 31, 2011
   Quarter ended March 31, 2012
   Quarter ended June 30, 2012

Current Reports on Form 8-K

  

November 16, 2011

December 1, 2011

February 1, 2012

February 17, 2012

March 8, 2012

May 1, 2012

May 4, 2012

September 10, 2012

September 14, 2012

September 17, 2012

 

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The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A/A filed September 21, 2012.

The information set forth under the captions “Proposal One — Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance and Board Matters,” “Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock,” “Executive Compensation,” “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions,” “Independent Registered Public Accountants,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” and “Requesting Documents from the Company” in our proxy statement relating to our January 26, 2012 annual meeting of stockholders and incorporated into our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011.

We also incorporate by reference any future filings we make with the SEC under sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, between the date of this prospectus and the date of the closing of each offering. These additional documents include periodic reports, such as annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished and not filed by us under any item of any current report on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits, which is deemed not to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus), as well as proxy statements (other than information identified in them as not incorporated by reference). You should review these filings as they may disclose changes in our business, prospects, financial condition or other affairs after the date of this prospectus. The information that we file later with the SEC under sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and before the closing of each offering will automatically update and supersede previous information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from us without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at the following address:

Investor Relations

D.R. Horton, Inc.

301 Commerce Street, Suite 500

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

(817) 390-8200

 

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D.R. HORTON, INC.

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Common Stock

Warrants

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units

Guarantees of Debt Securities

Units of These Securities

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

September 24, 2012

 

 

 


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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated fees and expenses payable by us in connection with offering of the securities being registered, other than discounts and commissions.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee

   $  *   

Blue Sky fees and expenses

     **   

Printing and engraving fees and expenses

     **   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     **   

Rating agency fees

     **   

Accountants’ fees and expenses

     **   

Legal fees and expenses

     **   

Miscellaneous

     **   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $  *   
  

 

 

 

 

* In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee for the securities offered by this registration statement.
** These fees and expenses are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

D.R. Horton, Inc.’s certificate of incorporation provides that D.R. Horton, Inc. shall, to the full extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law or other applicable laws presently or hereafter in effect, indemnify each person who is or was or had agreed to become a director or officer of D.R. Horton, Inc., or each such person who is or was serving or who had agreed to serve at the written request of the board of directors or an officer of D.R. Horton, Inc. as an employee or agent of D.R Horton, Inc. or as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in any such case owned or controlled by D.R. Horton, Inc., including the heirs, executors, administrators or estate of such person, and eliminates the personal liability of its directors to the full extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law or other applicable laws presently or hereafter in effect. D.R. Horton, Inc. has entered into an indemnification agreement with each of its directors and executive officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by third parties, if such directors or officers acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, i.e., one by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification may be made only for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by directors and officers in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit, and only with respect to a matter as to which they shall have acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his respective duties to the corporation, although the court in which the action or suit was brought may determine upon application that the defendant officers or directors are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provisions shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director

 

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(1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) under section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. No such provision shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any act or omission occurring before the date when such provision becomes effective.

In addition to indemnification by D.R. Horton, Inc. pursuant to its certificate of incorporation, the partners, members, managers, directors and officers of the co-registrants are generally also entitled to indemnification and exculpation for certain monetary damages to the extent provided in the co-registrants’ organizational documents or under the statutes under which the co-registrants are organized.

Any underwriting agreement, which will be filed as Exhibit 1.1 by amendment hereto or pursuant to a current report on Form 8-K to be incorporated herein by reference, will provide that the underwriters named therein will indemnify and hold harmless D.R. Horton, Inc., the co-registrants and each director, officer who signs this registration statement or controlling person of D.R. Horton, Inc. and the co-registrants from and against specific liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

D.R. Horton, Inc. also has obtained directors and officers liability insurance that provides insurance coverage for certain liabilities which may be incurred by directors and officers of D.R. Horton, Inc. and the co-registrants in their capacity as such.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Schedules.

A list of exhibits included as part of this registration statement is set forth in the Exhibit Index, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrants pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

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(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

  (i) Each prospectus filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

  (ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided , however , that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrants under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrants undertake that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrants pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrants will be sellers to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrants relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants or used or referred to by the undersigned registrants;

 

  (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrants or their securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants; and

 

  (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrants to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of D.R. Horton, Inc.’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions described in Item 15, or otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of any registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, each appropriate registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant, D.R. Horton, Inc., and the co-registrants named below, certify that they have reasonable grounds to believe that they meet all the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and have duly caused this registration statement to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Fort Worth, State of Texas, on September 24, 2012.

 

D.R. HORTON, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

  Bill W. Wheat
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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CO-REGISTRANTS:

 

C. RICHARD DOBSON BUILDERS, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XVIII, INC.

CH INVESTMENTS OF TEXAS, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XIX, INC.

CHI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

 

DRH REGREM XX, INC.

CHTEX OF TEXAS, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XXI, INC.

CONTINENTAL HOMES, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XXII, INC.

CONTINENTAL RESIDENTIAL, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XXIII, INC.

D.R HORTON BAY, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XXIV, INC.

D.R. HORTON CRUCES CONSTRUCITON, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XXV, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — BIRMINGHAM

 

DRH SOUTHWEST CONSTRUCTION, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — CHICAGO

 

DRH TUCSON CONSTRUCTION, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — DIETZ-CRANE

 

KDB HOMES, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — FRESNO

 

MEADOWS I, LTD.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — GREENSBORO

 

MEADOWS II, LTD.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — GULF COAST

 

MEADOWS VIII, LTD.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — HUNTSVILLE

 

MEADOWS IX, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — JACKSONVILLE

 

MEADOWS X, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — LOUISVILLE

 

MELMORT CO.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — MINNESOTA

 

MELODY HOMES, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — NEW JERSEY

 

SCHULER HOMES OF CALIFORNIA, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — PORTLAND

 

SCHULER HOMES OF OREGON, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — SACRAMENTO

 

SCHULER HOMES OF WASHINGTON, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — TORREY

 

SCHULER MORTGAGE, INC.

D.R. HORTON LA NORTH, INC.

 

SCHULER REALTY HAWAII, INC.

D.R. HORTON LOS ANGELES HOLDING COMPANY, INC.

 

SHLR OF CALIFORNIA, INC.

D.R. HORTON MATERIALS, INC.

 

SHLR OF COLORADO, INC.

D.R. HORTON VEN, INC.

 

SHLR OF NEVADA, INC.

DRH CAMBRIDGE HOMES, INC.

 

SHLR OF UTAH, INC.

DRH CONSTRUCTION, INC.

 

SHLR OF WASHINGTON, INC.

DRH REGREM XIV, INC.

 

VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION

DRH REGREM XV, INC.

 

WESTERN PACIFIC FUNDING, INC.

DRH REGREM XVI, INC.

 

WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING, INC.

DRH REGREM XVII, INC.

 

WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING MANAGEMENT, INC.

 

By:

 

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

  Bill W. Wheat
  Executive Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer

 

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CONTINENTAL HOMES OF TEXAS, L.P.

By:

  CHTEX of Texas, Inc., its General Partner
 

By:

 

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

    Bill W. Wheat
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
D.R. HORTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LTD.
D.R. HORTON — EMERALD, LTD.
D.R. HORTON — TEXAS, LTD.
DRH REGREM VII, LP
DRH REGREM XII, LP
By:   Meadows I, Ltd., its General Partner
  By:  

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

    Bill W. Wheat
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
SGS COMMUNITIES AT GRANDE QUAY L.L.C.
By:   Meadows IX, Inc., a Member
  By:  

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

    Bill W. Wheat
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
and    
By:   Meadows X, Inc., a Member
  By:  

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

    Bill W. Wheat
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
DRH CAMBRIDGE HOMES, LLC
D.R. HORTON SERENITY CONSTRUCTION, LLC
By:   D.R. Horton, Inc. — Chicago, its Member
  By:  

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

    Bill W. Wheat
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

 

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HPH HOMEBUILDERS 2000 L.P.
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING, L.P.
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-ANTIGUA, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-AVIARA, L.P.
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-BOARDWALK, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-BROADWAY, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-CANYON PARK, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-CARMEL, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-CARRILLO, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-COMMUNICATIONS HILL, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-COPPER CANYON, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-CREEKSIDE, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-CULVER CITY, L.P.
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-DEL VALLE, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-LOMAS VERDES, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-LOST HILLS PARK, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-MCGONIGLE CANYON, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-MOUNTAINGATE, L.P.
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-NORCO ESTATES, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-OSO, L.P.
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-PACIFIC PARK II, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-PARK AVENUE EAST, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-PARK AVENUE WEST, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-PLAYA VISTA, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-POINSETTIA, L.P.
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-RIVER RIDGE, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-ROBINHOOD RIDGE, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-SANTA FE, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-SCRIPPS, L.P.
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-SCRIPPS II, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-SEACOVE, L.P.
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-STUDIO 528, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-TERRA BAY DUETS, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-TORRANCE, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-TORREY COMMERCIAL, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-TORREY MEADOWS, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-TORREY MULTI-FAMILY, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-TORREY VILLAGE CENTER, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-VINEYARD TERRACE, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-WINDEMERE, LLC
WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING-WINDFLOWER, L.P.
WPH-CAMINO RUIZ, LLC
By:  

Western Pacific Housing Management, Inc.,

  its Manager, Member or General Partner

    By:  

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

    Bill W. Wheat
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

 

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SCHULER HOMES OF ARIZONA LLC
SHA CONSTRUCTION LLC
By:  

SRHI LLC,

  its Member

    By:  

SHLR of Nevada, Inc.

  its Member

      By:  

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

      Bill W. Wheat
      Executive Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer

 

D.R. HORTON-SCHULER HOMES, LLC
By:  

Vertical Construction Corporation,

  its Manager

    By:  

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

    Bill W. Wheat
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
SRHI LLC
By:  

SHLR of Nevada, Inc.,

  its Member

    By:  

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

    Bill W. Wheat
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
SSHI LLC
By:  

SHLR of Washington, Inc.,

  its Member

    By:  

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

    Bill W. Wheat
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

 

S-5


Table of Contents
DRH REGREM XXVI, LLC
DRH REGREM XXVII, LLC
DRH REGREM XXVIII, LLC
DRH REGREM XXIX, LLC
DRH REGREM XXX, LLC
By:   D.R. Horton, Inc., its Member
  By:  

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

    Bill W. Wheat
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

 

S-6


Table of Contents

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Donald R. Horton, individually, and Donald J. Tomnitz and Bill W. Wheat, together as a group, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement, including post-effective amendments and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do so and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each such attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

REGISTRANT OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Donald R. Horton

Donald R. Horton

   Chairman of the Board*   September 24, 2012

/s/ Donald J. Tomnitz

Donald J. Tomnitz

  

Vice Chairman of the Board, President and

Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)*

  September 24, 2012

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

Bill W. Wheat

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal

Accounting Officer)

  September 24, 2012

/s/ Bradley S. Anderson

Bradley S. Anderson

   Director*   September 24, 2012

/s/ Michael R. Buchanan

Michael R. Buchanan

   Director*   September 24, 2012

/s/ Michael W. Hewatt

Michael W. Hewatt

   Director*   September 24, 2012

/s/ Bob G. Scott

Bob G. Scott

   Director*   September 24, 2012

 

* Includes capacity as a director of D.R. Horton, Inc. as the sole member of DRH Regrem XXVI, LLC, DRH Regrem XXVII, LLC, DRH Regrem XXVIII, LLC, DRH Regrem XXIX, LLC and DRH Regrem XXX, LLC.

 

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Table of Contents

CO-REGISTRANT OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS:

 

C. RICHARD DOBSON BUILDERS, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XVIII, INC.

CH INVESTMENTS OF TEXAS, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XIX, INC.

CHI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

 

DRH REGREM XX, INC.

CHTEX OF TEXAS, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XXI, INC.

CONTINENTAL HOMES, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XXII, INC.

CONTINENTAL RESIDENTIAL, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XXIII, INC.

D.R HORTON BAY, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XXIV, INC.

D.R. HORTON CRUCES CONSTRUCITON, INC.

 

DRH REGREM XXV, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — BIRMINGHAM

 

DRH SOUTHWEST CONSTRUCTION, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — CHICAGO

 

DRH TUCSON CONSTRUCTION, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — DIETZ-CRANE

 

KDB HOMES, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — FRESNO

 

MEADOWS I, LTD.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — GREENSBORO

 

MEADOWS II, LTD.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — GULF COAST

 

MEADOWS VIII, LTD.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — HUNTSVILLE

 

MEADOWS IX, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — JACKSONVILLE

 

MEADOWS X, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — LOUISVILLE

 

MELMORT CO.

D.R. HORTON, INC. – MINNESOTA

 

MELODY HOMES, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — NEW JERSEY

 

SCHULER HOMES OF CALIFORNIA, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — PORTLAND

 

SCHULER HOMES OF OREGON, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — SACRAMENTO

 

SCHULER HOMES OF WASHINGTON, INC.

D.R. HORTON, INC. — TORREY

 

SCHULER MORTGAGE, INC.

D.R. HORTON LA NORTH, INC.

 

SCHULER REALTY HAWAII, INC.

D.R. HORTON LOS ANGELES HOLDING COMPANY, INC.

 

SHLR OF CALIFORNIA, INC.

D.R. HORTON MATERIALS, INC.

 

SHLR OF COLORADO, INC.

D.R. HORTON VEN, INC.

 

SHLR OF NEVADA, INC.

DRH CAMBRIDGE HOMES, INC.

 

SHLR OF UTAH, INC.

DRH CONSTRUCTION, INC.

 

SHLR OF WASHINGTON, INC.

DRH REGREM XIV, INC.

 

VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION

DRH REGREM XV, INC.

 

WESTERN PACIFIC FUNDING, INC.

DRH REGREM XVI, INC.

 

WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING, INC.

DRH REGREM XVII, INC.

 

WESTERN PACIFIC HOUSING MANAGEMENT, INC.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Donald R. Horton

Donald R. Horton

   Chairman of the Board   September 24, 2012

/s/ Donald J. Tomnitz

Donald J. Tomnitz

  

President and

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

  September 24, 2012

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

Bill W. Wheat

  

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal

Accounting Officer)

  September 24, 2012

 

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Table of Contents

CHTEX of Texas, Inc., the General Partner of

Continental Homes of Texas, L.P.

D.R. Horton, Inc. — Chicago, a Member of

DRH Cambridge Homes, LLC

D.R. Horton Serenity Construction, LLC

Meadows I, Ltd., the General Partner of

D.R. Horton Management Company, LTD.

D.R. Horton — Emerald, LTD.

D.R. Horton — Texas, LTD.

DRH Regrem VII, LP

DRH Regrem XII, LP

Meadows IX, Inc., a Member of

and Meadows X, Inc., a Member of

SGS Communities at Grande Quay L.L.C.

SHLR of Nevada, Inc., a Member of

SRHI LLC

SHLR of Nevada, Inc., a Member of

SRHI LLC, a Member of

Schuler Homes of Arizona LLC

SHA Construction LLC

SHLR of Washington, Inc., a Member of

SSHI LLC

Vertical Construction Corporation, Manager of

D.R. Horton-Schuler Homes, LLC

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Donald R. Horton

Donald R. Horton

   Chairman of the Board   September 24, 2012

/s/ Donald J. Tomnitz

Donald J. Tomnitz

  

President and

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

  September 24, 2012

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

Bill W. Wheat

  

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

  September 24, 2012

 

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Table of Contents

Western Pacific Housing Management, Inc., a Manager, Member or General Partner of

HPH Homebuilders 2000 L.P.

Western Pacific Housing, L.P.

Western Pacific Housing-Antigua, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Aviara, L.P.

Western Pacific Housing-Boardwalk, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Broadway, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Canyon Park, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Carmel, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Carrillo, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Communications Hill, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Copper Canyon, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Creekside, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Culver City, L.P.

Western Pacific Housing-Del Valle, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Lomas Verdes, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Lost Hills Park, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-McGonigle Canyon, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Mountaingate, L.P.

Western Pacific Housing-Norco Estates, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Oso, L.P.

Western Pacific Housing-Pacific Park II, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Park Avenue East, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Park Avenue West, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-PlayaVista, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Poinsettia, L.P.

Western Pacific Housing-River Ridge, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Robinhood Ridge, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Santa Fe, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Scripps, L.P.

Western Pacific Housing-Scripps II, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Seacove, L.P.

Western Pacific Housing-Studio 528, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Terra Bay Duets, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Torrance, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Commercial, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Meadows, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Multi-Family, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Village Center, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Vineyard Terrace, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Windemere, LLC

Western Pacific Housing-Windflower, L.P.

WPH-Camino Ruiz, LLC

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

/s/ Donald R. Horton

Donald R. Horton

 

Chairman of the Board

  September 24, 2012

/s/ Donald J. Tomnitz

Donald J. Tomnitz

 

President and
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

  September 24, 2012

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

Bill W. Wheat

 

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)

  September 24, 2012

 

S-10


Table of Contents

D.R. Horton, Inc., a Member of

DRH Regrem XXVI, LLC

DRH Regrem XXVII, LLC

DRH Regrem XXVIII, LLC

DRH Regrem XXIX, LLC

DRH Regrem XXX, LLC

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Donald R. Horton

Donald R. Horton

  

Chairman of the Board

  September 24, 2012

/s/ Donald J. Tomnitz

Donald J. Tomnitz

  

President and
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

  September 24, 2012

/s/ Bill W. Wheat

Bill W. Wheat

  

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)

  September 24, 2012

 

S-11


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number

  

Description

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  4.1    Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of D.R. Horton, Inc., dated January 31, 2006, and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of D.R. Horton, Inc., dated March 18, 1992 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to D.R. Horton, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on February 2, 2006 (File No. 001-14122)).
  4.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of D.R. Horton, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to D.R. Horton, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 5, 2009 (File No. 001-14122)).
  4.3    Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2012, between D.R. Horton, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to D.R. Horton, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 4, 2012 (File No. 001-14122)).
  4.4    Form of Senior Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture.
  4.5    Form of Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture.
  4.6*    Form of Supplemental Indenture.
  4.7*    Form of Deposit Agreement and Deposit Receipt.
  4.8*    Form of Warrant Agreement (including form of warrant).
  4.9*    Form of Stock Purchase Contract.
  4.10*    Form of Stock Purchase Unit Agreement.
  4.11*    Form of Unit Agreement.
  4.12    Specimen of Common Stock Certificate.
  5.1    Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, as to the validity of the securities being registered.
  5.2    Opinion of Thomas B. Montano, Esquire, as to certain matters under the laws of the States of Alabama, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
12.1    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 12.1 to D.R. Horton, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012, filed with the SEC on July 27, 2012 (File No. 001-14122) and Exhibit 12.1 to D.R. Horton, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, filed with the SEC on November 17, 2011 (File No. 001-14122)).
23.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2    Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.3    Consent of Thomas B. Montano, Esquire (included in Exhibit 5.2).
24.1    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this registration statement).
25.1    Statement of eligibility of trustee on Form T-1 for Senior Debt Securities, Senior Subordinated Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities.

 

* To be filed by amendment hereto or pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be incorporated herein by reference.

 

Exhibit 4.4

 

 

 

D.R. HORTON, INC.

and

THE GUARANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

Senior Subordinated Debt Securities

Indenture

Dated as of [                    ]

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC,

as Trustee

 

 

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

This Cross-Reference Table is not a part of the Indenture .

 

TIA

Section

   Indenture
Section

310(a)(1)

   7.10

(a)(2)

   7.10

(a)(3)

   N.A.

(a)(4)

   N.A.

(b)

   7.08; 7.10; 13.02

311(a)

   7.11

(b)

   7.11

(c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.05

(b)

   13.03

(c)

   13.03

313(a)

   7.06

(b)(1)

   N.A.

(b)(2)

   7.06

(c)

   13.02

(d)

   7.06

314(a)

   4.03; 13.02

(b)

   N.A.

(c)(1)

   13.04

(c)(2)

   13.04

(c)(3)

   N.A.

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   13.05

315(a)

   7.01(b)

(b)

   7.05; 13.02

(c)

   7.01(a)

(d)

   7.01(c)

(e)

   6.11

316(a)(last sentence)

   13.06

(a)(1)(A)

   6.05

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04

(a)(2)

   N.A.

(b)

   6.07

317(a)(1)

   6.08

(a)(2)

   6.09

(b)

   2.04

318(a)

   13.01

N.A. means Not Applicable.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Table of Contents is not a part of the Indenture.

 

          Page  
   ARTICLE ONE   
   DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE   

Section 1.01.

   Definitions      1   

Section 1.02.

   Other Definitions      6   

Section 1.03.

   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      7   

Section 1.04.

   Rules of Construction      7   
ARTICLE TWO   
THE SECURITIES   

Section 2.01.

   Form and Dating      8   

Section 2.02.

   Execution and Authentication      9   

Section 2.03.

   Registrar and Paying Agent      10   

Section 2.04.

   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      10   

Section 2.05.

   Securityholder Lists      10   

Section 2.06.

   Transfer and Exchange      10   

Section 2.07.

   Replacement Securities      11   

Section 2.08.

   Outstanding Securities      11   

Section 2.09.

   Temporary Securities      11   

Section 2.10.

   Cancellation      11   

Section 2.11.

   Defaulted Interest      12   

Section 2.12.

   Treasury Securities      12   

Section 2.13.

   CUSIP/ISIN Numbers      12   

Section 2.14.

   Deposit of Moneys      12   

Section 2.15.

   Book-Entry Provisions for Global Security      12   
ARTICLE THREE   
REDEMPTION   

Section 3.01.

   Notices to Trustee      14   

Section 3.02.

   Selection of Securities to be Redeemed      14   

Section 3.03.

   Notice of Redemption      14   

Section 3.04.

   Effect of Notice of Redemption      15   

Section 3.05.

   Deposit of Redemption Price      15   

Section 3.06.

   Securities Redeemed in Part      15   
ARTICLE FOUR   
COVENANTS   

Section 4.01.

   Payment of Securities      15   

Section 4.02.

   Maintenance of Office or Agency      15   

Section 4.03.

   Compliance Certificate      15   

Section 4.04.

   Payment of Taxes; Maintenance of Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties      16   

Section 4.05.

   Additional Guarantors      16   

Section 4.06.

   Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws      17   

Section 4.07.

   Limitation on Senior Subordinated Indebtedness      17   

 

- i -


ARTICLE FIVE   
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION   

Section 5.01.

   When Company May Merge, etc.    17
ARTICLE SIX   
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   

Section 6.01.

   Events of Default    18

Section 6.02.

   Acceleration    19

Section 6.03.

   Other Remedies    20

Section 6.04.

   Waiver of Existing Defaults    20

Section 6.05.

   Control by Majority    20

Section 6.06.

   Limitation on Suits    20

Section 6.07.

   Rights of Holders to Receive Payment    21

Section 6.08.

   Collection Suit by Trustee    21

Section 6.09.

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim    21

Section 6.10.

   Priorities    21

Section 6.11.

   Undertaking for Costs    21
ARTICLE SEVEN   
TRUSTEE   

Section 7.01.

   Duties of Trustee    22

Section 7.02.

   Rights of Trustee    23

Section 7.03.

   Individual Rights of Trustee    23

Section 7.04.

   Trustee’s Disclaimer    23

Section 7.05.

   Notice of Defaults    23

Section 7.06.

   Reports by Trustee to Holders    24

Section 7.07.

   Compensation and Indemnity    24

Section 7.08.

   Replacement of Trustee    24

Section 7.09.

   Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.    25

Section 7.10.

   Eligibility; Disqualification    25

Section 7.11.

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company    25
ARTICLE EIGHT   
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE   

Section 8.01.

   Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations    25

Section 8.02.

   Survival of the Company’s Obligations    27

Section 8.03.

   Application of Trust Money    28

Section 8.04.

   Repayment to the Company    28

Section 8.05.

   Reinstatement    28

 

- ii -


ARTICLE NINE

GUARANTEES

 

Section 9.01.

   Unconditional Guarantees    28

Section 9.02.

   Severability    29

Section 9.03.

   Release of a Guarantor    29

Section 9.04.

   Limitation of a Guarantor’s Liability    30

Section 9.05.

   Contribution    30

Section 9.06.

   Waiver of Subrogation    30

Section 9.07.

   Execution of Guarantee    30
ARTICLE TEN   
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS   

Section 10.01.

   Without Consent of Holders    31

Section 10.02.

   With Consent of Holders    31

Section 10.03.

   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act    32

Section 10.04.

   Revocation and Effect of Consents    32

Section 10.05.

   Notation on or Exchange of Securities    33

Section 10.06.

   Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.    33

Section 10.07.

   Notice of Supplemental Indenture    33
ARTICLE ELEVEN   
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES   

Section 11.01.

   Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness    34

Section 11.02.

   No Payment on Securities in Certain Circumstances    34

Section 11.03.

   Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, etc.    35

Section 11.04.

   Subrogation    36

Section 11.05.

   Obligations of Company Unconditional    36

Section 11.06.

   Notice to Trustee    37

Section 11.07.

   Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent    37

Section 11.08.

   Trustee’s Relation to Senior Indebtedness    37

Section 11.09.

   Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness    38

Section 11.10.

   Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities    38

Section 11.11.

   This Article Not to Prevent Events of Default    38

Section 11.12.

   Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced    38

Section 11.13.

   No Waiver of Subordination Provisions    38

Section 11.14.

   Certain Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution    39
ARTICLE TWELVE   
SUBORDINATION OF GUARANTEES   

Section 12.01.

   Guarantee Obligations Subordinated to Guarantor Senior Indebtedness    39

Section 12.02.

   No Payment on Guarantees in Certain Circumstances    39

Section 12.03.

   Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, etc.    40

Section 12.04.

   Subrogation    41

Section 12.05.

   Obligations of Guarantors Unconditional    42

Section 12.06.

   Notice to Trustee    42

Section 12.07.

   Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent    43

Section 12.08.

   Trustee’s Relation to Guarantor Senior Indebtedness    43

 

- iii -


Section 12.09.

   Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Guarantors or Holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness    43

Section 12.10.

   Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Guarantee    43

Section 12.11.

   This Article Not to Prevent Events of Default    44

Section 12.12.

   Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced    44

Section 12.13.

   No Waiver of Guarantee Subordination Provisions    44

Section 12.14.

   Certain Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution    44
ARTICLE THIRTEEN   
MISCELLANEOUS   

Section 13.01.

   Trust Indenture Act Controls    44

Section 13.02.

   Notices    45

Section 13.03.

   Communications by Holders with Other Holders    45

Section 13.04.

   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent    45

Section 13.05.

   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion    46

Section 13.06.

   Rules by Trustee and Agents    46

Section 13.07.

   Legal Holidays    46

Section 13.08.

   Governing Law    46

Section 13.09.

   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements    46

Section 13.10.

   No Recourse Against Others    46

Section 13.11.

   Successors and Assigns    46

Section 13.12.

   Duplicate Originals    47

Section 13.13.

   Severability    47

SIGNATURES

  

EXHIBIT A – Form of Security

  

 

- iv -


INDENTURE dated as of [            ], 2012 (the “ Base Indenture ”), by and among D.R. HORTON, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), each of the Guarantors from time to time party hereto in respect of a particular Series of Securities (each as defined in Section 1.01 below) and AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Company’s debt securities issued under this Base Indenture:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01. Definitions .

Affiliate ” means, when used with reference to a specified person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Person specified.

Agent ” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-Registrar or agent for service of notices and demands.

Authorizing Resolution ” means a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or by an Officer or committee of Officers pursuant to Board delegation authorizing a Series of Securities.

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

Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Capital Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of or in such Person’s capital stock or other equity interests.

Capitalized Lease Obligations ” of any Person means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of such obligations will be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Company ” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the Indenture and thereafter means the successor.

control ” means, when used with respect to any Person, the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “ controlling ” and “ controlled ” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Credit Facilities ” means, collectively, each of the credit facilities and lines of credit of the Company or one or more Guarantors in existence on the date of this Base Indenture and one or more future facilities or lines of credit among or between the Company or one or more Guarantors and one or more lenders pursuant to which the Company or any Guarantor may incur indebtedness for working capital and general corporate purposes (including acquisitions), as any such facility or line of credit may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and includes any agreement extending the maturity of, increasing the amount of, or restructuring, all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such facility or line of credit or any successor facilities or lines of credit and includes any facility or line of credit with one or more lenders refinancing or replacing all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such facility or line of credit or any successor facility or line of credit.

 

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Currency Agreement ” of any Person means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in currency values.

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

Definitive Security ” means a certificated Security registered in the name of the Securityholder thereof.

Depositary ” means, with respect to Securities of any Series which the Company shall determine will be issued in whole or in part as a Global Security, DTC, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, and any other applicable U.S. or foreign statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to Section 2.01 .

Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness ” means any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (a) under any of the Credit Facilities or (b) which, at the time of determination, has an aggregate commitment or principal amount outstanding of at least $25 million if the instrument governing such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness expressly states that such Indebtedness is “Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness” for purposes of this Indenture.

Designated Senior Indebtedness ” means any Senior Indebtedness (a) under any of the Credit Facilities or (b) which, at the time of determination, has an aggregate commitment or principal amount outstanding of at least $25 million if the instrument governing such Senior Indebtedness expressly states that such Indebtedness is “Designated Senior Indebtedness” for purposes of this Indenture.

Dollars ” and “ $ ” mean United States Dollars.

DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York.

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

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the accounting standards codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such or any other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, as in effect on the date of this Base Indenture.

Global Security ” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

Guarantee ” means the guarantee of Securities of any applicable Series by each Guarantor thereof under this Indenture.

Guarantor Senior Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, at any date, whether currently existing or hereafter incurred, (a) all Obligations under the Credit Facilities; (b) all Obligations in respect of indebtedness of such Guarantor for borrowed money or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit or other similar instruments or evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument, or such indebtedness of others guaranteed by the applicable Guarantor (to the extent of the guarantee), and Capitalized Lease Obligations, unless such instrument or the instrument under which such indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that such instrument or indebtedness is not senior or superior in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Guarantee, and all renewals, extensions, modifications, amendments or refinancings thereof; and (c) all Obligations of such Guarantor under Interest Protection Agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall not include (i) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation for federal, state, local or other taxes; (ii) any indebtedness of such Guarantor owed to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company; (iii) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation in respect of any trade payable incurred for the purchase of goods or materials, or for services obtained, in the ordinary course of business; (iv) that

 

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portion of any indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that no such violation shall be deemed to exist for purposes of this clause (iv)  if the holder(s) of such indebtedness or their representative shall have received an Officers’ Certificate of the Company to the effect that the incurrence of such indebtedness does not (or, in the case of revolving credit indebtedness, that the incurrence of the entire committed amount thereof at the date on which the initial borrowing thereunder is made would not) violate this Indenture); (v) indebtedness evidenced by such Guarantor’s Guarantee of the Securities; (vi) indebtedness of such Guarantor that is expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment to any other indebtedness of such Guarantor; and (vii) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation owing under leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations).

Guarantors ” means with respect to any Series (i) the Company’s Subsidiaries signatory to the supplemental indenture or specified in the Authorizing Resolution with respect to such Series as the initial Guarantors of such Series, and (ii) each of the Company’s Subsidiaries that becomes a Guarantor of such Series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, in each case until released from its Guarantee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

Holder ” or “ Securityholder ” means the Person in whose name a Security is registered on the Registrar’s books.

Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (i) any liability of such Person (a) for borrowed money or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit or other similar instruments (other than any standby letter of credit or similar instrument issued for the account of, or any surety, performance, completion or payment bond, earnest money note or similar purpose undertaking or indemnification agreement issued or entered into by or for the account of, such Person in the ordinary course of business), (b) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument (including a purchase money obligation) given in connection with the acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind or with services incurred in connection with expenditures that constitute capital expenditures in accordance with GAAP (other than any obligation to pay a contingent purchase price as long as such obligation remains contingent), or (c) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, (ii) any Indebtedness of others described in clause (i)  above that such Person has guaranteed to the extent of the guarantee and (iii) all Indebtedness of others described in clause (i)  above secured by a Lien on any Property of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided , that the amount of the Indebtedness of such Person shall be the lessor of (a) the fair market value of such Property; and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person; provided, that Indebtedness shall not include accounts payable, liabilities to trade creditors of such Person or other accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business or obligations under Currency Agreements or Interest Protection Agreements.

Indenture ” means this Base Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time, including pursuant to any Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture pertaining to any Series, and including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture, the provisions of the TIA that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Base Indenture and any such Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture, respectively.

Interest Protection Agreement ” of any Person means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, option or futures contract or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness.

Issue Date ” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, the date on which the Securities of such Series are originally issued under this Indenture.

Lien ” means, with respect to any Property, any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, charge, hypothecation, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such Property. For purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed to own, subject to a Lien, any Property which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such Property.

Major Credit Facilities ” means, collectively, each of the Credit Facilities that provides for commitments, or has loans or other extensions of credit outstanding thereunder, in each case in excess of $50 million.

 

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Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” with respect to any Person means Indebtedness of such Person for which (i) the sole legal recourse for collection of principal and interest on such Indebtedness is against the specific Property identified in the instruments evidencing or securing such Indebtedness (and any accessions thereto and proceeds thereof) and such Property was acquired with the proceeds of such Indebtedness or such Indebtedness was incurred within 180 days after the acquisition of such Property and (ii) no other assets of such Person may be realized upon in collection of principal or interest on such Indebtedness. Indebtedness which is otherwise Non-Recourse Indebtedness will not lose its character as Non-Recourse Indebtedness because there is recourse to the borrower, any guarantor or any other Person for (i) environmental or tax warranties and indemnities and such other representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities as are customarily required in such transactions, or (ii) indemnities for and liabilities arising from fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication or non-payment of rents, profits, insurance and condemnation proceeds and other sums actually received by the borrower from secured assets to be paid to the lender, waste and mechanics’ liens.

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

Obligation ” means, with respect to any indebtedness or instrument, any principal, premium, interest (including Post-Petition Interest), penalties, fees, indemnification, reimbursements, costs, expenses, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing such indebtedness or instrument.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller or the Secretary of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

Permitted Junior Securities ” means (i) Capital Stock of the Company or any Guarantor or (ii) debt securities issued pursuant to a confirmed plan of reorganization that are subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as the case may be, that may at the time be outstanding, to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Securities and the Guarantees are subordinated as provided in this Indenture, as applicable; provided (a) such securities are not entitled to the benefits of covenants or defaults materially more beneficial to the holders of such securities than those in effect with respect to the Securities on the Issue Date and (b) such securities do not provide for amortization (including sinking fund and mandatory prepayment provisions) commencing prior to the date six months following the final scheduled maturity date of the Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as the case may be (as modified by the plan of reorganization or readjustment pursuant to which such securities are issued).

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

Post-Petition Interest ” means interest on any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness accruing subsequent to events of bankruptcy of the Company and or any Guarantor at the rate provided in the document evidencing such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the debtor in a bankruptcy case under Bankruptcy Law.

principal ” of a debt security means the principal of the security plus , when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the security.

Property ” of any Person means all types of real, personal, tangible, intangible or mixed property owned by such Person, whether or not included in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries under GAAP.

 

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Publicly Traded Debt Securities ” means any issue of debt securities of the Company or any of the Guarantors originally issued in a public offering registered with the SEC or in an offering pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and of which issue at least $50 million aggregate principal amount is outstanding.

Representative ” means, with respect to any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, any trustee, agent or other representative in respect of such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness; provided that if, and for so long as, any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness lacks such representative, then the Representative for such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall at all times constitute the holders of a majority in outstanding principal amount of such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA.

Securities ” means any Securities that are issued under this Base Indenture.

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

Senior Indebtedness ” means, at any date, whether currently existing or hereafter incurred, (a) all Obligations under the Credit Facilities; (b) all Obligations in respect of indebtedness of the Company for borrowed money or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit or other similar instruments or evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument, or such indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company (to the extent of the guarantee), and Capitalized Lease Obligations, unless such instrument or the instrument under which such indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that such instrument or indebtedness is not senior or superior in right of payment to the Securities, and all renewals, extensions, modifications, amendments or refinancings thereof; and (c) all Obligations of the Company under Interest Protection Agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Senior Indebtedness shall not include (i) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation for federal, state, local or other taxes; (ii) any indebtedness of the Company owed to any Subsidiary of the Company; (iii) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation in respect of any trade payable incurred for the purchase of goods or materials, or for services obtained, in the ordinary course of business; (iv) that portion of any indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that no such violation shall be deemed to exist for purposes of this clause (iv)  if the holder(s) of such indebtedness or their representative shall have received an Officers’ Certificate of the Company to the effect that the incurrence of such indebtedness does not (or, in the case of revolving credit indebtedness, that the incurrence of the entire committed amount thereof at the date on which the initial borrowing thereunder is made would not) violate this Indenture); (v) indebtedness evidenced by the Securities; (vi) indebtedness of the Company that is expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment to any other indebtedness of the Company; and (vii) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation owing under leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations).

Series ” means a series of Securities established under this Base Indenture.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company which would constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

Specified Obligation ” of any Person means any obligations of such Person under Currency Agreements or Interest Protection Agreements.

Subsidiary ” of any Person means any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the Capital Stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such entity or other persons performing similar functions is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person.

TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise provided herein.

 

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Trustee ” means the party named as such in this Base Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Base Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder; provided , however , that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.

Trust Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

United States ” means the United States of America.

U.S. Government Obligations ” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, which, in either case are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. government obligations or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. government obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. government obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. government obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

Section 1.02. Other Definitions .

 

Term

   Defined in Section  

Agent Members

     2.15   

Base Indenture

     Preamble   

Business Day

     13.07   

Covenant Defeasance

     8.01   

Custodian

     6.01   

Event of Default

     6.01   

Funding Guarantor

     9.05   

Guarantee

     9.01   

Guarantor Blockage Period

     12.02(a)   

Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice

     12.02(a)   

Legal Defeasance

     8.01   

Legal Holiday

     13.07   

Paying Agent

     2.03   

Payment Blockage Notice

     11.02(a)   

Payment Blockage Period

     11.02(a)   

Registrar

     2.03   

Security Register

     2.03   

Senior Officer

     4.03   

Successor

     5.01   

 

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Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“Commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities of a particular Series.

“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, each of the Guarantors, or any other obligor on the Securities of a Series or any Guarantees thereof.

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

Section 1.04. Rules of Construction .

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

  (2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP and all accounting determinations shall be made in accordance with GAAP;

 

  (3) “or” is not exclusive and “including” means “including without limitation”;

 

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

 

  (5) “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and other words of similar import, refer to this Indenture as a whole (including any Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to the relevant Series) and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

  (6) all exhibits are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part of this Indenture;

 

  (7) any transaction or event shall be considered “permitted by” or made “in accordance with” or “in compliance with” this Indenture or any particular provision thereof if such transaction or event is not expressly prohibited by this Indenture or such provision, as the case may be; and

 

  (8) including for purposes of Section 4.07(a) and (b)  and the definitions of “Senior Indebtedness” and “Guarantor Senior Indebtedness,” no Indebtedness or other obligation will be deemed to be subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness or obligation solely by virtue of being unsecured or secured by a junior priority lien or by virtue of the fact that the holders of such Indebtedness or other obligation have entered into intercreditor agreements or other arrangements giving one or more of such holders priority over the other holders in the collateral held by them, including intercreditor agreements that contain customary provisions requiring turnover by holders of junior prior liens of proceeds of collateral in the event that the security interests in favor of the holders of the senior priority in such intended collateral are not perfected or invalidated and similar customary provisions protecting the holders of senior priority liens.

 

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ARTICLE TWO

THE SECURITIES

Section 2.01. Form and Dating .

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be issued under this Base Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more Series. Each Series shall be created by an Authorizing Resolution or a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of the Series, which may include the following:

 

  (1) the title of the Series;

 

  (2) the aggregate principal amount (or any limit on the aggregate principal amount) of the Series and, if any Securities of a Series are to be issued at a discount from their face amount, the method of computing the accretion of such discount;

 

  (3) the interest rate or method of calculation of the interest rate;

 

  (4) the date from which interest will accrue;

 

  (5) the record dates for interest payable on Securities of the Series;

 

  (6) the dates when, places where and manner in which principal and interest are payable;

 

  (7) the Registrar and Paying Agent;

 

  (8) the terms of any mandatory (including any sinking fund requirements) or optional redemption by the Company;

 

  (9) the terms of any redemption at the option of Holders;

 

  (10) the permissible denominations in which Securities of such Series are issuable, if different from $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

  (11) whether Securities of such Series will be issued in registered or bearer form and the terms of any such forms of Securities;

 

  (12) whether the Securities of the Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions, if different from those contained in this Base Indenture, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for Definitive Securities; the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities; the form of any legend or legends, if any, to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legends referred to in Section 2.15 ;

 

  (13) the currency or currencies (including any composite currency) in which principal or interest or both may be paid;

 

  (14) if payments of principal or interest may be made in a currency other than that in which Securities of such Series are denominated, the manner for determining such payments;

 

  (15) provisions for electronic issuance of Securities or issuance of Securities of such Series in uncertificated form;

 

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  (16) any Events of Default, covenants and/or defined terms in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in this Base Indenture;

 

  (17) whether and upon what terms Securities of such Series may be defeased or discharged if different from the provisions set forth in this Base Indenture;

 

  (18) the form of the Securities of such Series, which, unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture otherwise provides, shall be in the form of Exhibit A ;

 

  (19) any terms that may be required by or advisable under applicable law;

 

  (20) the percentage of the principal amount of the Securities of such Series which is payable if the maturity of the Securities of such Series is accelerated in the case of Securities issued at a discount from their face amount;

 

  (21) whether Securities of such Series will or will not have the benefit of Guarantees and the Company’s Subsidiaries that will be the initial Guarantors of such Series;

 

  (22) whether the Securities of the Series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other Securities, common shares or other securities of any kind of the Company or another obligor, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the Company’s option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in relation thereto; and

 

  (23) any other terms in addition to or different from those contained in this Base Indenture applicable to such Series.

All Securities of one Series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a Series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such Series pursuant to an Authorizing Resolution, an Officers’ Certificate or in any indenture supplemental hereto.

The creation and issuance of a Series and the authentication and delivery thereof are not subject to any conditions precedent.

Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication .

One Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. Each Guarantor shall execute the Guarantee in the manner set forth in Section 9.07 .

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

A Security shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Base Indenture.

The Trustee shall authenticate Securities for original issue upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate of the Company. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

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Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent .

The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“ Registrar ”), an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (“ Paying Agent ”) and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange (the “ Security Register ”). The Company may have one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Base Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such Agent and the Trustee shall have the right to inspect the Securities Register at all reasonable times to obtain copies thereof, and the Trustee shall have the right to rely upon such register as to the names and addresses of the Holders and the principal amounts and certificate numbers thereof. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent.

Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .

Each Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Securityholders and the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon doing so the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money.

Section 2.05. Securityholder 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 Securityholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least five (5) Business Days before each semiannual 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 Securityholders.

Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange .

Where a Security is presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of Section 8-401(a) of the NYUCC are met and the other provisions of this Section 2.06 are satisfied. Where Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Security selected for redemption or repurchase, except the unredeemed or repurchased part thereof if the Security is redeemed or repurchased in part, or transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or repurchased. Any exchange or transfer shall be without charge, except that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto except in the case of exchanges pursuant to 2.09 , 3.06 , or 10.05 not involving any transfer.

Any Holder of a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such Global Security, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security may be effected only through a book entry system maintained by the Holder of such Global Security (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Security shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

 

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Section 2.07. Replacement Securities .

If the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed, mutilated or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and execute a replacement security, the Guarantors shall execute the related Guarantee and, upon written request of any Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate such replacement Security, provided , in the case of a lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Security, that the requirements of Section 8-405 of the NYUCC are met. If any such lost, destroyed, mutilated or wrongfully taken Security shall have matured or shall be about to mature, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security therefor, pay such Security without requiring (except in the case of a mutilated Security) the surrender thereof. An indemnity bond must be sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee and any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced, including the acquisition of such Security by a bona fide purchaser. The Company and the Trustee may charge for its expenses in replacing a Security.

Section 2.08. Outstanding Securities .

Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it and those described in this Section. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company, any Guarantor or one of their Affiliates holds the Security.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 , it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a “protected purchaser” (as such term is defined in the NYUCC).

If the Paying Agent holds on a redemption date, purchase date or maturity date money sufficient to pay Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

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

Section 2.09. Temporary Securities .

Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and, upon surrender for cancellation of the temporary Security, the Company and the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section 2.10. Cancellation .

The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and destroy, or retain in accordance with its standard retention policy, all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase, payment or cancellation. Unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture so provides, the Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has previously paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

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Section 2.11. Defaulted Interest .

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities of any Series, it shall pay the defaulted interest plus any interest payable on the defaulted interest to the persons who are Securityholders of such Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix such special record date and a payment date which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. At least 15 days before such special record date, the Company shall mail to each Securityholder of the relevant Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid. On or before the date such notice is mailed, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the amount of defaulted interest to be so paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Section 2.12. Treasury Securities .

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any direction, waiver, consent or notice, Securities owned by the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective Affiliates shall be considered as though they are not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so considered.

Section 2.13. CUSIP/ISIN Numbers .

The Company in issuing the Securities of any Series may use a “CUSIP” and/or “ISIN” or other similar number, and if so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders of such Securities; provided that no representation is hereby deemed to be made by the Trustee as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number printed in the notice or on such Securities, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on such Securities. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in any CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number.

Section 2.14. Deposit of Moneys .

Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on each interest payment date and maturity date with respect to each Series of Securities, the Company shall have deposited with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds money sufficient to make cash payments due on such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be, in a timely manner which permits the Paying Agent to remit payment to the Holders of such Series on such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be.

Section 2.15. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Security .

(a) Any Global Security of a Series initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of such Depositary, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary and (iii) bear any required legends.

Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“ Agent Members ”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Security.

(b) Transfers of any Global Security shall be limited to transfers in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Security may be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Securities in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary. In addition, Definitive Securities shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Security if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Security and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue Definitive Securities.

 

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(c) In connection with any transfer or exchange of a portion of the beneficial interest in any Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b) , the Registrar shall (if one or more Definitive Securities are to be issued) reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Security to be transferred, and the Company and the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Definitive Securities of like Series and amount.

(d) In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b) , the Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company and the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Securities of the same Series in authorized denominations.

(e) The Holder of any Global Security 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 Securities of such Series.

(f) Unless otherwise provided in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture for a particular Series of Securities, each Global Security of such Series shall bear legends in substantially the following forms:

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

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

 

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ARTICLE THREE

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee .

Securities of a Series that are redeemable prior to maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and, unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture provides otherwise, in accordance with this Article.

If the Company wants to redeem Securities pursuant to Paragraph 4 of the Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to Holders. Any such cancelled notice shall be void and of no effect.

If the Company wants to credit any Securities previously redeemed, retired or acquired against any redemption pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the amount of the credit and it shall deliver any Securities not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation with such notice.

The Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section 3.01 at least 30 days before the notice of any such redemption is to be mailed to Holders (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).

Section 3.02. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed .

If fewer than all of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed by a method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate and in a manner that complies with applicable requirements of the Depositary. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities outstanding not previously called for redemption and shall promptly notify the Company of the serial numbers or other identifying attributes of the Securities so selected. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities that have denominations larger than the minimum denomination for the Series. Securities and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts equal to a permissible denomination for the Series. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption.

Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption .

At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.

The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:

 

  (1) the redemption date;

 

  (2) the redemption price or the formula pursuant to which such price will be calculated;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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  (6) that interest on Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; and

 

  (7) that the Securities are being redeemed pursuant to the mandatory redemption or the optional redemption provisions, as applicable.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided , however , that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee at least 15 days prior to the date on which notice of redemption is to be mailed or such shorter period as may be satisfactory to the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption .

Once notice of redemption is mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price as set forth in the notice of redemption. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price .

On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent immediately available funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.

Section 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part .

Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Company and the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for each Holder a new Security of the same Series equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

ARTICLE FOUR

COVENANTS

Section 4.01. Payment of Securities .

The Company shall pay the principal of and interest on a Series on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities of the Series. An installment of principal or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Paying Agent holds on that date money designated for and sufficient to pay the installment.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Series; it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate.

Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency .

The Company shall maintain the office or agency required under Section 2.03 . The Company shall give prior written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee.

Section 4.03. Compliance Certificate .

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company an Officers’ Certificate stating whether or not the signers know of any continuing Default by the Company in performing any of its obligations under this Indenture. If they do know of such a Default, the certificate shall describe the Default.

 

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The Company shall, so long as any Securities are outstanding under this Indenture, deliver to the Trustee written notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days after a Senior Officer of the Company obtains knowledge of such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. A “ Senior Officer ” of the Company means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or Chief Legal Officer of the Company.

Section 4.04. Payment of Taxes; Maintenance of Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties .

The Company will:

(a) cause to be paid and discharged all lawful taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon the Company and the Guarantors or upon the income or profits of the Company and the Guarantors or upon Property or any part thereof belonging to the Company and the Guarantors before the same shall be in default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might become a lien or charge upon such Property or any part thereof; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the nonpayment thereof does not, in the judgment of the Company, materially adversely affect the ability of the Company and the Guarantors to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due; and provided further that the Company shall not be required to cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim if, in the judgment of the Company, such payment shall not be advantageous to the Company in the conduct of its business and if the failure so to pay or discharge does not, in its judgment, materially adversely affect the ability of the Company and the Guarantors to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due;

(b) cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate existence of the Company and each of the Guarantors and to comply with all applicable laws; provided , however , that nothing in this paragraph (b)  shall prevent a consolidation or merger of the Company or any Guarantor not prohibited by the provisions of Article Five , Article Nine or any other provision of this Indenture pertaining to a Series, and the Company may discontinue the corporate existence of any Guarantor, or fail to comply with any such applicable laws, if, in the Company’s judgment, such discontinuance or non-compliance does not materially adversely affect the ability of the Company and the Guarantors to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due; and

(c) at all times keep, maintain and preserve all the Property of the Company and the Guarantors in good repair, working order and condition (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and from time to time make all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereto, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided , however , that nothing in this paragraph (c)  shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of any such properties if such discontinuance, in the judgment of the Company, does not materially adversely affect the ability of the Company and the Guarantors to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due.

Section 4.05. Additional Guarantors .

If (a) any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor shall guarantee any (i) Indebtedness of the Company outstanding under any of the Major Credit Facilities or (ii) Publicly Traded Debt Securities, or (b) the Company elects to add any Subsidiary as a Guarantor, then such Subsidiary shall (i) execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s obligations under the Securities of each Series (other than a Series that, pursuant to the applicable supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution, does not have the benefit of Guarantees of other Subsidiaries of the Company) and under this Indenture (as it relates to all such Series) on the terms set forth in this Indenture and (ii) deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary and constitutes a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Subsidiary. Thereafter, such Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of this Indenture (as it relates to all such Series) until it is released from its obligations as a Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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Section 4.06. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws .

The Company and the Guarantors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Company or any Guarantor from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any Series as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) the Company and each of the Guarantors expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

Section 4.07. Limitation on Senior Subordinated Indebtedness .

(a) The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness or Specified Obligation that is or purports to be by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness or Specified Obligation) expressly senior in right of payment to the Securities of any Series and expressly subordinate in right of payment to any Senior Indebtedness or other obligation of the Company.

(b) The Company shall not permit any Guarantor to, and no Guarantor shall, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness or Specified Obligation that is or purports to be by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness or Specified Obligation) expressly senior in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor of Securities of any Series and expressly rank subordinate in right of payment to any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or other obligation of such Guarantor.

ARTICLE FIVE

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

Section 5.01. When Company May Merge, etc .

Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (including by way of liquidation or dissolution), to any Person (in each case other than in a transaction in which the Company or a Guarantor is the survivor of a consolidation or merger, or the transferee in a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition) unless:

(1) the Person formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be), or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition will be made (collectively, the “ Successor ”), is a corporation or other legal entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor assumes by supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee all of the obligations of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, under the Securities or a Guarantee, as the case may be, and the Indenture, and

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

The foregoing provisions shall not apply to:

(A) the consolidation or merger of a Guarantor, or the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Guarantor, which under the provisions of Section 9.03 or the other provisions of this Indenture, results in such Guarantor being released from its Guarantee or the Successor not being required to become a Guarantor, as the case may be, or

 

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(B) a transaction the purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of the Company or any Guarantor.

Upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the Successor will be substituted for the Company or the relevant Guarantor under the Indenture. The Successor may then exercise every power and right of the Company or the relevant Guarantor under this Indenture, and except in the case of a lease, the Company or the relevant Guarantor will be released from all of its liabilities and obligations in respect of the Securities, the Guarantee and the Indenture. If the Company or a Guarantor leases all or substantially all of its assets the Company or such Guarantor will not be released from its obligations to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities or the Guarantee, as applicable.

ARTICLE SIX

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01. Events of Default .

An “ Event of Default ” on a Series occurs if, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by operation of law or otherwise, any of the following occurs:

 

  (1) the failure by the Company to pay interest on any Security of such Series when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for a period of 30 days (whether or not such payment is prohibited by Article Eleven or Article Twelve hereof);

 

  (2) the failure by the Company to pay the principal or premium of any Security of such Series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise (whether or not such payment is prohibited by Article Eleven or Article Twelve hereof);

 

  (3) the failure by the Company or any Guarantor to comply with any of its agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the Securities of such Series, the Guarantees (as they relate thereto) or this Indenture (as they relate thereto) and such failure continues for the period and after the notice specified below (except in the case of a default with respect to Article Five (or any other provision specified in the applicable supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution), which will constitute Events of Default with notice but without passage of time);

 

  (4) the acceleration of any Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any Guarantor that has an outstanding principal amount of $50 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, and such acceleration does not cease to exist, or such Indebtedness is not satisfied, in either case within 30 days after such acceleration;

 

  (5) the failure by the Company or any Guarantor to make any principal or interest payment in an amount of $50 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, in respect of Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any Guarantor within 30 days of such principal or interest becoming due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace period set forth in the documents governing such Indebtedness);

 

  (6) the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

  (A) commences a voluntary case,

 

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

 

  (C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its Property, or

 

  (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

 

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

 

  (A) is for relief against the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary as debtor in an involuntary case,

 

  (B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the Property of the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, or

 

  (C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary,

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

 

  (8) any Guarantee of a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Guarantee and this Indenture) or is declared null and void and unenforceable or found to be invalid or any Guarantor denies its liability under its Guarantee (other than by reason of release of a Guarantor from its Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Guarantee).

A Default as described in subclause (3)  above will not be deemed an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of the applicable Series notify the Company and the Trustee, of the Default and (except in the case of a default with respect to Article Five (or any other provision specified in the applicable supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution)) the Company does not cure the Default within 60 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.” If such a Default is cured within such time period, it ceases to exist, without any action by the Trustee or any other Person.

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

Section 6.02. Acceleration .

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to the Company resulting from subclause (6)  or (7)  above), shall have occurred and be continuing under the Indenture, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series then outstanding by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare all Securities of such Series to be due and payable immediately. Upon such declaration of acceleration, the amounts due and payable on the Securities of such Series will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default with respect to the Company specified in subclauses (6)  or (7)  above occurs, all amounts due and payable on the Securities of such Series will ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the Trustee and the Company or any Holder.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may rescind an acceleration with respect to such Series and its consequence (except an acceleration due to nonpayment of principal or interest) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (other than the non-payment of accelerated principal) have been cured or waived.

 

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No such rescission shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Event of Default, or shall impair any right or power consequent thereon.

Section 6.03. Other Remedies .

If an Event of Default on a Series 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 interest on the Series or to enforce the performance of any provision in the Securities or this Indenture applicable to the Series.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Securityholder 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. To the extent permitted by law, all available remedies are cumulative.

Section 6.04. Waiver of Existing Defaults .

Subject to Section 10.02 , the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series on behalf of all the Holders of the Series by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default on such Series and its consequences. When a Default is waived, it is cured and stops continuing, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.05. Control by Majority .

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it with respect to such Series. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction (i) that conflicts with law or this Indenture, (ii) that, subject to Section 7.01 , the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Securityholders, (iii) that would involve the Trustee in personal liability, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it, or (iv) if the Trustee shall not have been provided with indemnity satisfactory to it.

Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits .

A Securityholder of a Series may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Series unless:

 

  (1) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default on the Series;

 

  (2) the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of the Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

  (3) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

  (4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity; and

 

  (5) no written request inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.06 .

A Securityholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of Securities of the same Series or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of Securities of the same Series.

 

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Section 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment .

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on any Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, is absolute and unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.

Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee .

If an Event of Default in payment of interest or principal specified in Section 6.01(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 Company for the whole amount of principal and interest remaining unpaid.

Section 6.09. 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 Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, any Guarantor or their respective creditors or Property, and unless prohibited by applicable law or regulation, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a Custodian, and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any moneys or other Property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payments to the Trustee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder except as aforesaid for the election of the Custodian.

Section 6.10. Priorities .

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article with respect to Securities of any Series, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

  First : to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07 ;

 

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

 

  Third : to the Company or the Guarantors as their interests may appear.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section 6.10 .

Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs .

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having the due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Series.

 

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ARTICLE SEVEN

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee .

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall, prior to the receipt of directions from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the Series, exercise its rights and powers and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(1) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

(2) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee, however, shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts or matters stated therein.

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own 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.

(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 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 6.05 or any other direction of the Holders permitted hereunder.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a) , (b)  and (c)  of this Section.

(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

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Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee .

Subject to Section 7.01 :

(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting on any document, resolution, certificate, instrument, report, or direction 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, resolution, certificate, instrument, report, or direction.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both, which shall conform to Sections 13.04 and 13.05 hereof and containing such other statements as the Trustee reasonably deems necessary to perform its duties hereunder. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or any other direction of the Company permitted hereunder.

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company or a Guarantor shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company or a Guarantor.

(g) For all purposes under this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Event of Default (other than under Section 6.01(1) or 6.01(2) ) unless a Trust Officer assigned to and working in the Trustee’s corporate trust office has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any Event of Default is received by the Trustee at its address specified in Section 13.02 hereof and such notice references the Securities generally, the Company or this Indenture.

Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee .

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Guarantor or their affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee, however, must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11 .

Section 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer .

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Securities or of any prospectus used to sell the Securities of any Series; it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities; it shall not be accountable for any money paid to the Company, or upon the Company’s direction, if made under and in accordance with any provision of this Indenture; it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee; and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company or any Guarantor in this Indenture or in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults .

If a Default on a Series occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Series notice of the Default (which shall specify any uncured Default known to it) within 90 days after it occurs, provided that in the case of any Default specified in Section 6.01(4) or (5) , no such notice to Securityholders shall be given until at least the end of the 30 day grace period referred to therein. Except in the case of a default in payment of principal of or interest on a Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the board of directors of the Trustee, the executive or any trust committee of such directors and/or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determine(s) that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of the Series.

 

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Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders .

Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Base Indenture, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(1) through (8) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date no report in relation thereto need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b).

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders shall be delivered to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee of each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed.

Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity .

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services subject to any written agreement between the Trustee and the Company. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee, its officers, directors, employees and agents and hold it harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred or made by or on behalf of it in connection with the administration of this Indenture or the trust hereunder and its duties hereunder including the costs and expenses of defending itself against or investigating any claim in the premises. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s, or its officers’, directors’, employees’ or agents’ negligence or bad faith.

Unless otherwise provided in any supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution relating to any Series, to ensure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities of all Series on all money or Property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of or interest on particular Securities. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 or in connection with Article Six hereof, the expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for services in connection therewith are to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee .

The Trustee may resign with respect to Securities of any or all Series by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities (or of the relevant Series) may remove the Trustee by so notifying the removed Trustee in writing and may appoint a successor trustee with the Company’s consent. Such resignation or removal shall not take effect until the appointment by the Securityholders of the relevant Series or the Company as hereinafter provided of a successor trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor trustee. The Company may remove the Trustee and any Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee for any or no reason, including if:

 

  (1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 after written request by the Company or any bona fide Securityholder who has been a Securityholder for at least six months;

 

  (2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent;

 

  (3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its Property; or

 

  (4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

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If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of the relevant Series. If a successor trustee does not take office within 45 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or any Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee.

A successor trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all Property held by it as Trustee to the successor trustee, 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. A successor trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each Securityholder.

Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges with or into or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor trustee.

Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification .

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $10,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).

Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

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

ARTICLE EIGHT

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

Section 8.01. Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations .

(a) The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either paragraph (b)  or paragraph (c)  below be applied to the outstanding Securities of any Series upon compliance with the applicable conditions set forth in paragraph (d) .

(b) Upon the Company’s exercise under paragraph (a)  of the option applicable to this paragraph (b)  with respect to any Series, the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been released and discharged from their respective obligations with respect to the outstanding Securities of the Series on the date the applicable conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities of a Series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of the Sections and matters under this Indenture referred to in (i) and (ii) below, and the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned, except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities of a Series to receive solely from the trust fund described in paragraph (d)  below and as more fully set forth in such paragraph, payments in respect of the principal of and interest on such Securities when such payments are due and (ii) obligations listed in Section 8.02 , subject to compliance with this Section 8.01 . The Company may exercise its option under this paragraph (b)  with respect to a Series notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under paragraph (c)  below with respect to the Securities of the Series.

 

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(c) Upon the Company’s exercise under paragraph (a)  of the option applicable to this paragraph (c)  with respect to a Series, the Company and the Guarantors shall be released and discharged from the obligations under any covenant contained in Article Five and Sections 4.04 (but only to the extent it applies to Guarantors), 4.05 and any other covenant contained in or referenced in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to such Series (to the extent such release and discharge shall not be prohibited thereby), on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Securities of such Series shall thereafter be deemed to be not “outstanding” for the purpose of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities of a Series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01(3) or otherwise, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

(d) The following shall be the conditions to application of either paragraph (b)  or paragraph (c)  above to the outstanding Securities of the applicable Series:

(1) The Company shall have irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee (or another qualifying trustee), pursuant to an irrevocable trust and security agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, money in U.S. dollars or U.S. government obligations or a combination thereof in such amounts and at such times as are sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series to maturity or redemption; provided , however , that the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) shall have received an irrevocable written order from the Company instructing the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to apply such money or the proceeds of such U.S. government obligations to said payments with respect to the Securities of such Series to maturity or redemption;

(2) No Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from non-compliance with any covenant from which the Company and the Guarantors are released upon effectiveness of such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance pursuant to paragraph (b)  or (c)  hereof, as applicable) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or result therefrom;

(3) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or other material instrument or agreement to which the Company or any of any of the Guarantors is a party or by which it or any of their Property is bound;

(4) (i) In the event the Company elects paragraph (b)  hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to the effect that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the Issue Date pertaining to such Series, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall state that, or (ii) in the event the Company elects paragraph (c)  hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to the effect that, in the case of clauses (i)  and (ii) , and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and the defeasance contemplated hereby and will be subject to federal income tax in the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

(5) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, stating that the deposit under clause (1)  was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or any Guarantor or others;

 

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(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that, assuming no intervening bankruptcy of the Company or any Guarantor between the date of deposit and the 123 rd day following the deposit and assuming that no Holder is an “insider” of the Company under applicable Bankruptcy Law, after the 123 rd day following the deposit, the trust funds shall not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any analogous New York State law provision; and

(7) The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent specified herein relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 8.01 have been complied with.

In the event all or any portion of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed through such irrevocable trust, the Company must make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the time of such deposit, for the giving of the notice of such redemption or redemptions by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

(e) In addition to the Company’s rights above under this Section 8.01 , the Company may terminate all of its obligations under this Indenture with respect to a Series, and the obligations of the Guarantors shall terminate with respect to such Series (subject to Section 8.02 ), when:

(1) All Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (A) have become due and payable, (B) will become due and payable at maturity within one year or (C) 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, and in each such case, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another qualifying trustee) as trust funds in trust solely for that purpose an amount in U.S. dollars or U.S. government obligations or a combination thereof sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of and interest on the Securities of such Series, on the date of such deposit or to the maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;

(2) The Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company;

(3) The Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee (or such other qualifying trustee), to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Securities of such Series at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; and

(4) The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, stating that all conditions precedent specified in this Section 8.01(e) relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

Section 8.02. Survival of the Company’s Obligations .

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture under Section 8.01 , the Company’s obligations in Paragraph 9 of the Securities and Sections 2.03 through 2.07 , 4.01 , 7.07 , 7.08 , 8.04 and 8.05 , however, shall survive until the Securities of an applicable Series are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Paragraph 9 of the Securities of such Series and Sections 7.07 , 8.04 and 8.05 shall survive (as they relate to such Series).

 

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Section 8.03. Application of Trust Money .

The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. government obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.01 . It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. government obligations in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of the defeased Series.

Section 8.04. Repayment to the Company .

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of New York or mail to each such Holder notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company. After payment to the Company, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company or any Guarantor for payment as general creditors unless applicable abandoned property law designates another person and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.

Section 8.05. Reinstatement .

If the Trustee is unable to apply any money or U.S. government obligations in accordance with Section 8.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and each Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities relating to the Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.01 until such time as the Trustee is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. government obligations in accordance with Section 8.01 ; provided , however , that (a) if the Company or any Guarantor has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities of the Series because of the reinstatement of its obligations hereunder, the Company or Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. government obligations held by the Trustee and (b) unless otherwise required by any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee shall return all such money or U.S. government obligations to the Company promptly after receiving a written request therefor at any time, if such reinstatement of the Company’s or Guarantor’s obligations has occurred and continues to be in effect.

ARTICLE NINE

GUARANTEES

Section 9.01. Unconditional Guarantees .

Subject to any other provisions set forth in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to a particular Series, each Guarantor unconditionally, jointly and severally, guarantees (each such guarantee to be referred to herein as the “ Guarantee ”) to each Holder of Securities of such Series authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, that: (i) the principal of and interest on the Securities of such Series will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise and interest on the overdue principal, if any, and interest on any interest of the Securities of such Series and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder, except obligations to pay principal of and interest on any other Series not so guaranteed, will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Securities of such Series or of any such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, subject, however, in the case of clauses (i)  and (ii)  above, to the limitations set forth in Section 9.04 . Each Guarantor agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Securities of such Series or this

 

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Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Securities of such Series with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that, subject to Section 9.03 , this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Securities of the applicable Series, this Indenture and in this Guarantee. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, any Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or any Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Six for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article Six , such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Guarantor for the purpose of this Guarantee.

Section 9.02. Severability .

In case any provision of this Guarantee 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 9.03. Release of a Guarantor .

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, in the event of (i) the sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of any Guarantor if as a result of such disposition, such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor (other than to the Company or another Guarantor), (iii) a merger or consolidation of a Guarantor with a Person other than the Company or another Guarantor, or (iv) a Guarantor ceasing to guarantee any (a) Indebtedness of the Company outstanding under any of the Major Credit Facilities and (b) Publicly Traded Debt Securities, then such Guarantor (in the case of clauses (i) , (ii)  and (iv)  above) will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all obligations under this Article Nine , the other provisions of this Indenture and the Securities and the Person acquiring such assets (in the case of clauses (ii)  and (iii)  above) shall not be required to assume the Guarantor’s obligations under this Article Nine , the other provisions of this Indenture and the Securities or otherwise become a Guarantor, in each case without any further action required on the part of the Trustee, any Holder, the Company or any Guarantor; provided that such sale, disposition or other transaction is otherwise in compliance with this Indenture.

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially assets of a Guarantor to the Company or another Guarantor. Upon any such consolidation, merger, or disposition, the Guarantee given by such Guarantor shall no longer have any force or effect.

The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any such release upon receipt of a request by the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying as to the compliance with this Section 9.03 .

Any Guarantor not released in accordance with this Section 9.03 remains liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Securities as provided in this Article Nine , except as provided in Article Eight .

 

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Section 9.04. Limitation of a Guarantor’s Liability .

Each Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and such Guarantor irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee shall 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 Section 9.05 , result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting such fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

Section 9.05. Contribution .

In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Guarantor (a “ Funding Guarantor ”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from all other Guarantors in a pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of each Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to any Securities or any other Guarantor’s obligations with respect to its Guarantee. “Adjusted Net Assets” of such Guarantor at any date shall mean the lesser of the amount by which (x) the fair value of the Property of such Guarantor exceeds the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date and after giving effect to any collection from any other Subsidiary of the Guarantor in respect of the obligations of its Guarantee), but excluding liabilities under the Guarantee, of such Guarantor at such date and (y) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Guarantor at such date exceeds the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Guarantor on its debts (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date and after giving effect to any collection from any other Subsidiary of the Company in respect of the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee), excluding debt in respect of the Guarantee of such Guarantor, as they become absolute and matured.

Section 9.06. Waiver of Subrogation .

Until all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture and with respect to all Securities of an applicable Series are paid in full, each Guarantor irrevocably waives any claim or other rights which it may now or hereafter acquire against the Company that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of such Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee and this Indenture, including any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, indemnification, and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of any Holder of Securities of the applicable Series against the Company, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity, or under contract, statute or common law, including the right to take or receive from the Company, directly or indirectly, in cash or other Property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim or other rights. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence and the Securities of the applicable Series shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall have been deemed to have been paid to such Guarantor for the benefit of, and held in trust for the benefit of, the Holders of the Securities of the applicable Series, and shall forthwith be paid to the Trustee for the benefit of such Holders to be credited and applied upon the Securities of the applicable Series, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the waiver set forth in this Section 9.06 is knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

Section 9.07. Execution of Guarantee .

To evidence their guarantee to the Holders set forth in this Article Nine with respect to any Series, the Guarantors shall execute the Guarantee in substantially the form included in Exhibit A or in any such other form set forth in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture pertaining to the applicable Series, which shall be endorsed on each Security ordered to be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee. Each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee set forth in this Article Nine shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse

 

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on each Security a notation of such Guarantee. Each such Guarantee shall be signed on behalf of each Guarantor by one Officer (who shall, in each case, have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate or other actions) shall attest to such Guarantee prior to the authentication of the Security on which it is endorsed, and the delivery of such Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of such Guarantee on behalf of such Guarantor. Such signature upon the Guarantee may be by manual or facsimile signature of such officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Guarantee, and in case any such officer who shall have signed the Guarantee shall cease to be such officer before the Security on which such Guarantee is endorsed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Company, such Security nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed the Guarantee had not ceased to be such officer of the Guarantor.

ARTICLE TEN

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

Section 10.01. Without Consent of Holders .

The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of a Series without notice to or consent of any Securityholder of such Series:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(2) to comply with Article Five ;

(3) to provide that specific provisions of this Indenture shall not apply to a Series not previously issued or to make a change to specific provisions of this Indenture that only applies to any Series not previously issued or to additional Securities of a Series not previously issued;

(4) to create a Series and establish its terms;

(5) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

(6) to release a Guarantor in respect of any Series which, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture applicable to the particular Series, ceases to be liable in respect of its Guarantee;

(7) to add a Guarantor in respect of any Series;

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

(9) to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of Securityholders.

After an amendment under this Section 10.01 becomes effective, the Company shall mail notice of such amendment to the Securityholders.

Section 10.02. With Consent of Holders .

The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of a Series with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by the amendment (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such Series). Each such Series shall vote as a separate class. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of the Securities of such Series or of this Indenture relating to such Series (including any waiver granted in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such

 

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Series). Without the consent of each Holder of a Security affected thereby, however, an amendment, supplement or waiver, including a waiver pursuant to Section 6.04 , may not:

 

  (1) reduce the amount of Securities of the relevant Series whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

  (2) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest, on any Security;

 

  (3) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Security or alter the provisions (including related definitions) with respect to redemption of any Security pursuant to Article Three hereof;

 

  (4) modify the ranking or priority of the Securities of the relevant Series or any Guarantee thereof or amend or modify the definition of Senior Indebtedness and Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or amend or modify Article Eleven or Article Twelve in any manner adverse to the Holders of such Securities;

 

  (5) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Guarantee or this Indenture otherwise than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

 

  (6) make any change in Sections 6.04 , 6.07 or this Section 10.02 ;

 

  (7) waive a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security; or

 

  (8) make any Security payable at a place or in money other than that stated in the Security, or impair the right of any Securityholder to bring suit as permitted by Section 6.07 .

An amendment of a provision included solely for the benefit of one or more Series does not affect the interests of Securityholders of any other Series.

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

No amendment of, or supplement or waiver to, this Indenture shall adversely affect the rights of any holder of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness under Article Eleven or Article Twelve (including related definitions), without the consent of the Representative of such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

Section 10.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act .

Every amendment to or supplement of this Indenture or any Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 10.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents .

A consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver by a Holder shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. Unless otherwise provided in the consent or the consent solicitation statement or other document describing the terms of the consent, any Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Security or portion of a Security. Any revocation of a consent by the Holder of a Security or any such subsequent Holder shall be effective only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate from the Company certifying that the requisite number of consents have been received.

 

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The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any Series entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If a record date is fixed, and if Holders otherwise have a right to revoke their consent under the consent or the consent solicitation statement or other document describing the terms of the consent, then notwithstanding the second to last sentence of 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 revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date.

An amendment, supplement or waiver with respect to a Series becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Company or the Trustee of the requisite consents, (ii) satisfaction of any conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment, supplement or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver (or the related supplemental indenture) by the Company and the Trustee. After an amendment, supplement or waiver with respect to a Series becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of such Series, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1)  through (8)  of Section 10.02 , in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind a Holder of a Security who is affected thereby only if it has consented to such amendment, supplement or waiver and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security; provided that no such waiver shall impair or affect the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on a Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates without the consent of such Holder.

Section 10.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities .

If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Company may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee, at which time the Trustee shall place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms.

Section 10.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

Subject to Section 7.02(b) , the Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, that it is not inconsistent herewith, and that it will be valid and binding upon the Company and any Guarantors in accordance with its terms.

Section 10.07. Notice of Supplemental Indenture .

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 10.02 , the Company shall transmit to the Holders of outstanding Securities of any Series affected thereby a notice setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture; provided that a filing of the supplemental indenture or a description thereof in a filing by the Company with the SEC pursuant to EDGAR or successor system shall satisfy this requirement. Failure to send such notice will not impair the validity of such supplemental indenture.

 

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ARTICLE ELEVEN

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.01. Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness .

The Company covenants and agrees, and the Trustee and each Holder of the Securities by his acceptance thereof likewise covenant and agree, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article Eleven ; and each person holding any Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees that all payments of the principal of and interest on the Securities by the Company shall, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article Eleven , be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance of such Securities acknowledges and agrees that the following subordination provisions in this Article Eleven are, and are intended to be, an inducement and consideration to each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the issuance of such Securities, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior Indebtedness, and such holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.

Section 11.02. No Payment on Securities in Certain Circumstances .

(a) No direct or indirect payment by or on behalf of the Company of principal or premium of, or interest on or to purchase, redeem or defease the Securities, whether pursuant to the terms of the Securities, upon acceleration or otherwise, shall be made if, at the time of such payment, there exists a default in the payment of all or any portion of the obligations on any Senior Indebtedness, whether at maturity, on account of mandatory redemption or prepayment or purchase, acceleration or otherwise, that continues beyond any applicable period of grace, and such default shall not have been cured or waived or the benefits of this sentence waived by or on behalf of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness. In addition, during the continuance of any non-payment event of default with respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be immediately accelerated, and upon receipt by the Trustee of written notice (a “ Payment Blockage Notice “) from the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, then no direct or indirect payment shall be made by or on behalf of the Company of principal or premium of, or interest on or to purchase, redeem or defease the Securities, during a period (a “ Payment Blockage Period “) commencing on the date of receipt of such notice by the Trustee and ending on the earliest of (1) the date on which all such non-payment events of default are cured or waived, (2) 179 days after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received and (3) the date on which the Trustee receives notice from the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness rescinding the Payment Blockage Notice, unless the maturity of any Designated Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated.

Notwithstanding anything in this subordination provision or in the Securities to the contrary, (x) in no event shall a Payment Blockage Period extend beyond 179 days from the date the Payment Blockage Notice in respect thereof was given, (y) there shall be a period of at least 181 consecutive days in each 360-day period when no Payment Blockage Period is in effect and (z) not more than one Payment Blockage Period may be commenced with respect to the Securities during any period of 360 consecutive days. However, if the Payment Blockage Notice is not given on behalf of creditors under a Credit Facility, the Representative of such Credit Facility may, subject to the limitations set forth in clause (y)  of the preceding sentence, give one additional notice during the Payment Blockage Period. No non-payment event of default that existed or was continuing on the date of commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness initiating such Payment Blockage Period may be, or be made, the basis for the commencement of any other Payment Blockage Period by the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such event of default has been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days. Any (i) subsequent action that causes a default pursuant to any provision that was previously the subject of a Payment Blockage Notice, or (ii) breach of any financial covenant for a period ending after a period as to which a breach previously occurred that was the subject of a Payment Blockage Notice, will constitute a new default for this purpose.

 

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(b) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by Section 11.02(a) , such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness ( pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that, upon notice from the Trustee to the holders of Senior Indebtedness that such prohibited payment has been made, the Representative of the Senior Indebtedness notify the Trustee in writing of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness, if any, and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

(c) The foregoing Section  11.02(a) and (b)  shall not apply to (i) issuances of Permitted Junior Securities or (ii) payments and distributions made from a trust established pursuant to Article Eight hereof, so long as (x) the conditions specified in Article Eight (without any waiver or modification of the requirement that the deposits pursuant thereto do not conflict with the terms of any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness) are satisfied on the date of any deposit pursuant to said trust and (y) such deposits did not violate the provisions of this Article Eleven when made.

Section 11.03. Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, etc.

(a) Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), upon any dissolution or winding up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all Senior Indebtedness will first be paid in full in cash before the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on behalf of such Holders will be entitled to receive any payment by the Company of the principal of or interest on the Securities, or any payment by the Company to acquire any of the Securities for cash, property or securities, or any distribution with respect to the Securities of any cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities). Before any payment may be made by, or on behalf of, the Company of the principal of, or interest on the Securities upon any such dissolution or winding up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled, but for the subordination provisions of this Indenture, will be made by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, directly to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective Representatives on behalf of such holders of Senior Indebtedness, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full in cash after giving effect to any prior or concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

(b) To the extent any payment of Senior Indebtedness (whether by or on behalf of the Company, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then, if such payment is recovered by, or paid over to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person, the Senior Indebtedness or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provision prohibiting such payment or distribution, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder of Securities at a time when such payment or distribution is prohibited by Section 11.03(a) and before all obligations in respect of Senior Indebtedness are paid in full in cash, or payment provided for, such payment or distribution shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective Representatives on behalf of such holders of Senior Indebtedness, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash after giving effect to any prior or concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

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The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company with or into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided in Article Five (or any replacement provisions as contemplated by Article Five ) shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 11.03 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article Five (or any replacement provisions as contemplated by Article Five ).

Section 11.04. Subrogation .

Upon the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, or provision for payment, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company made on such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full in cash; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Eleven , and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eleven to the holders of Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Eleven are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

If any payment or distribution to which the Holders of the Securities would otherwise have been entitled but for the provisions of this Article Eleven shall have been applied, pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eleven , to the payment of all amounts payable under Senior Indebtedness, then and in such case, the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to receive from the holders of such Senior Indebtedness any payments or distributions received by such holders of Senior Indebtedness in excess of the amount required to make payment in full, or provision for payment, of such Senior Indebtedness.

Section 11.05. Obligations of Company Unconditional .

Nothing contained in this Article Eleven or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Holder of any Security or the Trustee on its behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Eleven of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property, assets or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained in this Article Eleven shall restrict the right of the Trustee or the Holders of Securities to take any action to declare the Securities to be due and payable prior to their stated maturity pursuant to Section 6.02 or to pursue any rights or remedies hereunder; provided, however , that all Senior Indebtedness then due and payable shall first be paid in full before the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee is entitled to receive any direct or indirect payment from the Company of principal of or interest on the Securities.

 

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Section 11.06. Notice to Trustee .

The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eleven , although any delay or failure to give any such notice shall have no effect on the subordination provisions contained herein. Regardless of anything to the contrary contained in this Article Eleven , the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness or of any other facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing at its corporate trust office to that effect signed by an Officer of the Company, or by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a Representative therefor; and prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall, subject to Article Seven , be entitled to assume (in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary) that no such facts exist; provided that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 11.06 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms of this Indenture any moneys shall become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security), then, regardless of anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive any moneys from the Company and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such prior date. Nothing contained in this Section 11.06 shall limit the right of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to recover payments as contemplated by Section 11.03 . The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or itself to be a holder of any Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of, or other representative of, such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder.

In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that any evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Eleven , the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Eleven , and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

Section 11.07. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent .

Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities referred to in this Article Eleven , the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Seven hereof, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which any insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or upon a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Eleven .

Section 11.08. Trustee’s Relation to Senior Indebtedness .

The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Eleven with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any of its rights as such holder.

With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Eleven , and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (except as provided in Section 11.03(b) ). Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders or owners of Senior Indebtedness, the distribution may be made and the notice may be given to their Representative, if any. The Trustee

 

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shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Eleven or otherwise.

Section 11.09. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness .

No right of any present or future holders of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as provided herein shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. The provisions of this Article Eleven are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable directly by, the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

Section 11.10. Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities .

Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance of such Securities authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Eleven , and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization or similar proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the business and assets of the Company, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its or his Securities in the form required in those proceedings.

If the Trustee does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in the form required in such proceeding prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim or claims, then the holders of the Senior Indebtedness or their Representative are or is hereby authorized to have the right to file and are or is hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders of said Securities. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their Representative to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of Securities any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their Representative to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 11.11. This Article Not to Prevent Events of Default .

The failure to make a payment on account of principal of or interest on the Securities by reason of any provision of this Article Eleven shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in clause (1)  or (2)  of Section 6.01 .

Section 11.12. Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced .

Nothing in this Article Eleven shall apply to amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to other sections in this Indenture.

Section 11.13. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions .

Without in any way limiting the generality of Section 11.09 , the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, without incurring responsibility to the Holders of the Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Eleven or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Securities to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or secured; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Indebtedness; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Senior Indebtedness; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

 

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Section 11.14. Certain Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution .

All money and United States government obligations properly deposited in trust with the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with Article Eight shall be for the sole benefit of the Holders and shall not be subject to this Article Eleven .

Nothing contained in this Article Eleven or elsewhere in this Indenture shall prevent (i) the Company, except under the conditions described in Section 11.02 , from making payments of principal of and interest on the Securities, or from depositing with the Trustee any moneys for such payments or from effecting a termination of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Securities and this Indenture as provided in Article Eight , or (ii) the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it for the purpose of making such payments of principal of on and interest on the Securities to the holders entitled thereto unless at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which such payment becomes due and payable, the Trustee shall have received the written notice provided for in Section 11.02(b) or in Section 11.06 . The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company.

ARTICLE TWELVE

SUBORDINATION OF GUARANTEES

Section 12.01. Guarantee Obligations Subordinated to Guarantor Senior Indebtedness .

Each Guarantor covenants and agrees, and the Trustee and each Holder of the Securities by his acceptance thereof likewise covenant and agree, that the Guarantee of such Guarantor shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article Twelve ; and each person holding any Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees that all payments of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities pursuant to the Guarantee made by or on behalf of any Guarantor shall, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article Twelve , be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance of such Securities, including the Guarantees, acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing subordination provisions in this Article Twelve are, and are intended to be, an inducement and consideration to each holder of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, whether such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the issuance of the Guarantees, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, and such holder of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing to hold, such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

Section 12.02. No Payment on Guarantees in Certain Circumstances .

(a) No direct or indirect payment by or on behalf of any Guarantor of principal or premium of, or interest on or to purchase, redeem or defease the Securities, whether pursuant to the terms of the Securities, upon acceleration or otherwise, shall be made if, at the time of such payment, there exists a default in the payment of all or any portion of the obligations on any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, whether at maturity, on account of mandatory redemption or prepayment or purchase, acceleration or otherwise, that continues beyond any applicable period of grace, and such default shall not have been cured or waived or the benefits of this sentence waived by or on behalf of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness. In addition, during the continuance of any non-payment event of default with respect to any Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be immediately accelerated, and upon receipt by the Trustee of written notice (the “ Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice “) from the Representative of such Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, then no direct or indirect payment shall be made by or on behalf of such Guarantor of principal or

 

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premium of, or interest on or to purchase, redeem or defease the Securities, during a period (a “ Guarantor Blockage Period “) commencing on the date of receipt of such notice by the Trustee and ending on the earliest of (1) the date on which all such non-payment events of default are cured or waived, (2) 179 days after the date on which the applicable Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice is received and (3) the date on which the Trustee receives notice from the Representative of such Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness rescinding the Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice, unless the maturity of any Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated.

Notwithstanding anything in this subordination provision or in the Securities to the contrary, (x) in no event shall a Guarantor Blockage Period extend beyond 179 days from the date the Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice in respect thereof was given, (y) there shall be a period of at least 181 consecutive days in each 360-day period when no Guarantor Blockage Period is in effect and (z) not more than one Guarantor Blockage Period may be commenced with respect to any Guarantor during any period of 360 consecutive days. However, if the Payment Blockage Notice is not given on behalf of creditors under a Credit Facility, the Representative of such Credit Facility may, subject to the limitations set forth in clause (y)  of the preceding sentence, give one additional notice during the Payment Blockage Period. No non-payment event of default that existed or was continuing on the date of commencement of any other Guarantor Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness initiating such Guarantor Blockage Period may be, or be made, the basis for the commencement of any other Guarantor Blockage Period by the Representative of such Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such event of default has been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days. Any (i) subsequent action that causes a default pursuant to any provision that was previously the subject of a Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice, or (ii) breach of any financial covenant for a period ending after a period as to which a breach previously occurred that was the subject of a Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice, will constitute a new default for this purpose.

(b) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by Section 12.02(a) , such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that, upon notice from the Trustee to the Representative of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness that such prohibited payment has been made, the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness notify the Trustee in writing of the amounts then due and owing on such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, if any, and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

(c) The foregoing Section 12.02(a) and (b)  shall not apply to (i) issuances of Permitted Junior Securities or (ii) payments and distributions made from a trust established pursuant to Article Eight hereof, so long as (x) the conditions specified in Article Eight (without any waiver or modification of the requirement that the deposits pursuant thereto do not conflict with the terms of any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness) are satisfied on the date of any deposit pursuant to said trust and (y) such deposits did not violate the provisions of Article Twelve when made.

Section 12.03. Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, etc.

(a) Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of any Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of such Guarantor, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor will first be paid in full before the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on behalf of such Holders will be entitled to receive any payment by such Guarantor of the principal of or interest on the Securities pursuant to such Guarantor’s Guarantee, or any payment to acquire any of the Securities for cash, property or securities, or any distribution with respect to the Securities of any cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities). Before any payment may be made by, or on behalf of, any Guarantor of the principal of or interest on the Securities upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of such Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), to which the Holders of

 

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the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled, but for the subordination provisions of this Indenture, will be made by such Guarantor or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, directly to the holders of the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective Representatives on behalf such holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay all such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in full in cash after giving effect to any prior or concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

(b) To the extent any payment of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (whether by or on behalf of the relevant Guarantor, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then, if such payment is recovered by, or paid over to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person, the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provision prohibiting such payment or distribution, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of any Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder of Securities at a time when such payment or distribution is prohibited by Section 12.03(a) and before all obligations in respect of the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor are paid in full in cash, or payment provided for, such payment or distribution shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective Representatives on behalf of such holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash after giving effect to any prior or concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

The consolidation of any Guarantor with, or the merger of any Guarantor with or into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of any Guarantor following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided in Article Five (or any replacement provisions as contemplated by Article Five ) shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 12.03 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article Five (or any replacement provisions as contemplated by Article Five ).

Section 12.04. Subrogation .

Upon the payment in full of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of a Guarantor, or provision for payment, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of such Guarantor made on such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness until the principal of and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full in cash; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Twelve , and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article Twelve to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf shall, as between such Guarantor, its creditors other than holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by such Guarantor to or on account of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Twelve are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of each Guarantor, on the other hand.

 

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If any payment or distribution to which the Holders of the Securities would otherwise have been entitled but for the provisions of this Article Twelve shall have been applied, pursuant to the provisions of this Article Twelve , to the payment of all amounts payable under Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, then and in such case, the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to receive from the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness any payments or distributions received by such holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in excess of the amount required to make payment in full, or provision for payment, of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

Section 12.05. Obligations of Guarantors Unconditional .

Nothing contained in this Article Twelve or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities or the Guarantees is intended to or shall impair, as among the Guarantors and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of each Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Guarantee of such Guarantor, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of any Guarantor other than the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Holder of any Security or the Trustee on its behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Twelve of the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property, assets or securities of any Guarantor received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained in this Article Twelve shall restrict the right of the Trustee or the Holders of Securities to take any action to declare the Securities to be due and payable prior to their stated maturity pursuant to Section 6.02 or to pursue any rights or remedies hereunder; provided , however , that all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor then due and payable shall first be paid in full before the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee is entitled to receive any direct or indirect payment from such Guarantor of principal of or interest on the Securities pursuant to such Guarantor’s Guarantee.

Section 12.06. Notice to Trustee .

The Company and each Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company or such Guarantor which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article Twelve , although any delay or failure to give any such notice shall have no effect on the subordination provisions contained herein. Regardless of anything to the contrary contained in this Article Twelve , the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any event of default with respect to any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or of any other facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing at its corporate trust office to that effect signed by an Officer of the Company or such Guarantor, or by a holder of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or a Representative therefor; and prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall, subject to Article Seven , be entitled to assume (in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary) that no such facts exist; provided that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 12.06 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms of this Indenture any moneys shall become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security), then, regardless of anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive any moneys from any Guarantor and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such prior date. Nothing contained in this Section 12.06 shall limit the right of the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to recover payments as contemplated by Section 12.03 . The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or itself to be a holder of any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of, or other representative of, such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder.

In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that any evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Twelve , the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Twelve , and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

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Section 12.07. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent .

Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of a Guarantor referred to in this Article Twelve , the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Seven hereof, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which any insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or upon a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor and other indebtedness of such Guarantor, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Twelve .

Section 12.08. Trustee’s Relation to Guarantor Senior Indebtedness .

The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Twelve with respect to any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same extent as any other holder of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any of its rights as such holder.

With respect to the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Twelve , and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (except as provided in Section 12.03(b) ). Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders or owners of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, the distribution may be made and the notice may be given to their Representative, if any. The Trustee shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Twelve or otherwise.

Section 12.09. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Guarantors or Holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness .

No right of any present or future holders of any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as provided herein shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of any Guarantor or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by any Guarantor with the terms of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. The provisions of this Article Twelve are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable directly by, the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

Section 12.10. Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Guarantee .

Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance of such Securities authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Twelve , and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of any Guarantor (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization or similar proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the business and assets of such Guarantor, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its or his Securities in the form required in those proceedings.

If the Trustee does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in the form required in such proceeding prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim or claims, then the holders of the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or their Representative are or is hereby authorized to have the right to file and are or is hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders of said Securities. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or their Representative to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of Securities any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or their Representative to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

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Section 12.11. This Article Not to Prevent Events of Default .

The failure to make a payment on account of principal of or interest on the Securities by reason of any provision of this Article Twelve shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in clause (1)  or (2)  of Section 6.01 .

Section 12.12. Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced .

Nothing in this Article Twelve shall apply to amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to other Sections in this Indenture.

Section 12.13. No Waiver of Guarantee Subordination Provisions .

Without in any way limiting the generality of Section 12.09 , the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, without incurring responsibility to the Holders of the Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Twelve or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Securities to the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Guarantor Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or secured; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Guarantor Senior Indebtedness; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against any Guarantor and any other Person.

Section 12.14. Certain Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution .

Nothing contained in this Article Twelve or elsewhere in this Indenture shall prevent (i) a Guarantor, except under the conditions described in Section 12.02 , from making payments of principal of and interest on the Securities, or from depositing with the Trustee any moneys for such payments, or (ii) the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it for the purpose of making such payments of principal of and interest on the Securities, to the holders entitled thereto unless at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which such payment becomes due and payable, the Trustee shall have received the written notice provided for in Section 12.02(b) or in Section 12.06 . A Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of such Guarantor.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls .

If 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 required provision shall control.

 

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Section 13.02. Notices .

Any order, consent, notice or communication shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

if to the Company or to any Guarantor:

D.R. Horton, Inc.

301 Commerce Street, Suite 500

Forth Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

if to the Trustee:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

59 Maiden Lane

Plaza Level

New York, NY 10038

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

Any notice or communication mailed to a Securityholder shall be mailed to him by first class mail at his address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given to him if so mailed within the time prescribed.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it except that notice to the Trustee shall only be effective upon receipt thereof by the Trustee.

If the Company mails notice or communications to the Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee at the same time.

Section 13.03. Communications by Holders with Other Holders .

Securityholders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

Section 13.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .

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

 

  (1) an Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 ) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

  (2) an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 ) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants, compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action or inaction, have been complied with and that any such section does not conflict with the terms of this Indenture.

 

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Section 13.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

 

  (1) a statement that the person 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 person, 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 person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 13.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents .

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for its functions.

Section 13.07. Legal Holidays .

A “ Legal Holiday ” is a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in Fort Worth, Texas and New York, New York are not required to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If this Indenture provides for a time period that ends or requires performance of any non-payment obligation by a day that is not a Business Day, then such time period shall instead be deemed to end on, and such obligation shall instead be performed by, the next succeeding Business Day. A “ Business Day ” is any day other than a Legal Holiday.

Section 13.08. Governing Law .

The laws of the State of New York shall govern this Indenture, the Securities of each Series and the Guarantees.

Section 13.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 13.10. No Recourse Against Others .

All liability (i) described in Paragraph 13 of the Securities of any director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company and (ii) described in the third paragraph of the guarantees of each Guarantor of any stockholder, officer, director, employee, incorporator, partner, member or manager, as such, of any Guarantor, is waived and released.

Section 13.11. Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements of the Company and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind their respective successors and assigns. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns.

 

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Section 13.12. Duplicate 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.

Section 13.13. Severability .

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of a Series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities.

 

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.

 

D.R. HORTON, INC.
By:                                                                                                   
      Name:
      Title:


AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY , LLC, as Trustee
By:                                                                                                   
      Name:
      Title:


EXHIBIT A

 

No.                        CUSIP/ISIN No.:                     

[Title of Security]

D.R. HORTON, INC.

a Delaware corporation

promises to pay to                                                                                                                                 or registered assigns

 

the principal sum of   

 

   [Dollars]* on   

 

Interest Payment Dates:   

 

   and   

 

Record Dates:   

 

   and   

 

 

Dated:
D.R. HORTON, INC.

By:                                                                                                   

      Title:

 

Authenticated:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.
By:                                                                                             

Authorized Signatory

 

* Or other currency. Insert corresponding provisions on reverse side of Security in respect of foreign currency denomination or interest payment requirement.

 

A-1


D.R. HORTON, INC.

[Title of Security]

D.R. HORTON, INC., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Company ”), issued this Security under an Indenture dated as of                     , 2012 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance therewith, the “ Base Indenture ”), as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture dated as of                      (the “ Supplemental Indenture ” and together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), by and among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee (in such capacity, the “ Trustee ”), to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authorized and delivered. All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them therein.

 

1. Interest .

The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. The Company will pay interest semiannually on                      and                      of each year, commencing                     ,             , until the principal is paid or made available for payment. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid, from                     ,             , provided that, if there is no existing default in the payment of interest, and if this Security is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding interest payment date, interest shall accrue from such interest payment date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

2. Method of Payment .

The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest, if any, which will be paid on such special payment date to Holders of record on such special record date as may be fixed by the Company) to the persons who are registered Holders of Securities at the close of business on the [Insert record dates] immediately preceding the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar .

Initially, the Trustee will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change or appoint any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.

 

4.

Optional Redemption . 1

The Company may redeem the Securities at any time on or after                     , in whole or in part, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of their principal amount) together with interest accrued and unpaid to the date fixed for redemption:

 

If redeemed during the twelve-month period

commencing on                       and ending on

                     in each of  the following years

   Percentage   

[Insert provisions relating to redemption at option of Holders, if any]

 

1  

If applicable.

 

A-2


Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at its registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $2,000 2 may be redeemed in part. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Securities or portions of them called for redemption, provided that if the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities at the redemption price together with accrued interest, interest shall continue to accrue at the rate borne by the Securities.

 

5.

Mandatory Redemption . 3

The Company shall redeem [    ]% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities originally issued under the Indenture on each of [            ], which redemptions are calculated to retire [    ]% of the Securities originally issued prior to maturity. Such redemptions shall be made at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest to the redemption date. The Company may reduce the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed pursuant to this Paragraph 5 by the principal amount of any Securities previously redeemed, retired or acquired, otherwise than pursuant to this Paragraph 5 , that the Company has delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and not previously credited to the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 5 . Each such Security shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price and the amount of such mandatory redemption payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

6. Subordination .

The Securities are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as defined in the Indenture. To the extent provided in the Indenture, Senior Indebtedness of the Company must be paid before the Securities may be paid. The Company agrees, and each Securityholder by accepting a Security agrees, to the subordination provisions contained in the Indenture and authorizes the Trustee to give it effect and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for such purpose.

 

7. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange .

The Securities are in registered form only without coupons in denominations of $2,000 4 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. 5 A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities by presentation of such Securities to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register the transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Security selected for redemption or purchase, except the unredeemed or unpurchased part thereof if the Security is redeemed or purchased in part, or transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or purchased.

 

8. Persons Deemed Owners .

The registered Holder of this Security shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

2  

Insert different or additional denominations and multiples.

3  

If applicable.

4  

Insert different or additional denominations and multiples.

5  

Insert different or additional denominations and multiples.

 

A-3


9. Unclaimed Money .

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and thereafter, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

 

10. Amendment, Supplement, Waiver .

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Securities may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by the amendment and any past default or compliance with any provision relating to any Series of the Securities may be waived in a particular instance with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series. 6 Without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities in certain respects as specified in the Indenture.

 

11. Successor .

When a successor assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Securities and the Indenture, the predecessor will be released from those obligations.

 

12. Trustee Dealings With Company .

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its affiliates, as if it were not Trustee, including owning or pledging the Securities.

 

13. No Recourse Against Others .

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

14. Discharge of Indenture .

The Indenture contains certain provisions pertaining to defeasance and discharge, which provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth herein.

 

15. Authentication .

This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.

 

16. Abbreviations .

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

 

6  

If different terms apply, insert a brief summary thereof.

 

A-4


17. GOVERNING LAW .

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

18. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers .

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of repurchase as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of repurchase and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

19. Copies .

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and the applicable Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture. Requests may be made to: D.R. Horton, Inc., 301 Commerce St., Suite 500, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

 

A-5


ASSIGNMENT FORM

If you the Holder want to assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to

 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax ID number)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address, and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint

 

 

agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:                      

 

Your signature:                                                                                                                                                                                                  

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this  Security)

 

Signature Guarantee:                                                                                                                                                                                          

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

 

A-6


[FORM OF NOTATION ON SECURITY OF GUARANTEE]

GUARANTEE

The undersigned (the “ Guarantors ”) have unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally (such guarantee by each Guarantor being referred to herein as the “ Guarantee ”) (i) the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on this Security, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on the overdue principal and interest, if any, on this Security, to the extent lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms set forth in Article Nine of the Indenture and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of this Security or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

The Guarantees are subordinated to Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantors, as defined in the Indenture. To the extent provided in the Indenture, Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantors must be paid before the Securities may be paid.

No past, present or future stockholder, officer, director, employee, incorporator, partner, member or manager, as such, of any of the Guarantors shall have any liability under the Guarantee by reason of such person’s status as stockholder, officer, director, employee, incorporator, partner, member or manager. Each Holder of a Security by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Guarantees.

Each Holder of this Security by accepting this Security agrees that any Guarantor named below shall have no further liability with respect to its Guarantee if such Guarantor otherwise ceases to be liable in respect of its Guarantee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication on the Securities upon which the Guarantee is noted shall have been executed by the Trustee under the Indenture by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers.

 

[List of Guarantors]                    

By:                                                         

       Title:

 

A-7

Exhibit 4.5

 

 

 

D.R. HORTON, INC.

and

THE GUARANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

Subordinated Debt Securities

Indenture

Dated as of [                    ]

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC,

as Trustee

 

 

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

This Cross-Reference Table is not a part of the Indenture.

 

TIA

Section

   Indenture
Section

310(a)(1)

   7.10

(a)(2)

   7.10

(a)(3)

   N.A.

(a)(4)

   N.A.

(b)

   7.08; 7.10; 13.02

311(a)

   7.11

(b)

   7.11

(c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.05

(b)

   13.03

(c)

   13.03

313(a)

   7.06

(b)(1)

   N.A.

(b)(2)

   7.06

(c)

   13.02

(d)

   7.06

314(a)

   4.03; 13.02

(b)

   N.A.

(c)(1)

   13.04

(c)(2)

   13.04

(c)(3)

   N.A.

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   13.05

315(a)

   7.01(b)

(b)

   7.05; 13.02

(c)

   7.01(a)

(d)

   7.01(c)

(e)

   6.11

316(a)(last sentence)

   13.06

(a)(1)(A)

   6.05

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04

(a)(2)

   N.A.

(b)

   6.07

317(a)(1)

   6.08

(a)(2)

   6.09

(b)

   2.04

318(a)

   13.01

N.A. means Not Applicable.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Table of Contents is not a part of the Indenture.

 

         Page  

ARTICLE ONE

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

  

  

Section 1.01.

  Definitions      1   

Section 1.02.

  Other Definitions      6   

Section 1.03.

  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.      6   

Section 1.04.

  Rules of Construction      7   

ARTICLE TWO

 

THE SECURITIES

  

  

Section 2.01.

  Form and Dating      7   

Section 2.02.

  Execution and Authentication      9   

Section 2.03.

  Registrar and Paying Agent      9   

Section 2.04.

  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      10   

Section 2.05.

  Securityholder Lists      10   

Section 2.06.

  Transfer and Exchange      10   

Section 2.07.

  Replacement Securities      10   

Section 2.08.

  Outstanding Securities      10   

Section 2.09.

  Temporary Securities      11   

Section 2.10.

  Cancellation      11   

Section 2.11.

  Defaulted Interest      11   

Section 2.12.

  Treasury Securities      11   

Section 2.13.

  CUSIP/ISIN Numbers      12   

Section 2.14.

  Deposit of Moneys      12   

Section 2.15.

  Book-Entry Provisions for Global Security      12   

ARTICLE THREE

 

REDEMPTION

  

  

Section 3.01.

  Notices to Trustee      13   

Section 3.02.

  Selection of Securities to be Redeemed      14   

Section 3.03.

  Notice of Redemption      14   

Section 3.04.

  Effect of Notice of Redemption      14   

Section 3.05.

  Deposit of Redemption Price      14   

Section 3.06.

  Securities Redeemed in Part      15   

ARTICLE FOUR

 

COVENANTS

  

  

Section 4.01.

  Payment of Securities      15   

Section 4.02.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      15   

Section 4.03.

  Compliance Certificate      15   

Section 4.04.

  Payment of Taxes; Maintenance of Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties      15   

Section 4.05.

  Additional Guarantors      16   

Section 4.06.

  Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws      16   

 

- i -


ARTICLE FIVE

 

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

  

  

Section 5.01.  

When Company May Merge, etc.

     17   

ARTICLE SIX

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

  

  

Section 6.01.

   Events of Default      17   

Section 6.02.

   Acceleration      19   

Section 6.03.

   Other Remedies      19   

Section 6.04.

   Waiver of Existing Defaults      19   

Section 6.05.

   Control by Majority      19   

Section 6.06.

   Limitation on Suits      20   

Section 6.07.

   Rights of Holders to Receive Payment      20   

Section 6.08.

   Collection Suit by Trustee      20   

Section 6.09.

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      20   

Section 6.10.

   Priorities      21   

Section 6.11.

   Undertaking for Costs      21   

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

TRUSTEE

  

  

Section 7.01.  

 Duties of Trustee

     21   
Section 7.02.  

 Rights of Trustee

     22   
Section 7.03.  

 Individual Rights of Trustee

     23   
Section 7.04.  

 Trustee’s Disclaimer

     23   
Section 7.05.  

 Notice of Defaults

     23   
Section 7.06.  

 Reports by Trustee to Holders

     23   
Section 7.07.  

 Compensation and Indemnity

     23   
Section 7.08.  

 Replacement of Trustee

     24   
Section 7.09.  

 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

     24   
Section 7.10.  

 Eligibility; Disqualification

     24   
Section 7.11.  

 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

     24   

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

  

  

Section 8.01.  

 Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations

     25   
Section 8.02.  

 Survival of the Company’s Obligations

     27   
Section 8.03.  

 Application of Trust Money

     27   
Section 8.04.  

 Repayment to the Company

     27   
Section 8.05.  

 Reinstatement

     27   

ARTICLE NINE

 

GUARANTEES

  

  

Section 9.01.  

 Unconditional Guarantees

     28   

 

- ii -


Section 9.02.  

Severability

     28   
Section 9.03.  

Release of a Guarantor

     28   
Section 9.04.  

Limitation of a Guarantor’s Liability

     29   
Section 9.05.  

Contribution

     29   
Section 9.06.  

Waiver of Subrogation

     30   
Section 9.07.  

Execution of Guarantee

     30   

ARTICLE TEN

 

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

  

  

Section 10.01.  

Without Consent of Holders

     30   
Section 10.02.  

With Consent of Holders

     31   
Section 10.03.  

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

     32   
Section 10.04.  

Revocation and Effect of Consents

     32   
Section 10.05.  

Notation on or Exchange of Securities

     32   
Section 10.06.  

Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

     33   
Section 10.07  

Notice of Supplemental Indenture

     33   

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

  

  

Section 11.01.  

Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness

     33   
Section 11.02.  

No Payment on Securities in Certain Circumstances

     33   
Section 11.03.  

Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, etc.

     34   
Section 11.04.  

Subrogation

     35   
Section 11.05.  

Obligations of Company Unconditional

     36   
Section 11.06.  

Notice to Trustee

     36   
Section 11.07.  

Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent

     36   
Section 11.08.  

Trustee’s Relation to Senior Indebtedness

     37   
Section 11.09.  

Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness

     37   
Section 11.10.  

Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities

     37   
Section 11.11.  

This Article Not to Prevent Events of Default

     38   
Section 11.12.  

Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced

     38   
Section 11.13.  

No Waiver of Subordination Provisions

     38   
Section 11.14.  

Certain Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution

     38   

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

SUBORDINATION OF GUARANTEES

  

  

Section 12.01.  

Guarantee Obligations Subordinated to Guarantor Senior Indebtedness

     38   
Section 12.02.  

No Payment on Guarantees in Certain Circumstances

     39   
Section 12.03.  

Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, etc.

     40   
Section 12.04.  

Subrogation

     41   
Section 12.05.  

Obligations of Guarantors Unconditional

     41   
Section 12.06.  

Notice to Trustee

     41   
Section 12.07.  

Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent

     42   
Section 12.08.  

Trustee’s Relation to Guarantor Senior Indebtedness

     42   
Section 12.09.  

Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Guarantors or Holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness

     43   
Section 12.10.  

Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Guarantee

     43   
Section 12.11.  

This Article Not to Prevent Events of Default

     43   
Section 12.12.  

Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced

     43   

 

- iii -


Section 12.13.  

No Waiver of Guarantee Subordination Provisions

     43   
Section 12.14.  

Certain Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution

     44   

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

MISCELLANEOUS

  

  

Section 13.01.  

Trust Indenture Act Controls

     44   
Section 13.02.  

Notices

     44   
Section 13.03.  

Communications by Holders with Other Holders

     45   
Section 13.04.  

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     45   
Section 13.05.  

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     45   
Section 13.06.  

Rules by Trustee and Agents

     45   
Section 13.07.  

Legal Holidays

     45   
Section 13.08.  

Governing Law

     46   
Section 13.09.  

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     46   
Section 13.10.  

No Recourse Against Others

     46   
Section 13.11.  

Successors and Assigns

     46   
Section 13.12.  

Duplicate Originals

     46   
Section 13.13.  

Severability

     46   

SIGNATURES

EXHIBIT A – Form of Security

 

- iv -


INDENTURE dated as of [            ], 2012 (the “ Base Indenture ”), by and among D.R. HORTON, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), each of the Guarantors from time to time party hereto in respect of a particular Series of Securities (each as defined in Section 1.01 below) and AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Company’s debt securities issued under this Base Indenture:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01. Definitions .

Affiliate ” means, when used with reference to a specified person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Person specified.

Agent ” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-Registrar or agent for service of notices and demands.

Authorizing Resolution ” means a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or by an Officer or committee of Officers pursuant to Board delegation authorizing a Series of Securities.

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

Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Capital Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of or in such Person’s capital stock or other equity interests.

Capitalized Lease Obligations ” of any Person means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of such obligations will be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Company ” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the Indenture and thereafter means the successor.

control ” means, when used with respect to any Person, the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “ controlling ” and “ controlled ” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Credit Facilities ” means, collectively, each of the credit facilities and lines of credit of the Company or one or more Guarantors in existence on the date of this Base Indenture and one or more future facilities or lines of credit among or between the Company or one or more Guarantors and one or more lenders pursuant to which the Company or any Guarantor may incur indebtedness for working capital and general corporate purposes (including acquisitions), as any such facility or line of credit may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and includes any agreement extending the maturity of, increasing the amount of, or restructuring, all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such facility or line of credit or any successor facilities or lines of credit and includes any facility or line of credit with one or more lenders refinancing or replacing all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such facility or line of credit or any successor facility or line of credit.

 

- 1 -


Currency Agreement ” of any Person means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in currency values.

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

Definitive Security ” means a certificated Security registered in the name of the Securityholder thereof.

Depositary ” means, with respect to Securities of any Series which the Company shall determine will be issued in whole or in part as a Global Security, DTC, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, and any other applicable U.S. or foreign statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to Section 2.01 .

Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness ” means any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (a) under any of the Credit Facilities or (b) which, at the time of determination, has an aggregate commitment or principal amount outstanding of at least $25 million if the instrument governing such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness expressly states that such Indebtedness is “Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness” for purposes of this Indenture.

Designated Senior Indebtedness ” means any Senior Indebtedness (a) under any of the Credit Facilities or (b) which, at the time of determination, has an aggregate commitment or principal amount outstanding of at least $25 million if the instrument governing such Senior Indebtedness expressly states that such Indebtedness is “Designated Senior Indebtedness” for purposes of this Indenture.

Dollars ” and “ $ ” mean United States Dollars.

DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York.

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

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the accounting standards codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such or any other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, as in effect on the date of this Base Indenture.

Global Security ” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

Guarantee ” means the guarantee of Securities of any applicable Series by each Guarantor thereof under this Indenture.

Guarantor Senior Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, at any date, whether currently existing or hereafter incurred, (a) all Obligations under the Credit Facilities; (b) all Obligations in respect of indebtedness of such Guarantor for borrowed money or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit or other similar instruments or evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument, or such indebtedness of others guaranteed by the applicable Guarantor (to the extent of the guarantee), and Capitalized Lease Obligations, unless such instrument or the instrument under which such indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that such instrument or indebtedness is not senior or superior in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Guarantee, and all renewals, extensions, modifications, amendments or refinancings thereof; and (c) all Obligations of such Guarantor under Interest Protection Agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall not include (i) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation for federal, state, local or other taxes; (ii) any indebtedness of such Guarantor owed to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company; (iii) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation in respect of any trade payable incurred for the purchase of goods or materials, or for services obtained, in the ordinary course of business; (iv) that

 

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portion of any indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that no such violation shall be deemed to exist for purposes of this clause (iv)  if the holder(s) of such indebtedness or their representative shall have received an Officers’ Certificate of the Company to the effect that the incurrence of such indebtedness does not (or, in the case of revolving credit indebtedness, that the incurrence of the entire committed amount thereof at the date on which the initial borrowing thereunder is made would not) violate this Indenture); (v) indebtedness evidenced by such Guarantor’s Guarantee of the Securities; and (vi) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation owing under leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations).

Guarantors ” means with respect to any Series (i) the Company’s Subsidiaries signatory to the supplemental indenture or specified in the Authorizing Resolution with respect to such Series as the initial Guarantors of such Series, and (ii) each of the Company’s Subsidiaries that becomes a Guarantor of such Series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, in each case until released from its Guarantee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

Holder ” or “ Securityholder ” means the Person in whose name a Security is registered on the Registrar’s books.

Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (i) any liability of such Person (a) for borrowed money or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit or other similar instruments (other than any standby letter of credit or similar instrument issued for the account of, or any surety, performance, completion or payment bond, earnest money note or similar purpose undertaking or indemnification agreement issued or entered into by or for the account of, such Person in the ordinary course of business), (b) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument (including a purchase money obligation) given in connection with the acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind or with services incurred in connection with expenditures that constitute capital expenditures in accordance with GAAP (other than any obligation to pay a contingent purchase price as long as such obligation remains contingent), or (c) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, (ii) any Indebtedness of others described in clause (i)  above that such Person has guaranteed to the extent of the guarantee and (iii) all Indebtedness of others described in clause (i)  above secured by a Lien on any Property of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided , that the amount of the Indebtedness of such Person shall be the lessor of (a) the fair market value of such Property; and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons; provided , that Indebtedness shall not include accounts payable, liabilities to trade creditors of such Person or other accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business or obligations under Currency Agreements or Interest Protection Agreements.

Indenture ” means this Base Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time, including pursuant to any Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture pertaining to any Series, and including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture, the provisions of the TIA that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Base Indenture and any such Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture, respectively.

Interest Protection Agreement ” of any Person means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, option or futures contract or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness.

Issue Date ” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, the date on which the Securities of such Series are originally issued under this Indenture.

Lien ” means, with respect to any Property, any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, charge, hypothecation, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such Property. For purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed to own, subject to a Lien, any Property which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such Property.

Major Credit Facilities ” means, collectively, each of the Credit Facilities that provides for commitments, or has loans or other extensions of credit outstanding thereunder, in each case in excess of $50 million.

 

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Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” with respect to any Person means Indebtedness of such Person for which (i) the sole legal recourse for collection of principal and interest on such Indebtedness is against the specific Property identified in the instruments evidencing or securing such Indebtedness (and any accessions thereto and proceeds thereof) and such Property was acquired with the proceeds of such Indebtedness or such Indebtedness was incurred within 180 days after the acquisition of such Property and (ii) no other assets of such Person may be realized upon in collection of principal or interest on such Indebtedness. Indebtedness which is otherwise Non-Recourse Indebtedness will not lose its character as Non-Recourse Indebtedness because there is recourse to the borrower, any guarantor or any other Person for (i) environmental or tax warranties and indemnities and such other representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities as are customarily required in such transactions, or (ii) indemnities for and liabilities arising from fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication or non-payment of rents, profits, insurance and condemnation proceeds and other sums actually received by the borrower from secured assets to be paid to the lender, waste and mechanics’ liens.

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

Obligation ” means, with respect to any indebtedness or instrument, any principal, premium, interest (including Post-Petition Interest), penalties, fees, indemnification, reimbursements, costs, expenses, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing such indebtedness or instrument.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller or the Secretary of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

Permitted Junior Securities ” means (i) Capital Stock of the Company or any Guarantor or (ii) debt securities issued pursuant to a confirmed plan of reorganization that are subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as the case may be, that may at the time be outstanding, to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Securities and the Guarantees are subordinated as provided in this Indenture, as applicable; provided (a) such securities are not entitled to the benefits of covenants or defaults materially more beneficial to the holders of such securities than those in effect with respect to the Securities on the Issue Date and (b) such securities do not provide for amortization (including sinking fund and mandatory prepayment provisions) commencing prior to the date six months following the final scheduled maturity date of the Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as the case may be (as modified by the plan of reorganization or readjustment pursuant to which such securities are issued).

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

Post-Petition Interest ” means interest on any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness accruing subsequent to events of bankruptcy of the Company and or any Guarantor at the rate provided in the document evidencing such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the debtor in a bankruptcy case under Bankruptcy Law.

principal ” of a debt security means the principal of the security plus , when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the security.

Property ” of any Person means all types of real, personal, tangible, intangible or mixed property owned by such Person, whether or not included in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries under GAAP.

 

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Publicly Traded Debt Securities ” means any issue of debt securities of the Company or any of the Guarantors originally issued in a public offering registered with the SEC or in an offering pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and of which issue at least $50 million aggregate principal amount is outstanding.

Representative ” means, with respect to any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, any trustee, agent or other representative in respect of such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness; provided that if, and for so long as, any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness lacks such representative, then the Representative for such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall at all times constitute the holders of a majority in outstanding principal amount of such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA.

Securities ” means any Securities that are issued under this Base Indenture.

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

Senior Indebtedness ” means, at any date, whether currently existing or hereafter incurred, (a) all Obligations under the Credit Facilities; (b) all Obligations in respect of indebtedness of the Company for borrowed money or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit or other similar instruments or evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument, or such indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company (to the extent of the guarantee), and Capitalized Lease Obligations, unless such instrument or the instrument under which such indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that such instrument or indebtedness is not senior or superior in right of payment to the Securities, and all renewals, extensions, modifications, amendments or refinancings thereof; and (c) all Obligations of the Company under Interest Protection Agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Senior Indebtedness shall not include (i) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation for federal, state, local or other taxes; (ii) any indebtedness of the Company owed to any Subsidiary of the Company; (iii) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation in respect of any trade payable incurred for the purchase of goods or materials, or for services obtained, in the ordinary course of business; (iv) that portion of any indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that no such violation shall be deemed to exist for purposes of this clause (iv)  if the holder(s) of such indebtedness or their representative shall have received an Officers’ Certificate of the Company to the effect that the incurrence of such indebtedness does not (or, in the case of revolving credit indebtedness, that the incurrence of the entire committed amount thereof at the date on which the initial borrowing thereunder is made would not) violate this Indenture); (v) indebtedness evidenced by the Securities; and (vi) to the extent that it may constitute indebtedness, any obligation owing under leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations).

Series ” means a series of Securities established under this Base Indenture.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company which would constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

Subsidiary ” of any Person means any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the Capital Stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such entity or other persons performing similar functions is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person.

TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise provided herein.

Trustee ” means the party named as such in this Base Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Base Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder; provided , however , that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.

 

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Trust Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

United States ” means the United States of America.

U.S. Government Obligations ” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, which, in either case are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. government obligations or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. government obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. government obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. government obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

Section 1.02. Other Definitions .

 

Term

   Defined in Section  

Agent Members

     2.15   

Base Indenture

     Preamble   

Business Day

     13.07   

Covenant Defeasance

     8.01   

Custodian

     6.01   

Event of Default

     6.01   

Funding Guarantor

     9.05   

Guarantee

     9.01   

Guarantor Blockage Period

     12.02(a)   

Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice

     12.02(a)   

Legal Defeasance

     8.01   

Legal Holiday

     13.07   

Paying Agent

     2.03   

Payment Blockage Notice

     11.02(a)   

Payment Blockage Period

     11.02(a)   

Registrar

     2.03   

Security Register

     2.03   

Senior Officer

     4.03   

Successor

     5.01   

Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“Commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities of a particular Series.

“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

 

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“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, each of the Guarantors, or any other obligor on the Securities of a Series or any Guarantees thereof.

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

Section 1.04. Rules of Construction .

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

  (2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP and all accounting determinations shall be made in accordance with GAAP;

 

  (3) “or” is not exclusive and “including” means “including without limitation”;

 

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

 

  (5) “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and other words of similar import, refer to this Indenture as a whole (including any Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to the relevant Series) and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

  (6) all exhibits are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part of this Indenture;

 

  (7) any transaction or event shall be considered “permitted by” or made “in accordance with” or “in compliance with” this Indenture or any particular provision thereof if such transaction or event is not expressly prohibited by this Indenture or such provision, as the case may be; and

 

  (8) including for purposes of the definitions of “Senior Indebtedness” and “Guarantor Senior Indebtedness,” no Indebtedness or other obligation will be deemed to be subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness or obligation solely by virtue of being unsecured or secured by a junior priority lien or by virtue of the fact that the holders of such Indebtedness or other obligation have entered into intercreditor agreements or other arrangements giving one or more of such holders priority over the other holders in the collateral held by them, including intercreditor agreements that contain customary provisions requiring turnover by holders of junior prior liens of proceeds of collateral in the event that the security interests in favor of the holders of the senior priority in such intended collateral are not perfected or invalidated and similar customary provisions protecting the holders of senior priority liens.

ARTICLE TWO

THE SECURITIES

Section 2.01. Form and Dating .

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be issued under this Base Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more Series. Each Series shall be created by an Authorizing Resolution or a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of the Series, which may include the following:

 

  (1) the title of the Series;

 

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  (2) the aggregate principal amount (or any limit on the aggregate principal amount) of the Series and, if any Securities of a Series are to be issued at a discount from their face amount, the method of computing the accretion of such discount;

 

  (3) the interest rate or method of calculation of the interest rate;

 

  (4) the date from which interest will accrue;

 

  (5) the record dates for interest payable on Securities of the Series;

 

  (6) the dates when, places where and manner in which principal and interest are payable;

 

  (7) the Registrar and Paying Agent;

 

  (8) the terms of any mandatory (including any sinking fund requirements) or optional redemption by the Company;

 

  (9) the terms of any redemption at the option of Holders;

 

  (10) the permissible denominations in which Securities of such Series are issuable, if different from $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

  (11) whether Securities of such Series will be issued in registered or bearer form and the terms of any such forms of Securities;

 

  (12) whether the Securities of the Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions, if different from those contained in this Base Indenture, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for Definitive Securities; the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities; the form of any legend or legends, if any, to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legends referred to in Section 2.15 ;

 

  (13) the currency or currencies (including any composite currency) in which principal or interest or both may be paid;

 

  (14) if payments of principal or interest may be made in a currency other than that in which Securities of such Series are denominated, the manner for determining such payments;

 

  (15) provisions for electronic issuance of Securities or issuance of Securities of such Series in uncertificated form;

 

  (16) any Events of Default, covenants and/or defined terms in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in this Base Indenture;

 

  (17) whether and upon what terms Securities of such Series may be defeased or discharged if different from the provisions set forth in this Base Indenture;

 

  (18) the form of the Securities of such Series, which, unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture otherwise provides, shall be in the form of Exhibit A ;

 

  (19) any terms that may be required by or advisable under applicable law;

 

  (20) the percentage of the principal amount of the Securities of such Series which is payable if the maturity of the Securities of such Series is accelerated in the case of Securities issued at a discount from their face amount;

 

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  (21) whether Securities of such Series will or will not have the benefit of Guarantees and the Company’s Subsidiaries that will be the initial Guarantors of such Series;

 

  (22) whether the Securities of the Series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other Securities, common shares or other securities of any kind of the Company or another obligor, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the Company’s option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in relation thereto; and

 

  (23) any other terms in addition to or different from those contained in this Base Indenture applicable to such Series.

All Securities of one Series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a Series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such Series pursuant to an Authorizing Resolution, an Officers’ Certificate or in any indenture supplemental hereto.

The creation and issuance of a Series and the authentication and delivery thereof are not subject to any conditions precedent.

Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication .

One Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. Each Guarantor shall execute the Guarantee in the manner set forth in Section 9.07 .

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

A Security shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Base Indenture.

The Trustee shall authenticate Securities for original issue upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate of the Company. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent .

The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“ Registrar ”), an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (“ Paying Agent ”) and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange (the “ Security Register ”). The Company may have one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Base Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such Agent and the Trustee shall have the right to inspect the Securities Register at all reasonable times to obtain copies thereof, and the Trustee shall have the right to rely upon such register as to the names and addresses of the Holders and the principal amounts and certificate numbers thereof. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

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Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .

Each Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Securityholders and the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon doing so the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money.

Section 2.05. Securityholder 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 Securityholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least five (5) Business Days before each semiannual 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 Securityholders.

Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange .

Where a Security is presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of Section 8-401(a) of the NYUCC are met and the other provisions of this Section 2.06 are satisfied. Where Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Security selected for redemption or repurchase, except the unredeemed or repurchased part thereof if the Security is redeemed or repurchased in part, or transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or repurchased. Any exchange or transfer shall be without charge, except that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto except in the case of exchanges pursuant to 2.09 , 3.06 , or 10.05 not involving any transfer.

Any Holder of a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such Global Security, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security may be effected only through a book entry system maintained by the Holder of such Global Security (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Security shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

Section 2.07. Replacement Securities .

If the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed, mutilated or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and execute a replacement security, the Guarantors shall execute the related Guarantee and, upon written request of any Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate such replacement Security, provided , in the case of a lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Security, that the requirements of Section 8-405 of the NYUCC are met. If any such lost, destroyed, mutilated or wrongfully taken Security shall have matured or shall be about to mature, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security therefor, pay such Security without requiring (except in the case of a mutilated Security) the surrender thereof. An indemnity bond must be sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee and any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced, including the acquisition of such Security by a bona fide purchaser. The Company and the Trustee may charge for its expenses in replacing a Security.

Section 2.08. Outstanding Securities .

Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it and those described in this Section. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company, any Guarantor or one of their Affiliates holds the Security.

 

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If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 , it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a “protected purchaser” (as such term is defined in the NYUCC).

If the Paying Agent holds on a redemption date, purchase date or maturity date money sufficient to pay Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

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

Section 2.09. Temporary Securities .

Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and, upon surrender for cancellation of the temporary Security, the Company and the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section 2.10. Cancellation .

The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and destroy, or retain in accordance with its standard retention policy, all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase, payment or cancellation. Unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture so provides, the Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has previously paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.11. Defaulted Interest .

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities of any Series, it shall pay the defaulted interest plus any interest payable on the defaulted interest to the persons who are Securityholders of such Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix such special record date and a payment date which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. At least 15 days before such special record date, the Company shall mail to each Securityholder of the relevant Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid. On or before the date such notice is mailed, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the amount of defaulted interest to be so paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Section 2.12. Treasury Securities .

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any direction, waiver, consent or notice, Securities owned by the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective Affiliates shall be considered as though they are not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so considered.

 

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Section 2.13. CUSIP/ISIN Numbers .

The Company in issuing the Securities of any Series may use a “CUSIP” and/or “ISIN” or other similar number, and if so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders of such Securities; provided that no representation is hereby deemed to be made by the Trustee as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number printed in the notice or on such Securities, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on such Securities. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in any CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number.

Section 2.14. Deposit of Moneys .

Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on each interest payment date and maturity date with respect to each Series of Securities, the Company shall have deposited with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds money sufficient to make cash payments due on such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be, in a timely manner which permits the Paying Agent to remit payment to the Holders of such Series on such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be.

Section 2.15. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Security .

(a) Any Global Security of a Series initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of such Depositary, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary and (iii) bear any required legends.

Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“ Agent Members ”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Security.

(b) Transfers of any Global Security shall be limited to transfers in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Security may be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Securities in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary. In addition, Definitive Securities shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Security if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Security and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue Definitive Securities.

(c) In connection with any transfer or exchange of a portion of the beneficial interest in any Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b) , the Registrar shall (if one or more Definitive Securities are to be issued) reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Security to be transferred, and the Company and the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Definitive Securities of like Series and amount.

(d) In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b) , the Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company and the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Securities of the same Series in authorized denominations.

 

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(e) The Holder of any Global Security 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 Securities of such Series.

(f) Unless otherwise provided in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture for a particular Series of Securities, each Global Security of such Series shall bear legends in substantially the following forms:

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

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

ARTICLE THREE

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee .

Securities of a Series that are redeemable prior to maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and, unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture provides otherwise, in accordance with this Article.

If the Company wants to redeem Securities pursuant to Paragraph 4 of the Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to Holders. Any such cancelled notice shall be void and of no effect.

If the Company wants to credit any Securities previously redeemed, retired or acquired against any redemption pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the amount of the credit and it shall deliver any Securities not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation with such notice.

The Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section 3.01 at least 30 days before the notice of any such redemption is to be mailed to Holders (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).

 

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Section 3.02. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed .

If fewer than all of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed by a method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate and in a manner that complies with applicable requirements of the Depositary. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities outstanding not previously called for redemption and shall promptly notify the Company of the serial numbers or other identifying attributes of the Securities so selected. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities that have denominations larger than the minimum denomination for the Series. Securities and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts equal to a permissible denomination for the Series. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption.

Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption .

At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.

The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:

 

  (1) the redemption date;

 

  (2) the redemption price or the formula pursuant to which such price will be calculated;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  (6) that interest on Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; and

 

  (7) that the Securities are being redeemed pursuant to the mandatory redemption or the optional redemption provisions, as applicable.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided , however , that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee at least 15 days prior to the date on which notice of redemption is to be mailed or such shorter period as may be satisfactory to the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption .

Once notice of redemption is mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price as set forth in the notice of redemption. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price .

On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent immediately available funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.

 

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Section 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part .

Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Company and the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for each Holder a new Security of the same Series equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

ARTICLE FOUR

COVENANTS

Section 4.01. Payment of Securities .

The Company shall pay the principal of and interest on a Series on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities of the Series. An installment of principal or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Paying Agent holds on that date money designated for and sufficient to pay the installment.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Series; it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate.

Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency .

The Company shall maintain the office or agency required under Section 2.03 . The Company shall give prior written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee.

Section 4.03. Compliance Certificate .

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company an Officers’ Certificate stating whether or not the signers know of any continuing Default by the Company in performing any of its obligations under this Indenture. If they do know of such a Default, the certificate shall describe the Default.

The Company shall, so long as any Securities are outstanding under this Indenture, deliver to the Trustee written notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days after a Senior Officer of the Company obtains knowledge of such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. A “ Senior Officer ” of the Company means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or Chief Legal Officer of the Company.

Section 4.04. Payment of Taxes; Maintenance of Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties .

The Company will:

(a) cause to be paid and discharged all lawful taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon the Company and the Guarantors or upon the income or profits of the Company and the Guarantors or upon Property or any part thereof belonging to the Company and the Guarantors before the same shall be in default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might become a lien or charge upon such Property or any part thereof; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the nonpayment thereof does not, in the judgment of the Company, materially adversely affect the ability of the Company and the Guarantors to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due; and provided further that the Company shall not be required to cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim if, in the judgment of the Company, such payment shall not be advantageous to the Company in the conduct of its business and if the failure so to pay or discharge does not, in its judgment, materially adversely affect the ability of the Company and the Guarantors to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due;

 

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(b) cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate existence of the Company and each of the Guarantors and to comply with all applicable laws; provided , however , that nothing in this paragraph (b)  shall prevent a consolidation or merger of the Company or any Guarantor not prohibited by the provisions of Article Five , Article Nine or any other provision of this Indenture pertaining to a Series, and the Company may discontinue the corporate existence of any Guarantor, or fail to comply with any such applicable laws, if, in the Company’s judgment, such discontinuance or non-compliance does not materially adversely affect the ability of the Company and the Guarantors to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due; and

(c) at all times keep, maintain and preserve all the Property of the Company and the Guarantors in good repair, working order and condition (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and from time to time make all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereto, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided , however , that nothing in this paragraph (c)  shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of any such properties if such discontinuance, in the judgment of the Company, does not materially adversely affect the ability of the Company and the Guarantors to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due.

Section 4.05. Additional Guarantors .

If (a) any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor shall guarantee any (i) Indebtedness of the Company outstanding under any of the Major Credit Facilities or (ii) Publicly Traded Debt Securities, or (b) the Company elects to add any Subsidiary as a Guarantor, then such Subsidiary shall (i) execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s obligations under the Securities of each Series (other than a Series that, pursuant to the applicable supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution, does not have the benefit of Guarantees of other Subsidiaries of the Company) and under this Indenture (as it relates to all such Series) on the terms set forth in this Indenture and (ii) deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary and constitutes a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Subsidiary. Thereafter, such Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of this Indenture (as it relates to all such Series) until it is released from its obligations as a Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 4.06. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws .

The Company and the Guarantors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Company or any Guarantor from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any Series as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) the Company and each of the Guarantors expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

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ARTICLE FIVE

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

Section 5.01. When Company May Merge, etc .

Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (including by way of liquidation or dissolution), to any Person (in each case other than in a transaction in which the Company or a Guarantor is the survivor of a consolidation or merger, or the transferee in a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition) unless:

(1) the Person formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be), or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition will be made (collectively, the “ Successor ”), is a corporation or other legal entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor assumes by supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee all of the obligations of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, under the Securities or a Guarantee, as the case may be, and the Indenture, and

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

The foregoing provisions shall not apply to:

(A) the consolidation or merger of a Guarantor, or the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Guarantor, which under the provisions of Section 9.03 or the other provisions of this Indenture, results in such Guarantor being released from its Guarantee or the Successor not being required to become a Guarantor, as the case may be, or

(B) a transaction the purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of the Company or any Guarantor.

Upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the Successor will be substituted for the Company or the relevant Guarantor under the Indenture. The Successor may then exercise every power and right of the Company or the relevant Guarantor under this Indenture, and except in the case of a lease, the Company or the relevant Guarantor will be released from all of its liabilities and obligations in respect of the Securities, the Guarantee and the Indenture. If the Company or a Guarantor leases all or substantially all of its assets the Company or such Guarantor will not be released from its obligations to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities or the Guarantee, as applicable.

ARTICLE SIX

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01. Events of Default .

An “ Event of Default ” on a Series occurs if, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by operation of law or otherwise, any of the following occurs:

 

  (1) the failure by the Company to pay interest on any Security of such Series when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for a period of 30 days (whether or not such payment is prohibited by Article Eleven or Article Twelve hereof);

 

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  (2) the failure by the Company to pay the principal or premium of any Security of such Series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise (whether or not such payment is prohibited by Article Eleven or Article Twelve hereof);

 

  (3) the failure by the Company or any Guarantor to comply with any of its agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the Securities of such Series, the Guarantees (as they relate thereto) or this Indenture (as they relate thereto) and such failure continues for the period and after the notice specified below (except in the case of a default with respect to Article Five (or any other provision specified in the applicable supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution), which will constitute Events of Default with notice but without passage of time);

 

  (4) the acceleration of any Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any Guarantor that has an outstanding principal amount of $50 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, and such acceleration does not cease to exist, or such Indebtedness is not satisfied, in either case within 30 days after such acceleration;

 

  (5) the failure by the Company or any Guarantor to make any principal or interest payment in an amount of $50 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, in respect of Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any Guarantor within 30 days of such principal or interest becoming due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace period set forth in the documents governing such Indebtedness);

 

  (6) the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

  (A) commences a voluntary case,

 

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

 

  (C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its Property, or

 

  (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

 

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

 

  (A) is for relief against the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary as debtor in an involuntary case,

 

  (B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the Property of the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, or

 

  (C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary,

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

 

  (8) any Guarantee of a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Guarantee and this Indenture) or is declared null and void and unenforceable or found to be invalid or any Guarantor denies its liability under its Guarantee (other than by reason of release of a Guarantor from its Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Guarantee).

 

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A Default as described in subclause (3)  above will not be deemed an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of the applicable Series notify the Company and the Trustee, of the Default and (except in the case of a default with respect to Article Five (or any other provision specified in the applicable supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution)) the Company does not cure the Default within 60 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.” If such a Default is cured within such time period, it ceases to exist, without any action by the Trustee or any other Person.

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

Section 6.02. Acceleration .

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to the Company resulting from subclause (6)  or (7)  above), shall have occurred and be continuing under the Indenture, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series then outstanding by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare all Securities of such Series to be due and payable immediately. Upon such declaration of acceleration, the amounts due and payable on the Securities of such Series will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default with respect to the Company specified in subclauses (6)  or (7)  above occurs, all amounts due and payable on the Securities of such Series will ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the Trustee and the Company or any Holder.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may rescind an acceleration with respect to such Series and its consequence (except an acceleration due to nonpayment of principal or interest) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (other than the non-payment of accelerated principal) have been cured or waived.

No such rescission shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Event of Default, or shall impair any right or power consequent thereon.

Section 6.03. Other Remedies .

If an Event of Default on a Series 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 interest on the Series or to enforce the performance of any provision in the Securities or this Indenture applicable to the Series.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Securityholder 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. To the extent permitted by law, all available remedies are cumulative.

Section 6.04. Waiver of Existing Defaults .

Subject to Section 10.02 , the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series on behalf of all the Holders of the Series by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default on such Series and its consequences. When a Default is waived, it is cured and stops continuing, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.05. Control by Majority .

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it with respect to such Series. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction (i) that conflicts with law or this Indenture, (ii) that, subject to Section 7.01 , the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to

 

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the rights of other Securityholders, (iii) that would involve the Trustee in personal liability, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it, or (iv) if the Trustee shall not have been provided with indemnity satisfactory to it.

Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.

A Securityholder of a Series may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Series unless:

 

  (1) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default on the Series;

 

  (2) the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of the Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

  (3) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

  (4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity; and

 

  (5) no written request inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.06 .

A Securityholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of Securities of the same Series or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of Securities of the same Series.

Section 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment .

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on any Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, is absolute and unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.

Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee .

If an Event of Default in payment of interest or principal specified in Section 6.01(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 Company for the whole amount of principal and interest remaining unpaid.

Section 6.09. 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 Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, any Guarantor or their respective creditors or Property, and unless prohibited by applicable law or regulation, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a Custodian, and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any moneys or other Property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payments to the Trustee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder except as aforesaid for the election of the Custodian.

 

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Section 6.10. Priorities .

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article with respect to Securities of any Series, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

  First : to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07 ;

 

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

 

  Third : to the Company or the Guarantors as their interests may appear.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section 6.10 .

Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs .

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having the due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Series.

ARTICLE SEVEN

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee .

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall, prior to the receipt of directions from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the Series, exercise its rights and powers and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(1) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

(2) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee, however, shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts or matters stated therein.

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own 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.

 

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(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 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 6.05 or any other direction of the Holders permitted hereunder.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a) , (b)  and (c)  of this Section.

(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it.

Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee .

Subject to Section 7.01 :

(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting on any document, resolution, certificate, instrument, report, or direction 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, resolution, certificate, instrument, report, or direction.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both, which shall conform to Sections 13.04 and 13.05 hereof and containing such other statements as the Trustee reasonably deems necessary to perform its duties hereunder. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or any other direction of the Company permitted hereunder.

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company or a Guarantor shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company or a Guarantor.

(g) For all purposes under this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Event of Default (other than under Section 6.01(1) or 6.01(2) ) unless a Trust Officer assigned to and working in the Trustee’s corporate trust office has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any Event of Default is received by the Trustee at its address specified in Section 13.02 hereof and such notice references the Securities generally, the Company or this Indenture.

 

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Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee .

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Guarantor or their affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee, however, must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11 .

Section 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer .

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Securities or of any prospectus used to sell the Securities of any Series; it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities; it shall not be accountable for any money paid to the Company, or upon the Company’s direction, if made under and in accordance with any provision of this Indenture; it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee; and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company or any Guarantor in this Indenture or in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.

If a Default on a Series occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Series notice of the Default (which shall specify any uncured Default known to it) within 90 days after it occurs, provided that in the case of any Default specified in Section 6.01(4) or (5) , no such notice to Securityholders shall be given until at least the end of the 30 day grace period referred to therein. Except in the case of a default in payment of principal of or interest on a Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the board of directors of the Trustee, the executive or any trust committee of such directors and/or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determine(s) that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of the Series.

Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders .

Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Base Indenture, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(1) through (8) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date no report in relation thereto need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b).

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders shall be delivered to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee of each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed.

Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity .

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services subject to any written agreement between the Trustee and the Company. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee, its officers, directors, employees and agents and hold it harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred or made by or on behalf of it in connection with the administration of this Indenture or the trust hereunder and its duties hereunder including the costs and expenses of defending itself against or investigating any claim in the premises. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s, or its officers’, directors’, employees’ or agents’ negligence or bad faith.

Unless otherwise provided in any supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution relating to any Series, to ensure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities of all Series on all money or Property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of or

 

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interest on particular Securities. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 or in connection with Article Six hereof, the expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for services in connection therewith are to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee .

The Trustee may resign with respect to Securities of any or all Series by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities (or of the relevant Series) may remove the Trustee by so notifying the removed Trustee in writing and may appoint a successor trustee with the Company’s consent. Such resignation or removal shall not take effect until the appointment by the Securityholders of the relevant Series or the Company as hereinafter provided of a successor trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor trustee. The Company may remove the Trustee and any Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee for any or no reason, including if:

 

  (1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 after written request by the Company or any bona fide Securityholder who has been a Securityholder for at least six months;

 

  (2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent;

 

  (3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its Property; or

 

  (4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of the relevant Series. If a successor trustee does not take office within 45 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or any Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee.

A successor trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all Property held by it as Trustee to the successor trustee, 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. A successor trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each Securityholder.

Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc .

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges with or into or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor trustee.

Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification .

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $10,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).

Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

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

 

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ARTICLE EIGHT

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

Section 8.01. Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations .

(a) The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either paragraph (b)  or paragraph (c)  below be applied to the outstanding Securities of any Series upon compliance with the applicable conditions set forth in paragraph (d) .

(b) Upon the Company’s exercise under paragraph (a)  of the option applicable to this paragraph (b)  with respect to any Series, the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been released and discharged from their respective obligations with respect to the outstanding Securities of the Series on the date the applicable conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities of a Series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of the Sections and matters under this Indenture referred to in (i) and (ii) below, and the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned, except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities of a Series to receive solely from the trust fund described in paragraph (d)  below and as more fully set forth in such paragraph, payments in respect of the principal of and interest on such Securities when such payments are due and (ii) obligations listed in Section 8.02 , subject to compliance with this Section 8.01 . The Company may exercise its option under this paragraph (b)  with respect to a Series notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under paragraph (c)  below with respect to the Securities of the Series.

(c) Upon the Company’s exercise under paragraph (a)  of the option applicable to this paragraph (c)  with respect to a Series, the Company and the Guarantors shall be released and discharged from the obligations under any covenant contained in Article Five and Sections 4.04 (but only to the extent it applies to Guarantors), 4.05 and any other covenant contained in or referenced in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to such Series (to the extent such release and discharge shall not be prohibited thereby), on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Securities of such Series shall thereafter be deemed to be not “outstanding” for the purpose of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities of a Series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01(3) or otherwise, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

(d) The following shall be the conditions to application of either paragraph (b)  or paragraph (c)  above to the outstanding Securities of the applicable Series:

(1) The Company shall have irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee (or another qualifying trustee), pursuant to an irrevocable trust and security agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, money in U.S. dollars or U.S. government obligations or a combination thereof in such amounts and at such times as are sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series to maturity or redemption; provided , however , that the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) shall have received an irrevocable written order from the Company instructing the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to apply such money or the proceeds of such U.S. government obligations to said payments with respect to the Securities of such Series to maturity or redemption;

 

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(2) No Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from non-compliance with any covenant from which the Company and the Guarantors are released upon effectiveness of such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance pursuant to paragraph (b)  or (c)  hereof, as applicable) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or result therefrom;

(3) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or other material instrument or agreement to which the Company or any of any of the Guarantors is a party or by which it or any of their Property is bound;

(4) (i) In the event the Company elects paragraph (b)  hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to the effect that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the Issue Date pertaining to such Series, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall state that, or (ii) in the event the Company elects paragraph (c)  hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to the effect that, in the case of clauses (i)  and (ii) , and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and the defeasance contemplated hereby and will be subject to federal income tax in the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

(5) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, stating that the deposit under clause (1)  was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or any Guarantor or others;

(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that, assuming no intervening bankruptcy of the Company or any Guarantor between the date of deposit and the 123 rd day following the deposit and assuming that no Holder is an “insider” of the Company under applicable Bankruptcy Law, after the 123 rd day following the deposit, the trust funds shall not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any analogous New York State law provision; and

(7) The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent specified herein relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 8.01 have been complied with.

In the event all or any portion of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed through such irrevocable trust, the Company must make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the time of such deposit, for the giving of the notice of such redemption or redemptions by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

(e) In addition to the Company’s rights above under this Section 8.01 , the Company may terminate all of its obligations under this Indenture with respect to a Series, and the obligations of the Guarantors shall terminate with respect to such Series (subject to Section 8.02 ), when:

(1) All Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (A) have become due and payable, (B) will become due and payable at maturity within one year or (C) 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, and in each such case, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another qualifying trustee) as trust funds in trust solely for that purpose an amount in U.S. dollars or U.S.

 

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government obligations or a combination thereof sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of and interest on the Securities of such Series, on the date of such deposit or to the maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;

(2) The Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company;

(3) The Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee (or such other qualifying trustee), to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Securities of such Series at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; and

(4) The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, stating that all conditions precedent specified in this Section 8.01(e) relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

Section 8.02. Survival of the Company’s Obligations .

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture under Section 8.01 , the Company’s obligations in Paragraph 9 of the Securities and Sections 2.03 through 2.07 , 4.01 , 7.07 , 7.08 , 8.04 and 8.05 , however, shall survive until the Securities of an applicable Series are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Paragraph 9 of the Securities of such Series and Sections 7.07 , 8.04 and 8.05 shall survive (as they relate to such Series).

Section 8.03. Application of Trust Money .

The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. government obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.01 . It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. government obligations in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of the defeased Series.

Section 8.04. Repayment to the Company .

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of New York or mail to each such Holder notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company. After payment to the Company, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company or any Guarantor for payment as general creditors unless applicable abandoned property law designates another person and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.

Section 8.05. Reinstatement .

If the Trustee is unable to apply any money or U.S. government obligations in accordance with Section 8.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and each Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities relating to the Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.01 until such time as the Trustee is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. government obligations in accordance with Section 8.01 ; provided , however , that (a) if the Company or any Guarantor has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities of the Series because of the reinstatement of its obligations hereunder, the Company or Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. government obligations held by the

 

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Trustee and (b) unless otherwise required by any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee shall return all such money or U.S. government obligations to the Company promptly after receiving a written request therefor at any time, if such reinstatement of the Company’s or Guarantor’s obligations has occurred and continues to be in effect.

ARTICLE NINE

GUARANTEES

Section 9.01. Unconditional Guarantees .

Subject to any other provisions set forth in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to a particular Series, each Guarantor unconditionally, jointly and severally, guarantees (each such guarantee to be referred to herein as the “ Guarantee ”) to each Holder of Securities of such Series authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, that: (i) the principal of and interest on the Securities of such Series will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise and interest on the overdue principal, if any, and interest on any interest of the Securities of such Series and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder, except obligations to pay principal of and interest on any other Series not so guaranteed, will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Securities of such Series or of any such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, subject, however, in the case of clauses (i)  and (ii)  above, to the limitations set forth in Section 9.04 . Each Guarantor agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Securities of such Series or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Securities of such Series with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that, subject to Section 9.03 , this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Securities of the applicable Series, this Indenture and in this Guarantee. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, any Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or any Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Six for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article Six , such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Guarantor for the purpose of this Guarantee.

Section 9.02. Severability .

In case any provision of this Guarantee 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 9.03. Release of a Guarantor .

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, in the event of (i) the sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of any Guarantor if as a result of such disposition, such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor (other than to the Company or another Guarantor), (iii) a merger or consolidation of a Guarantor with a Person other than the Company or another Guarantor, or (iv) a Guarantor ceasing to guarantee any (a) Indebtedness of the Company outstanding under any of the Major Credit Facilities and (b) Publicly Traded Debt Securities, then such Guarantor

 

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(in the case of clauses (i) , (ii)  and (iv)  above) will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all obligations under this Article Nine , the other provisions of this Indenture and the Securities and the Person acquiring such assets (in the case of clauses (ii)  and (iii)  above) shall not be required to assume the Guarantor’s obligations under this Article Nine , the other provisions of this Indenture and the Securities or otherwise become a Guarantor, in each case without any further action required on the part of the Trustee, any Holder, the Company or any Guarantor; provided that such sale, disposition or other transaction is otherwise in compliance with this Indenture.

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially assets of a Guarantor to the Company or another Guarantor. Upon any such consolidation, merger, or disposition, the Guarantee given by such Guarantor shall no longer have any force or effect.

The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any such release upon receipt of a request by the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying as to the compliance with this Section 9.03 .

Any Guarantor not released in accordance with this Section 9.03 remains liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Securities as provided in this Article Nine , except as provided in Article Eight .

Section 9.04. Limitation of a Guarantor’s Liability .

Each Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and such Guarantor irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee shall 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 Section 9.05 , result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting such fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

Section 9.05. Contribution .

In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Guarantor (a “ Funding Guarantor ”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from all other Guarantors in a pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of each Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to any Securities or any other Guarantor’s obligations with respect to its Guarantee. “Adjusted Net Assets” of such Guarantor at any date shall mean the lesser of the amount by which (x) the fair value of the Property of such Guarantor exceeds the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date and after giving effect to any collection from any other Subsidiary of the Guarantor in respect of the obligations of its Guarantee), but excluding liabilities under the Guarantee, of such Guarantor at such date and (y) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Guarantor at such date exceeds the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Guarantor on its debts (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date and after giving effect to any collection from any other Subsidiary of the Company in respect of the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee), excluding debt in respect of the Guarantee of such Guarantor, as they become absolute and matured.

 

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Section 9.06. Waiver of Subrogation .

Until all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture and with respect to all Securities of an applicable Series are paid in full, each Guarantor irrevocably waives any claim or other rights which it may now or hereafter acquire against the Company that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of such Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee and this Indenture, including any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, indemnification, and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of any Holder of Securities of the applicable Series against the Company, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity, or under contract, statute or common law, including the right to take or receive from the Company, directly or indirectly, in cash or other Property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim or other rights. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence and the Securities of the applicable Series shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall have been deemed to have been paid to such Guarantor for the benefit of, and held in trust for the benefit of, the Holders of the Securities of the applicable Series, and shall forthwith be paid to the Trustee for the benefit of such Holders to be credited and applied upon the Securities of the applicable Series, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the waiver set forth in this Section 9.06 is knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

Section 9.07. Execution of Guarantee .

To evidence their guarantee to the Holders set forth in this Article Nine with respect to any Series, the Guarantors shall execute the Guarantee in substantially the form included in Exhibit A or in any such other form set forth in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture pertaining to the applicable Series, which shall be endorsed on each Security ordered to be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee. Each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee set forth in this Article Nine shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Security a notation of such Guarantee. Each such Guarantee shall be signed on behalf of each Guarantor by one Officer (who shall, in each case, have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate or other actions) shall attest to such Guarantee prior to the authentication of the Security on which it is endorsed, and the delivery of such Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of such Guarantee on behalf of such Guarantor. Such signature upon the Guarantee may be by manual or facsimile signature of such officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Guarantee, and in case any such officer who shall have signed the Guarantee shall cease to be such officer before the Security on which such Guarantee is endorsed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Company, such Security nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed the Guarantee had not ceased to be such officer of the Guarantor.

ARTICLE TEN

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

Section 10.01. Without Consent of Holders .

The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of a Series without notice to or consent of any Securityholder of such Series:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(2) to comply with Article Five ;

(3) to provide that specific provisions of this Indenture shall not apply to a Series not previously issued or to make a change to specific provisions of this Indenture that only applies to any Series not previously issued or to additional Securities of a Series not previously issued;

(4) to create a Series and establish its terms;

(5) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

 

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(6) to release a Guarantor in respect of any Series which, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture applicable to the particular Series, ceases to be liable in respect of its Guarantee;

(7) to add a Guarantor in respect of any Series;

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

(9) to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of Securityholders.

After an amendment under this Section 10.01 becomes effective, the Company shall mail notice of such amendment to the Securityholders.

Section 10.02. With Consent of Holders .

The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of a Series with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by the amendment (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such Series). Each such Series shall vote as a separate class. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of the Securities of such Series or of this Indenture relating to such Series (including any waiver granted in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such Series). Without the consent of each Holder of a Security affected thereby, however, an amendment, supplement or waiver, including a waiver pursuant to Section 6.04 , may not:

 

  (1) reduce the amount of Securities of the relevant Series whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

  (2) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest, on any Security;

 

  (3) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Security or alter the provisions (including related definitions) with respect to redemption of any Security pursuant to Article Three hereof;

 

  (4) modify the ranking or priority of the Securities of the relevant Series or any Guarantee thereof or amend or modify the definition of Senior Indebtedness and Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or amend or modify Article Eleven or Article Twelve in any manner adverse to the Holders of such Securities;

 

  (5) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Guarantee or this Indenture otherwise than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

 

  (6) make any change in Sections 6.04 , 6.07 or this Section 10.02 ;

 

  (7) waive a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security; or

 

  (8) make any Security payable at a place or in money other than that stated in the Security, or impair the right of any Securityholder to bring suit as permitted by Section 6.07 .

An amendment of a provision included solely for the benefit of one or more Series does not affect the interests of Securityholders of any other Series.

 

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

No amendment of, or supplement or waiver to, this Indenture shall adversely affect the rights of any holder of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness under Article Eleven or Article Twelve (including related definitions), without the consent of the Representative of such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

Section 10.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act .

Every amendment to or supplement of this Indenture or any Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 10.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents .

A consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver by a Holder shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. Unless otherwise provided in the consent or the consent solicitation statement or other document describing the terms of the consent, any Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Security or portion of a Security. Any revocation of a consent by the Holder of a Security or any such subsequent Holder shall be effective only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate from the Company certifying that the requisite number of consents have been received.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any Series entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If a record date is fixed, and if Holders otherwise have a right to revoke their consent under the consent or the consent solicitation statement or other document describing the terms of the consent, then notwithstanding the second to last sentence of 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 revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date.

An amendment, supplement or waiver with respect to a Series becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Company or the Trustee of the requisite consents, (ii) satisfaction of any conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment, supplement or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver (or the related supplemental indenture) by the Company and the Trustee. After an amendment, supplement or waiver with respect to a Series becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of such Series, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1)  through (8)  of Section 10.02 , in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind a Holder of a Security who is affected thereby only if it has consented to such amendment, supplement or waiver and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security; provided that no such waiver shall impair or affect the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on a Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates without the consent of such Holder.

Section 10.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities .

If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Company may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee, at which time the Trustee shall place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms.

 

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Section 10.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc .

Subject to Section 7.02(b) , the Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, that it is not inconsistent herewith, and that it will be valid and binding upon the Company and any Guarantors in accordance with its terms.

Section 10.07. Notice of Supplemental Indenture .

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 10.02 , the Company shall transmit to the Holders of outstanding Securities of any Series affected thereby a notice setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture; provided that a filing of the supplemental indenture or a description thereof in a filing by the Company with the SEC pursuant to EDGAR or successor system shall satisfy this requirement. Failure to send such notice will not impair the validity of such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.01. Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness .

The Company covenants and agrees, and the Trustee and each Holder of the Securities by his acceptance thereof likewise covenant and agree, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article Eleven ; and each person holding any Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees that all payments of the principal of and interest on the Securities by the Company shall, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article Eleven , be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance of such Securities acknowledges and agrees that the following subordination provisions in this Article Eleven are, and are intended to be, an inducement and consideration to each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the issuance of such Securities, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior Indebtedness, and such holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.

Section 11.02. No Payment on Securities in Certain Circumstances .

(a) No direct or indirect payment by or on behalf of the Company of principal or premium of, or interest on or to purchase, redeem or defease the Securities, whether pursuant to the terms of the Securities, upon acceleration or otherwise, shall be made if, at the time of such payment, there exists a default in the payment of all or any portion of the obligations on any Senior Indebtedness, whether at maturity, on account of mandatory redemption or prepayment or purchase, acceleration or otherwise, that continues beyond any applicable period of grace, and such default shall not have been cured or waived or the benefits of this sentence waived by or on behalf of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness. In addition, during the continuance of any non-payment event of default with respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be immediately accelerated, and upon receipt by the Trustee of written notice (a “ Payment Blockage Notice “) from the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, then no direct or indirect payment shall be made by or on behalf of the Company of principal or premium of, or interest on or to purchase, redeem or defease the Securities, during a period (a “ Payment Blockage Period “) commencing on the date of receipt of such notice by the Trustee and ending on the earliest of (1) the date on which all such non-payment events of default are cured or waived,

 

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(2) 179 days after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received and (3) the date on which the Trustee receives notice from the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness rescinding the Payment Blockage Notice, unless the maturity of any Designated Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated.

Notwithstanding anything in this subordination provision or in the Securities to the contrary, (x) in no event shall a Payment Blockage Period extend beyond 179 days from the date the Payment Blockage Notice in respect thereof was given, (y) there shall be a period of at least 181 consecutive days in each 360-day period when no Payment Blockage Period is in effect and (z) not more than one Payment Blockage Period may be commenced with respect to the Securities during any period of 360 consecutive days. However, if the Payment Blockage Notice is not given on behalf of creditors under a Credit Facility, the Representative of such Credit Facility may, subject to the limitations set forth in clause (y)  of the preceding sentence, give one additional notice during the Payment Blockage Period. No non-payment event of default that existed or was continuing on the date of commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness initiating such Payment Blockage Period may be, or be made, the basis for the commencement of any other Payment Blockage Period by the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such event of default has been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days. Any (i) subsequent action that causes a default pursuant to any provision that was previously the subject of a Payment Blockage Notice, or (ii) breach of any financial covenant for a period ending after a period as to which a breach previously occurred that was the subject of a Payment Blockage Notice, will constitute a new default for this purpose.

(b) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by Section 11.02(a) , such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness ( pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that, upon notice from the Trustee to the holders of Senior Indebtedness that such prohibited payment has been made, the Representative of the Senior Indebtedness notify the Trustee in writing of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness, if any, and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

(c) The foregoing Section  11.02(a) and (b)  shall not apply to (i) issuances of Permitted Junior Securities or (ii) payments and distributions made from a trust established pursuant to Article Eight hereof, so long as (x) the conditions specified in Article Eight (without any waiver or modification of the requirement that the deposits pursuant thereto do not conflict with the terms of any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness) are satisfied on the date of any deposit pursuant to said trust and (y) such deposits did not violate the provisions of this Article Eleven when made.

Section 11.03. Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, etc .

(a) Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), upon any dissolution or winding up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all Senior Indebtedness will first be paid in full in cash before the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on behalf of such Holders will be entitled to receive any payment by the Company of the principal of or interest on the Securities, or any payment by the Company to acquire any of the Securities for cash, property or securities, or any distribution with respect to the Securities of any cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities). Before any payment may be made by, or on behalf of, the Company of the principal of, or interest on the Securities upon any such dissolution or winding up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled, but for the subordination provisions of this Indenture, will be made by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, directly to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective Representatives on behalf of such holders of Senior Indebtedness, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full in cash after giving effect to any prior or concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

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(b) To the extent any payment of Senior Indebtedness (whether by or on behalf of the Company, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then, if such payment is recovered by, or paid over to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person, the Senior Indebtedness or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provision prohibiting such payment or distribution, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder of Securities at a time when such payment or distribution is prohibited by Section 11.03(a) and before all obligations in respect of Senior Indebtedness are paid in full in cash, or payment provided for, such payment or distribution shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective Representatives on behalf of such holders of Senior Indebtedness, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash after giving effect to any prior or concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company with or into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided in Article Five (or any replacement provisions as contemplated by Article Five ) shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 11.03 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article Five (or any replacement provisions as contemplated by Article Five ).

Section 11.04. Subrogation .

Upon the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, or provision for payment, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company made on such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full in cash; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Eleven , and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eleven to the holders of Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Eleven are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

If any payment or distribution to which the Holders of the Securities would otherwise have been entitled but for the provisions of this Article Eleven shall have been applied, pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eleven , to the payment of all amounts payable under Senior Indebtedness, then and in such case, the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to receive from the holders of such Senior Indebtedness any payments or distributions received by such holders of Senior Indebtedness in excess of the amount required to make payment in full, or provision for payment, of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

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Section 11.05. Obligations of Company Unconditional .

Nothing contained in this Article Eleven or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Holder of any Security or the Trustee on its behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Eleven of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property, assets or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained in this Article Eleven shall restrict the right of the Trustee or the Holders of Securities to take any action to declare the Securities to be due and payable prior to their stated maturity pursuant to Section 6.02 or to pursue any rights or remedies hereunder; provided, however , that all Senior Indebtedness then due and payable shall first be paid in full before the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee is entitled to receive any direct or indirect payment from the Company of principal of or interest on the Securities.

Section 11.06. Notice to Trustee .

The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eleven , although any delay or failure to give any such notice shall have no effect on the subordination provisions contained herein. Regardless of anything to the contrary contained in this Article Eleven , the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness or of any other facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing at its corporate trust office to that effect signed by an Officer of the Company, or by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a Representative therefor; and prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall, subject to Article Seven , be entitled to assume (in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary) that no such facts exist; provided that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 11.06 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms of this Indenture any moneys shall become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security), then, regardless of anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive any moneys from the Company and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such prior date. Nothing contained in this Section 11.06 shall limit the right of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to recover payments as contemplated by Section 11.03 . The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or itself to be a holder of any Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of, or other representative of, such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder.

In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that any evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Eleven , the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Eleven , and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

Section 11.07. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent .

Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities referred to in this Article Eleven , the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Seven hereof, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which any insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or upon a certificate of the receiver, trustee in

 

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bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Eleven .

Section 11.08. Trustee’s Relation to Senior Indebtedness .

The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Eleven with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any of its rights as such holder.

With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Eleven , and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (except as provided in Section 11.03(b) ). Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders or owners of Senior Indebtedness, the distribution may be made and the notice may be given to their Representative, if any. The Trustee shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Eleven or otherwise.

Section 11.09. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness .

No right of any present or future holders of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as provided herein shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. The provisions of this Article Eleven are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable directly by, the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

Section 11.10. Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities .

Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance of such Securities authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Eleven , and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization or similar proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the business and assets of the Company, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its or his Securities in the form required in those proceedings.

If the Trustee does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in the form required in such proceeding prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim or claims, then the holders of the Senior Indebtedness or their Representative are or is hereby authorized to have the right to file and are or is hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders of said Securities. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their Representative to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of Securities any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their Representative to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

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Section 11.11. This Article Not to Prevent Events of Default .

The failure to make a payment on account of principal of or interest on the Securities by reason of any provision of this Article Eleven shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in clause (1)  or (2)  of Section 6.01 .

Section 11.12. Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced .

Nothing in this Article Eleven shall apply to amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to other sections in this Indenture.

Section 11.13. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions .

Without in any way limiting the generality of Section 11.09 , the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, without incurring responsibility to the Holders of the Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Eleven or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Securities to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or secured; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Indebtedness; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Senior Indebtedness; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

Section 11.14. Certain Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution .

All money and United States government obligations properly deposited in trust with the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with Article Eight shall be for the sole benefit of the Holders and shall not be subject to this Article Eleven .

Nothing contained in this Article Eleven or elsewhere in this Indenture shall prevent (i) the Company, except under the conditions described in Section 11.02 , from making payments of principal of and interest on the Securities, or from depositing with the Trustee any moneys for such payments or from effecting a termination of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Securities and this Indenture as provided in Article Eight , or (ii) the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it for the purpose of making such payments of principal of on and interest on the Securities to the holders entitled thereto unless at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which such payment becomes due and payable, the Trustee shall have received the written notice provided for in Section 11.02(b) or in Section 11.06 . The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company.

ARTICLE TWELVE

SUBORDINATION OF GUARANTEES

Section 12.01. Guarantee Obligations Subordinated to Guarantor Senior Indebtedness .

Each Guarantor covenants and agrees, and the Trustee and each Holder of the Securities by his acceptance thereof likewise covenant and agree, that the Guarantee of such Guarantor shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article Twelve ; and each person holding any Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees that all payments of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities pursuant to the Guarantee made by or on behalf of any Guarantor shall, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article Twelve , be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

 

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Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance of such Securities, including the Guarantees, acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing subordination provisions in this Article Twelve are, and are intended to be, an inducement and consideration to each holder of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, whether such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the issuance of the Guarantees, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, and such holder of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing to hold, such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

Section 12.02. No Payment on Guarantees in Certain Circumstances .

(a) No direct or indirect payment by or on behalf of any Guarantor of principal or premium of, or interest on or to purchase, redeem or defease the Securities, whether pursuant to the terms of the Securities, upon acceleration or otherwise, shall be made if, at the time of such payment, there exists a default in the payment of all or any portion of the obligations on any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, whether at maturity, on account of mandatory redemption or prepayment or purchase, acceleration or otherwise, that continues beyond any applicable period of grace, and such default shall not have been cured or waived or the benefits of this sentence waived by or on behalf of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness. In addition, during the continuance of any non-payment event of default with respect to any Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be immediately accelerated, and upon receipt by the Trustee of written notice (the “ Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice “) from the Representative of such Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, then no direct or indirect payment shall be made by or on behalf of such Guarantor of principal or premium of, or interest on or to purchase, redeem or defease the Securities, during a period (a “ Guarantor Blockage Period “) commencing on the date of receipt of such notice by the Trustee and ending on the earliest of (1) the date on which all such non-payment events of default are cured or waived, (2) 179 days after the date on which the applicable Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice is received and (3) the date on which the Trustee receives notice from the Representative of such Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness rescinding the Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice, unless the maturity of any Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated.

Notwithstanding anything in this subordination provision or in the Securities to the contrary, (x) in no event shall a Guarantor Blockage Period extend beyond 179 days from the date the Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice in respect thereof was given, (y) there shall be a period of at least 181 consecutive days in each 360-day period when no Guarantor Blockage Period is in effect and (z) not more than one Guarantor Blockage Period may be commenced with respect to any Guarantor during any period of 360 consecutive days. However, if the Payment Blockage Notice is not given on behalf of creditors under a Credit Facility, the Representative of such Credit Facility may, subject to the limitations set forth in clause (y)  of the preceding sentence, give one additional notice during the Payment Blockage Period. No non-payment event of default that existed or was continuing on the date of commencement of any other Guarantor Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness initiating such Guarantor Blockage Period may be, or be made, the basis for the commencement of any other Guarantor Blockage Period by the Representative of such Designated Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such event of default has been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days. Any (i) subsequent action that causes a default pursuant to any provision that was previously the subject of a Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice, or (ii) breach of any financial covenant for a period ending after a period as to which a breach previously occurred that was the subject of a Guarantor Payment Blockage Notice, will constitute a new default for this purpose.

(b) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by Section 12.02(a) , such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that, upon notice from the Trustee to the Representative of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness that such prohibited payment has been made, the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness notify the Trustee in writing of the amounts then due and owing on such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, if any, and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

 

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(c) The foregoing Section 12.02(a) and (b)  shall not apply to (i) issuances of Permitted Junior Securities or (ii) payments and distributions made from a trust established pursuant to Article Eight hereof, so long as (x) the conditions specified in Article Eight (without any waiver or modification of the requirement that the deposits pursuant thereto do not conflict with the terms of any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness) are satisfied on the date of any deposit pursuant to said trust and (y) such deposits did not violate the provisions of Article Twelve when made.

Section 12.03. Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, etc .

(a) Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of any Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of such Guarantor, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor will first be paid in full before the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on behalf of such Holders will be entitled to receive any payment by such Guarantor of the principal of or interest on the Securities pursuant to such Guarantor’s Guarantee, or any payment to acquire any of the Securities for cash, property or securities, or any distribution with respect to the Securities of any cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities). Before any payment may be made by, or on behalf of, any Guarantor of the principal of or interest on the Securities upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of such Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled, but for the subordination provisions of this Indenture, will be made by such Guarantor or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, directly to the holders of the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective Representatives on behalf such holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay all such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in full in cash after giving effect to any prior or concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

(b) To the extent any payment of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (whether by or on behalf of the relevant Guarantor, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then, if such payment is recovered by, or paid over to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person, the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provision prohibiting such payment or distribution, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of any Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (excluding any payment or distribution of Permitted Junior Securities), shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder of Securities at a time when such payment or distribution is prohibited by Section 12.03(a) and before all obligations in respect of the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor are paid in full in cash, or payment provided for, such payment or distribution shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective Representatives on behalf of such holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash after giving effect to any prior or concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

The consolidation of any Guarantor with, or the merger of any Guarantor with or into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of any Guarantor following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided in Article Five (or any replacement provisions as contemplated by Article Five ) shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 12.03 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article Five (or any replacement provisions as contemplated by Article Five ).

 

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Section 12.04. Subrogation .

Upon the payment in full of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of a Guarantor, or provision for payment, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of such Guarantor made on such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness until the principal of and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full in cash; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Twelve , and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article Twelve to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf shall, as between such Guarantor, its creditors other than holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by such Guarantor to or on account of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Twelve are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of each Guarantor, on the other hand.

If any payment or distribution to which the Holders of the Securities would otherwise have been entitled but for the provisions of this Article Twelve shall have been applied, pursuant to the provisions of this Article Twelve , to the payment of all amounts payable under Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, then and in such case, the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to receive from the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness any payments or distributions received by such holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in excess of the amount required to make payment in full, or provision for payment, of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

Section 12.05. Obligations of Guarantors Unconditional .

Nothing contained in this Article Twelve or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities or the Guarantees is intended to or shall impair, as among the Guarantors and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of each Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Guarantee of such Guarantor, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of any Guarantor other than the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Holder of any Security or the Trustee on its behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Twelve of the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property, assets or securities of any Guarantor received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained in this Article Twelve shall restrict the right of the Trustee or the Holders of Securities to take any action to declare the Securities to be due and payable prior to their stated maturity pursuant to Section 6.02 or to pursue any rights or remedies hereunder; provided , however , that all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor then due and payable shall first be paid in full before the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee is entitled to receive any direct or indirect payment from such Guarantor of principal of or interest on the Securities pursuant to such Guarantor’s Guarantee.

Section 12.06. Notice to Trustee .

The Company and each Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company or such Guarantor which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article Twelve , although any delay or failure to give any such notice shall have no effect on the subordination provisions contained herein. Regardless of anything to the contrary contained in this Article Twelve , the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any event of default with respect to any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or of any other facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing at its corporate trust office to that effect signed by an Officer of the Company or such Guarantor, or by a holder of Guarantor Senior

 

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Indebtedness or a Representative therefor; and prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall, subject to Article Seven , be entitled to assume (in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary) that no such facts exist; provided that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 12.06 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms of this Indenture any moneys shall become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security), then, regardless of anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive any moneys from any Guarantor and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such prior date. Nothing contained in this Section 12.06 shall limit the right of the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to recover payments as contemplated by Section 12.03 . The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or itself to be a holder of any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of, or other representative of, such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder.

In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that any evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Twelve , the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Twelve , and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

Section 12.07. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent .

Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of a Guarantor referred to in this Article Twelve , the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Seven hereof, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which any insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or upon a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor and other indebtedness of such Guarantor, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Twelve .

Section 12.08. Trustee’s Relation to Guarantor Senior Indebtedness .

The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Twelve with respect to any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same extent as any other holder of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any of its rights as such holder.

With respect to the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Twelve , and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (except as provided in Section 12.03(b) ). Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders or owners of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, the distribution may be made and the notice may be given to their Representative, if any. The Trustee shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Twelve or otherwise.

 

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Section 12.09. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Guarantors or Holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness .

No right of any present or future holders of any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as provided herein shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of any Guarantor or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by any Guarantor with the terms of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. The provisions of this Article Twelve are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable directly by, the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 12.10. Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Guarantee .

Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance of such Securities authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Twelve , and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of any Guarantor (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization or similar proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the business and assets of such Guarantor, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its or his Securities in the form required in those proceedings.

If the Trustee does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in the form required in such proceeding prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim or claims, then the holders of the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or their Representative are or is hereby authorized to have the right to file and are or is hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders of said Securities. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or their Representative to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of Securities any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or their Representative to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 12.11. This Article Not to Prevent Events of Default .

The failure to make a payment on account of principal of or interest on the Securities by reason of any provision of this Article Twelve shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in clause (1)  or (2)  of Section 6.01 .

 

Section 12.12. Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced .

Nothing in this Article Twelve shall apply to amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to other Sections in this Indenture.

 

Section 12.13. No Waiver of Guarantee Subordination Provisions .

Without in any way limiting the generality of Section 12.09 , the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, without incurring responsibility to the Holders of the Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Twelve or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Securities to the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Guarantor Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or secured; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Guarantor Senior Indebtedness; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against any Guarantor and any other Person.

 

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Section 12.14. Certain Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution .

Nothing contained in this Article Twelve or elsewhere in this Indenture shall prevent (i) a Guarantor, except under the conditions described in Section 12.02 , from making payments of principal of and interest on the Securities, or from depositing with the Trustee any moneys for such payments, or (ii) the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it for the purpose of making such payments of principal of and interest on the Securities, to the holders entitled thereto unless at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which such payment becomes due and payable, the Trustee shall have received the written notice provided for in Section 12.02(b) or in Section 12.06 . A Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of such Guarantor.

ARTICLE THIRTEENMISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls .

If 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 required provision shall control.

Section 13.02. Notices.

Any order, consent, notice or communication shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

if to the Company or to any Guarantor:

D.R. Horton, Inc.

301 Commerce Street, Suite 500

Forth Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

if to the Trustee:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

59 Maiden

Lane Plaza Level

New York, NY 10038

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

Any notice or communication mailed to a Securityholder shall be mailed to him by first class mail at his address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given to him if so mailed within the time prescribed.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it except that notice to the Trustee shall only be effective upon receipt thereof by the Trustee.

If the Company mails notice or communications to the Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee at the same time.

 

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Section 13.03. Communications by Holders with Other Holders .

Securityholders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

Section 13.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .

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

 

  (1) an Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 ) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

  (2) an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 ) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants, compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action or inaction, have been complied with and that any such section does not conflict with the terms of this Indenture.

Section 13.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

 

  (1) a statement that the person 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 person, 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 person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 13.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents .

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for its functions.

Section 13.07. Legal Holidays.

A “ Legal Holiday ” is a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in Fort Worth, Texas and New York, New York are not required to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If this Indenture provides for a time period that ends or requires performance of any non-payment obligation by a day that is not a Business Day, then such time period shall instead be deemed to end on, and such obligation shall instead be performed by, the next succeeding Business Day. A “ Business Day ” is any day other than a Legal Holiday.

 

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Section 13.08. Governing Law .

The laws of the State of New York shall govern this Indenture, the Securities of each Series and the Guarantees.

Section 13.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 13.10. No Recourse Against Others .

All liability (i) described in Paragraph 13 of the Securities of any director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company and (ii) described in the third paragraph of the guarantees of each Guarantor of any stockholder, officer, director, employee, incorporator, partner, member or manager, as such, of any Guarantor, is waived and released.

Section 13.11. Successors and Assigns .

All covenants and agreements of the Company and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind their respective successors and assigns. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns.

Section 13.12. Duplicate 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.

Section 13.13. Severability .

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of a Series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities.

 

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.

 

D.R. HORTON, INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:


AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY , LLC, as Trustee
By:    
  Name:
  Title:


EXHIBIT A

 

No.                         CUSIP/ISIN No.:             

[Title of Security]

D.R. HORTON, INC.

a Delaware corporation

 

promises to pay to         or registered assigns
the principal sum of   

 

  [Dollars]* on   

 

Interest Payment Dates:   

 

   and   

 

Record Dates:   

 

   and   

 

 

Dated:
D.R. HORTON, INC.
By:    
  Title:

Authenticated:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.
By:    
  Authorized Signatory

 

* Or other currency. Insert corresponding provisions on reverse side of Security in respect of foreign currency denomination or interest payment requirement.

 

A-1


D.R. HORTON, INC.

[Title of Security]

D.R. HORTON, INC., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Company ”), issued this Security under an Indenture dated as of                     , 2012 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance therewith, the “ Base Indenture ”), as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture dated as of                     (the “ Supplemental Indenture ” and together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), by and among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee (in such capacity, the “ Trustee ”), to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authorized and delivered. All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them therein.

 

1. Interest .

The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. The Company will pay interest semiannually on                     and                     of each year, commencing                     ,             , until the principal is paid or made available for payment. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid, from                     ,             , provided that, if there is no existing default in the payment of interest, and if this Security is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding interest payment date, interest shall accrue from such interest payment date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

2. Method of Payment .

The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest, if any, which will be paid on such special payment date to Holders of record on such special record date as may be fixed by the Company) to the persons who are registered Holders of Securities at the close of business on the [Insert record dates] immediately preceding the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar .

Initially, the Trustee will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change or appoint any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.

 

4.

Optional Redemption . 1

The Company may redeem the Securities at any time on or after                    , in whole or in part, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of their principal amount) together with interest accrued and unpaid to the date fixed for redemption:

 

If redeemed during the twelve-month

period commencing on                     and ending on

                     in each of the following years                                                                     Percentage

[Insert provisions relating to redemption at option of Holders, if any]

 

1  

If applicable.

 

A-2


Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at its registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $2,000 2 may be redeemed in part. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Securities or portions of them called for redemption, provided that if the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities at the redemption price together with accrued interest, interest shall continue to accrue at the rate borne by the Securities.

 

5.

Mandatory Redemption . 3

The Company shall redeem [    ]% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities originally issued under the Indenture on each of [    ], which redemptions are calculated to retire [    ]% of the Securities originally issued prior to maturity. Such redemptions shall be made at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest to the redemption date. The Company may reduce the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed pursuant to this Paragraph 5 by the principal amount of any Securities previously redeemed, retired or acquired, otherwise than pursuant to this Paragraph 5 , that the Company has delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and not previously credited to the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 5 . Each such Security shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price and the amount of such mandatory redemption payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

6. Subordination .

The Securities are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as defined in the Indenture. To the extent provided in the Indenture, Senior Indebtedness of the Company must be paid before the Securities may be paid. The Company agrees, and each Securityholder by accepting a Security agrees, to the subordination provisions contained in the Indenture and authorizes the Trustee to give it effect and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for such purpose.

 

7. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange .

The Securities are in registered form only without coupons in denominations of $2,000 4 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. 5 A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities by presentation of such Securities to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register the transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Security selected for redemption or purchase, except the unredeemed or unpurchased part thereof if the Security is redeemed or purchased in part, or transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or purchased.

 

8. Persons Deemed Owners .

The registered Holder of this Security shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

2  

Insert different or additional denominations and multiples.

3  

If applicable.

4  

Insert different or additional denominations and multiples.

5  

Insert different or additional denominations and multiples.

 

A-3


9. Unclaimed Money .

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and thereafter, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

 

10. Amendment, Supplement, Waiver .

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Securities may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by the amendment and any past default or compliance with any provision relating to any Series of the Securities may be waived in a particular instance with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series. 6 Without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities in certain respects as specified in the Indenture.

 

11. Successor .

When a successor assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Securities and the Indenture, the predecessor will be released from those obligations.

 

12. Trustee Dealings With Company .

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its affiliates, as if it were not Trustee, including owning or pledging the Securities.

 

13. No Recourse Against Others .

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

14. Discharge of Indenture .

The Indenture contains certain provisions pertaining to defeasance and discharge, which provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth herein.

 

15. Authentication.

This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.

 

16. Abbreviations .

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

 

6  

If different terms apply, insert a brief summary thereof.

 

A-4


17. GOVERNING LAW .

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

18. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers .

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of repurchase as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of repurchase and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

19. Copies .

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and the applicable Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture. Requests may be made to: D.R. Horton, Inc., 301 Commerce St., Suite 500, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

 

A-5


ASSIGNMENT FORM

If you the Holder want to assign this Security, fill in the form below:

 

   I or we assign and transfer this Security to   
  

 

  
   (Insert assignee’s social security or tax ID number)   
  

 

  
  

 

  
  

 

  
  

 

  
   (Print or type assignee’s name, address, and zip code)   

and irrevocably appoint

 

 

agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:                     

 

Your signature:   

 

   (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security)

 

Signature Guarantee:   

 

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

 

A-6


[FORM OF NOTATION ON SECURITY OF GUARANTEE]

GUARANTEE

The undersigned (the “ Guarantors ”) have unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally (such guarantee by each Guarantor being referred to herein as the “ Guarantee ”) (i) the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on this Security, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on the overdue principal and interest, if any, on this Security, to the extent lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms set forth in Article Nine of the Indenture and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of this Security or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

The Guarantees are subordinated to Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantors, as defined in the Indenture. To the extent provided in the Indenture, Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantors must be paid before the Securities may be paid.

No past, present or future stockholder, officer, director, employee, incorporator, partner, member or manager, as such, of any of the Guarantors shall have any liability under the Guarantee by reason of such person’s status as stockholder, officer, director, employee, incorporator, partner, member or manager. Each Holder of a Security by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Guarantees.

Each Holder of this Security by accepting this Security agrees that any Guarantor named below shall have no further liability with respect to its Guarantee if such Guarantor otherwise ceases to be liable in respect of its Guarantee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication on the Securities upon which the Guarantee is noted shall have been executed by the Trustee under the Indenture by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers.

 

[List of Guarantors]
By:    
  Title:

 

A-7

Exhibit 4.12

 

LOGO

 

COMMON STOCK

PAR VALUE $.01

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS CUSIP 23331A 10 9 OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

D.R. HORTON, INC.

This certifies that

is the owner of

FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK OF

D.R. Horton, Inc., transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof, in person or duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed or accompanied by a proper assignment. This Certificate and the shares represented hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Corporation, and all amendments thereto, copies of which are on file at the principal office of the Corporation to all of which the holder of this Certificate by acceptance hereof assents. This Certificate is not valid until countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

In Witness Whereof, the Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed in facsimile by its duly authorized officers and the facsimile corporate seal to be duly affixed hereto.

DATED

[SIGNATURE OF DONALD R. HORTON] [SIGNATURE OF THOMAS B. MONTANO]

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD ASSISTANT SECRETARY

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC

(New York, NY)

TRANSFER AGENT

BY:

AND REGISTRAR

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

[D.R. HORTON, INC. SEAL]

[D.R. HORTON, INC. LOGO]

NUMBER


LOGO

 

D. R. HORTON, INC.

The corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM—as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT—Custodian

TEN ENT—as tenants by the entireties (Cust) (Minor)

JT TEN—as joint tenants with right of Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act survivorship and not as tenants in common

(State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

For Value Received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

Shares of Common Stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated,

NOTICE: (SIGNATURE)

THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME(S) AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

X

(SIGNATURE)

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.

SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED BY:

Exhibit 5.1

[LETTERHEAD OF GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP]

 

September 24, 2012    Client: 39334-00090

D.R. Horton, Inc.

301 Commerce Street

Suite 500

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

 

Re: D.R. Horton, Inc.

Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to D.R. Horton, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates listed on Annex A hereto (the “ Guarantors ”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “ Registration Statement ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), relating to the registration under the Securities Act and the proposed issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable) of:

(i) the Company’s unsecured debt securities, which may either be senior debt securities (“ Senior Debt Securities ”), senior subordinated debt securities (“ Senior Subordinated Debt Securities ”) or subordinated debt securities (the “ Subordinated Debt Securities ” and, collectively with the Senior Debt Securities and the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities, the “ Debt Securities ”);

(ii) guarantees of the Debt Securities by the Guarantors (the “ Debt Securities Guarantees ”);

(iii) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”);

(iv) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $.10 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”);

(v) depositary shares each representing a fraction of a share of a particular series of Preferred Stock (the “ Depositary Shares ”);

(vi) contracts for the purchase or sale of Depositary Shares, Preferred Stock or Common Stock (the “ Purchase Contracts ”);


September 24, 2012

Page 2

 

(vii) warrants for the purchase of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities or units of two or more of such securities (the “ Warrants ”); and

(viii) units of the Company comprised of any combination of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts, Debt Securities or Debt Securities Guarantees (the “ Units ”).

The Debt Securities, Debt Securities Guarantees, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts, Warrants, and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “ Securities .” The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture, dated May 1, 2012, entered into between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “ Trust Company ”), as indenture trustee (the “ Senior Base Indenture ”). The Senior Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee (the “ Senior Subordinated Base Indenture ”). The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee (the “ Subordinated Base Indenture ,” and together with the Senior Base Indenture and the Senior Subordinated Base Indenture, the “ Base Indentures ”).

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the originals, of the Senior Base Indenture, forms of the Senior Subordinated Base Indenture and Subordinated Base Indenture, forms of the Debt Securities and Debt Securities Guarantees, specimen Common Stock certificates and such other documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and the Guarantors and of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable to enable us to render these opinions. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. To the extent that our opinions may be dependent upon such matters, we have assumed, without independent investigation, that each of the Guarantors identified on Annex A as “Specified Guarantors” (each Guarantor so identified, a “ Specified Guarantor ”) is validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation, has all requisite corporate or other entity power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Indenture (defined below) and the Debt Securities Guarantees to which it is or may be a party, that the authorization, execution, delivery and performance of such documents by each Specified Guarantor and the performance of its obligations thereunder do not and will not violate the charter or bylaws or other constituent documents of any Specified Guarantor or any law, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to such Specified Guarantor and that the Senior Base Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by each Specified Guarantor. As to any facts material to these opinions, we have relied to the extent we deemed appropriate and without independent investigation upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and others


September 24, 2012

Page 3

 

We have assumed without independent investigation that:

(i) at the time any Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “ Relevant Time ”), the Registration Statement and any supplements and amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws;

(ii) at the Relevant Time, a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and all related documentation and will comply with all applicable laws;

(iii) all Securities will be issued and sold in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement;

(iv) at the Relevant Time, all corporate or other action required to be taken by the Company or any Guarantor to duly authorize each proposed issuance of Securities and any related documentation (including (i) the due reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock for issuance upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any Securities for Common Stock or Preferred Stock (a “ Convertible Security ”), and (ii) the execution (in the case of certificated Securities), delivery and performance of the Securities and any related documentation referred to in paragraphs 1 through 7 below) shall have been duly completed and shall remain in full force and effect;

(v) upon issuance of any Common Stock or Preferred Stock, including upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any Convertible Security, the total number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, that the Company is then authorized to issue under its certificate of incorporation and other relevant documents;

(vi) in the case of Debt Securities and Debt Securities Guarantees, at the Relevant Time, the Senior Subordinated Base Indenture or the Subordinated Base Indenture, if applicable, shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and all other parties thereto and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and

(vii) at the Relevant Time, a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and any other necessary agreement with respect to any Securities offered or issued will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action of the Company and each Guarantor and duly executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor and the other parties thereto.


September 24, 2012

Page 4

 

Based on the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

  1. With respect to any Debt Securities and related Debt Securities Guarantees, when:

 

  a. the terms and conditions of such Debt Securities and Debt Securities Guarantees have been duly established by supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant Base Indenture,

 

  b. any such supplemental indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, the Guarantors and the relevant trustee (together with the relevant Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), and

 

  c. such Debt Securities and Debt Securities Guarantees have been executed (in the case of certificated Debt Securities), delivered and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and issued and sold for the consideration set forth in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement,

such Debt Securities will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, and the Guarantees of such Debt Securities will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors obligated thereon, enforceable against such Guarantors in accordance with their respective terms.

 

  2. With respect to any shares of Preferred Stock, when:

 

  a. the certificate of designations relating to such Preferred Stock (the “ Certificate of Designations ”) has been duly executed and filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,

 

  b. such shares have been issued either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and for the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any Convertible Security and for any additional consideration specified in such Convertible Security or the instrument governing such Convertible Security providing for such conversion or exercise, which consideration (including any consideration paid for such Convertible Security), on a per-share basis, shall in either event not be less than the par value of the Preferred Stock, and


September 24, 2012

Page 5

 

  c. any such Convertible Security was previously validly issued and is fully paid an non-assessable (in the case of an equity Security) or is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,

such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  3. With respect to Depositary Shares, when:

 

  a. a deposit agreement relating to such Depositary Shares (“ Deposit Agreement ”) has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the depositary appointed by the Company,

 

  b. the terms of the Depositary Shares have been established in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, and

 

  c. the depositary receipts representing the Depositary Shares have been duly executed and countersigned (in the case of certificated Depositary Shares), registered and delivered in accordance with the related Deposit Agreement and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement for the consideration provided therein,

the depositary receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

  4. With respect to shares of Common Stock, when:

 

  a. such shares of Common Stock have been duly executed (in the case of certificated shares) and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement for the consideration provided for therein, or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any Convertible Security, in accordance with the terms of such Convertible Security or the instrument governing such Convertible Security providing for such conversion or exercise, and for any additional consideration specified therein, which consideration (including any consideration paid for such Convertible Security), on a per-share basis, shall in either event not be less than the par value of the Common Stock, and


September 24, 2012

Page 6

 

  b. any such Convertible Security was previously validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable (in the case of an equity Security) or is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,

such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  5. With respect to any Purchase Contracts, when:

 

  a. the related purchase contract agreement (“ Purchase Contract Agreement ”), if any, has been duly executed by the Company and each other party thereto,

 

  b. the terms of the Purchase Contracts have been established in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement, if any, or the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement,

 

  c. the terms of any collateral or security arrangements relating to such Purchase Contracts have been established and the agreements thereto have been validly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto and any collateral has been deposited with the collateral agent, if applicable, in accordance with such arrangements, and

 

  d. such Purchase Contracts have been executed (in the case of certificated Purchase Contracts) and delivered in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement for the consideration provided for therein,

such Purchase Contracts will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

  6. With respect to any Warrants, when:

 

  a. the warrant agreement relating to such Warrants (the “ Warrant Agreement ”), if any, has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and each other party thereto,

 

  b. the terms of the Warrants have been established in accordance with the Warrant Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, and


September 24, 2012

Page 7

 

  c. the Warrants have been duly executed (in the case of certificated Warrants) and delivered in accordance with the Warrant Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement for the consideration provided for therein,

such Warrants will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

  7. With respect to any Units, when:

 

  a. the unit agreement relating to the Units (the “ Unit Agreement ”), if any, has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and each other party thereto,

 

  b. the terms of the Units have been duly established in accordance with the Unit Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, and

 

  c. the Units have been duly executed (in the case of certificated Units) and delivered in accordance with the Unit Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement for the consideration provided for therein,

the Units will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

The opinions expressed above are subject to the following exceptions, qualifications, limitations and assumptions:

A. We render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York and to the extent relevant for our opinions herein , the laws of the States of California, Colorado and Texas and the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act. This opinion is limited to the effect of the current state of the laws of the States of New York, California, Colorado and Texas and the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and the facts as they currently exist. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such laws or the interpretations thereof or such facts.

B. The opinions above (other than those in paragraph 2 and 4) are each subject to (i) the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement or similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally, including the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent transfers or preferential transfers, (ii) general principles of equity, including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive


September 24, 2012

Page 8

 

relief or other equitable remedies regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law and (iii) the provisions of: (1) Article Eight of the Certificate of Incorporation of CH Investments of Texas, Inc.; (2) Article Eight of the Certificate of Incorporation of CHTEX of Texas, Inc.; (3) Paragraph Eight of the Certificate of Incorporation of D.R. Horton, Inc. – Chicago (excluding the first three sentences thereof); and (4) Article Ten of the Certificate of Incorporation of Western Pacific Housing, Inc.

C. We express no opinion regarding the effectiveness of (i) any waiver of stay, extension or usury laws or of unknown future rights, (ii) provisions relating to indemnification, exculpation or contribution, to the extent such provisions may be held unenforceable as contrary to public policy or federal or state securities laws, or (iii) any purported fraudulent transfer “savings” clause.

D. To the extent relevant to our opinions in paragraphs 3, 5, 6 and 7 and not covered by our opinions in paragraphs 1, 2, or 4, we have assumed that any securities, currencies or commodities underlying, comprising or issuable upon exchange, conversion or exercise of any Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts, Warrants, or Units are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (in the case of an equity security) or a legal, valid and binding obligation of the issuer thereof, enforceable against such issuer in accordance with its terms.

You have informed us that you intend to issue Securities from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and we understand that prior to issuing any Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement (i) you will advise us in writing of the terms thereof, and (ii) you will afford us an opportunity to (x) review the operative documents pursuant to which such Securities are to be issued or sold (including the applicable offering documents), and (y) file such supplement or amendment to this opinion (if any) as we may reasonably consider necessary or appropriate.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and we further consent to the use of our name under the caption “Validity of the Securities” in the Registration Statement and the prospectus that forms a part thereof. In giving these consents, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP


ANNEX A

Guarantors

 

Name

  

Form of Entity

  

Jurisdiction of Formation

  

Specified Guarantor

C. Richard Dobson Builders, Inc.    Corporation    Virginia    Yes
CH Investments of Texas, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
CHI Construction Company    Corporation    Arizona    Yes
CHTEX of Texas, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
Continental Homes, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
Continental Homes of Texas, L.P.    Limited Partnership    Texas    No
Continental Residential, Inc.    Corporation    California    No
D.R. Horton—Emerald, Ltd.    Limited Partnership    Texas    No
D.R. Horton—Schuler Homes, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton—Texas, Ltd.    Limited Partnership    Texas    No
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Birmingham    Corporation    Alabama    Yes
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Chicago    Corporation    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Dietz-Crane    Corporation    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Fresno    Corporation    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Greensboro    Corporation    Delaware    No

D.R. Horton, Inc.—Gulf Coast

(f/k/a DRH Regrem V, Inc.)

   Corporation    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Huntsville    Corporation    Delaware    No


September 24, 2012

Page 10

 

D.R. Horton, Inc.—Jacksonville    Corporation    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Louisville    Corporation    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Minnesota    Corporation    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton, Inc.—New Jersey    Corporation    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Portland    Corporation    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Sacramento    Corporation    California    No
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Torrey    Corporation    Delaware    No

D.R. Horton LA North, Inc.

(f/k/a DRH Regrem X, Inc.)

   Corporation    Delaware    No

D.R. Horton BAY, Inc.

(f/k/a D.R. Horton OCI Inc., D.R. Horton Orange County Inc. and DRH Regrem IX, Inc.)

   Corporation    Delaware    No

D.R. Horton Cruces Construction, Inc.

(f/k/a DRH Regrem XI, Inc.)

   Corporation    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton Los Angeles Holding Company, Inc.    Corporation    California    No
D.R. Horton Management Company, Ltd.    Limited Partnership    Texas    No
D.R. Horton Materials, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
D.R. Horton Serenity Construction, LLC (f/k/a DRH Regrem VIII, LLC)    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No


September 24, 2012

Page 11

 

D.R. Horton VEN Inc.

(f/k/a D.R. LAV Inc. and D.R. Horton San Diego Holding Company, Inc.)

   Corporation    California    No
DRH Cambridge Homes, Inc.    Corporation    California    No
DRH Cambridge Homes, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
DRH Construction, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem VII, LP    Limited Partnership    Texas    No
DRH Regrem XII, LP    Limited Partnership    Texas    No
DRH Regrem XIV, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XV, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XVI, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XVII, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XVIII, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XIX, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XX, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XXI, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XXII, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XXIII, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XXIV, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No


September 24, 2012

Page 12

 

DRH Regrem XXV, Inc.

(f/k/a D.R. Horton VEN, Inc. and D.R. Horton Inc.—Los Angeles)

   Corporation    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XXVI, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XXVII, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XXVIII, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XXIX, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
DRH Regrem XXX, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
DRH Southwest Construction, Inc.    Corporation    California    No
DRH Tucson Construction, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
HPH Homebuilders 2000 L.P.    Limited Partnership    California    No
KDB Homes, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
Meadows I, Ltd.    Corporation    Delaware    No
Meadows II, Ltd.    Corporation    Delaware    No
Meadows VIII, Ltd.    Corporation    Delaware    No
Meadows IX, Inc.    Corporation    New Jersey    Yes
Meadows X, Inc.    Corporation    New Jersey    Yes
Melmort Co.    Corporation    Colorado    No
Melody Homes, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
Schuler Homes of Arizona LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Schuler Homes of California, Inc.    Corporation    California    No
Schuler Homes of Oregon, Inc.    Corporation    Oregon    Yes
Schuler Homes of Washington, Inc.    Corporation    Washington    Yes
Schuler Mortgage, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No
Schuler Realty Hawaii, Inc.    Corporation    Hawaii    Yes
SGS Communities at Grande Quay, L.L.C.    Limited Liability Company    New Jersey    Yes


September 24, 2012

Page 13

 

SHA Construction LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
SHLR of California, Inc.    Corporation    California    No
SHLR of Colorado, Inc.    Corporation    Colorado    No
SHLR of Nevada, Inc.    Corporation    Nevada    Yes
SHLR of Utah, Inc.    Corporation    Utah    Yes
SHLR of Washington, Inc.    Corporation    Washington    Yes
SRHI LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
SSHI LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Vertical Construction Corporation    Corporation    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Funding, Inc.    Corporation    California    No
Western Pacific Housing-Antigua, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Aviara, L.P.    Limited Partnership    California    No
Western Pacific Housing-Boardwalk, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Broadway, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Canyon Park, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Carmel, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Carrillo, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No


September 24, 2012

Page 14

 

Western Pacific Housing-Communications Hill, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Copper Canyon, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Creekside, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing—Culver City, L.P.    Limited Partnership    California    No
Western Pacific Housing-Del Valle, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Lomas Verdes, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Lost Hills Park, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-McGonigle Canyon, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing—Mountaingate, L.P.    Limited Partnership    California    No
Western Pacific Housing-Norco Estates, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing—Oso, L.P.    Limited Partnership    California    No
Western Pacific Housing-Pacific Park II, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Park Avenue East, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Park Avenue West, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No


September 24, 2012

Page 15

 

Western Pacific Housing-Playa Vista, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing—Poinsettia, L.P.    Limited Partnership    California    No
Western Pacific Housing-River Ridge, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Robinhood Ridge, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Santa Fe, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing—Scripps, L.P.    Limited Partnership    California    No
Western Pacific Housing-Scripps II, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing—Seacove, L.P.    Limited Partnership    California    No
Western Pacific Housing-Studio 528, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Terra Bay Duets, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Torrance, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Commercial, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Meadows, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Multi-Family, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No


September 24, 2012

Page 16

 

Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Village Center, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Vineyard Terrace, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing-Windemere, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No
Western Pacific Housing—Windflower, L.P.    Limited Partnership    California    No
Western Pacific Housing, Inc.    Corporation    Delaware    No

Western Pacific Housing, L.P.

(f/k/a Western Pacific Housing Co., a California Limited Partnership)

   Limited Partnership    California    No
Western Pacific Housing Management, Inc.    Corporation    California    No
WPH-Camino Ruiz, LLC    Limited Liability Company    Delaware    No

[LETTERHEAD OF D.R. HORTON, INC.]

September 24, 2012

D.R. Horton, Inc.

301 Commerce Street

Suite 500

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Re: D.R. Horton, Inc.—Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am Vice President and Assistant Secretary of D.R. Horton, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”). The Company and certain direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company (collectively, the “ Guarantors ”) have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “ Registration Statement ”), relating to the registration under the Securities Act and the proposed issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable) of the following securities: (i) the Company’s unsecured debt securities, which may either be senior debt securities (“ Senior Debt Securities ”), senior subordinated debt securities (“ Senior Subordinated Debt Securities ”) or subordinated debt securities (the “ Subordinated Debt Securities ” and, collectively with the Senior Debt Securities and the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities, the “ Debt Securities ”), (ii) guarantees of the Debt Securities by the Guarantors (the “ Debt Securities Guarantees ”), (iii) shares of the Company’s Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”), (iii) shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), (iv) depositary shares of the Company, each representing a fraction of a share of a particular series of Preferred Stock (the “ Depositary Shares ”), (v) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities or units of two or more of these types of securities, (vi) stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from the Company, and obligating the Company to sell to the holders, shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares (the “ Stock Purchase Contracts ”), and (vii) units of the Company comprised of any combination of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts, Debt Securities or Debt Securities Guarantees.

The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture, dated May 1, 2012, entered into between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “ Trust Company ”), as indenture trustee (the “ Senior Base Indenture ”). The Senior Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee (the “ Senior Subordinated Base Indenture ”).


September 24, 2012

Page 2

 

The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee (the “ Subordinated Base Indenture ,” and together with the Senior Base Indenture and the Senior Subordinated Base Indenture, the “ Base Indentures ”). The terms and conditions of the Debt Securities and Debt Securities Guarantees will be established by a supplemental indenture that is executed and delivered by the Company, the Guarantors and the Trust Company (together with the relevant Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”) and a notation endorsed on the notes governing the applicable series of Debt Securities by the Guarantors (collectively with the Indenture and the certificates evidencing such notes, the “ Note Documents ”).

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, I have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the originals, of the Senior Base Indenture, forms of the Senior Subordinated Base Indenture and Subordinated Base Indenture, forms of the Debt Securities and Debt Securities Guarantees and such other documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of public officials and other instruments as I have deemed necessary or advisable to enable me to render these opinions. In my examination, I have assumed, without independent investigation, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to me as copies. As to any facts material to these opinions, I have relied to the extent I have deemed appropriate and without independent investigation upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors listed on Exhibit A hereto (the “ Specified Guarantors ”) and others.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, I am of the opinion that:

1. Each of the Specified Guarantors is a validly existing corporation or limited liability company under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation, with all requisite corporate or limited liability company power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Note Documents to which it is or may be a party.

2. The authorization, execution, delivery and performance of the Note Documents do not and will not violate (a) the charter or bylaws or other constitutive documents of any of the Specified Guarantors, (b) any order, judgment or decree of any court or other agency of government that is binding on any of the Specified Guarantors or (c) any law or regulation currently in effect in the Specified Guarantors’ respective jurisdiction or organization applicable to any of the Specified Guarantors.


September 24, 2012

Page 3

 

The opinions expressed above are subject to the following additional exceptions, qualifications, limitations and assumptions:

A. I render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the States of Arizona, Alabama, Hawaii, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Virginia and Washington. This opinion is limited to the effect of the current state of the laws of the States of Arizona, Alabama, Hawaii, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Virginia and Washington and the facts as they currently exist. I assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such laws or the interpretations thereof or such facts.

I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and further consent to the use of my name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and the prospectus contained therein. In giving these consents, I do not thereby admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Thomas B. Montano

D.R. Horton, Inc.

Thomas B. Montano

Vice President and Assistant Secretary


ANNEX A

Specified Guarantors

 

Name

  

Form of Entity

   Jurisdiction of Formation
D.R. Horton, Inc.—Birmingham    Corporation    Alabama
CHI Construction Company    Corporation    Arizona
Schuler Realty Hawaii, Inc.    Corporation    Hawaii
SHLR of Nevada, Inc.    Corporation    Nevada
Meadows IX, Inc.    Corporation    New Jersey
Meadows X, Inc.    Corporation    New Jersey
SGS Communities at Grande Quay, L.L.C.    Limited Liability Company    New Jersey
Schuler Homes of Oregon, Inc.    Corporation    Oregon
SHLR of Utah, Inc.    Corporation    Utah
C. Richard Dobson Builders, Inc.    Corporation    Virginia
Schuler Homes of Washington, Inc.    Corporation    Washington
SHLR of Washington, Inc.    Corporation    Washington

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated November 17, 2011 relating to the financial statements, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in D.R. Horton, Inc’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Fort Worth, Texas

September 24, 2012

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

¨ Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)

 

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New York   13-3439945

(State of incorporation of organization

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

110 Wall Street, 5 th Floor,

New York, New York

  10005
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

David H. Brill

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

(718) 921-8528

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

D.R. HORTON, INC.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its character)

 

 

 

Delaware   75-2386963

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

301 Commerce Street, Suite 500,

Fort Worth, Texas

  76102
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

 

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

 

 

 


Item 1. General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

New York State Department of Financial Services

One State Street

New York, NY 10004-1511

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

Items 3-15.

Items 3-15 are not applicable because, to the best of the trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any

indenture for which the trustee acts as trustee.

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

Exhibit

  

Exhibit Title

T-1.1    A copy of the Articles of Organization of the Trustee, as amended to date
T-1.2    A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to commence business
T-1.4    Limited Liability Trust Company Agreement of the Trustee
T-1.6    The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
T-1.7    A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, a limited liability trust company organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York, and State of New York, on the 24 th day of September, 2012.

 

    AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER
  & TRUST COMPANY, LLC
  Trustee
By:   /s/ David H. Brill
 

 

Name:   David H. Brill
Title:   General Counsel


EXHIBIT T-1.1

ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION

OF

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC

We, the undersigned, all being of full age, four of us being citizens of the United States, having associated ourselves together for the purposes of forming a limited liability trust company under and pursuant to the Banking Law of the State of New York, do hereby certify the following:

 

First.    The name by which the limited liability trust company is to be known is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.
Second.    The place where its principal office is to be located is 59 Maiden Lane, Borough of Manhattan, City, County, and State of New York.
Third.    The amount of its capital contributions is to be Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000), and the number of units into which such capital contributions are to be divided is five million (5,000,000) units with a par value of $1.00 each.
Fourth.    The company will not have classes or groups of members, therefore there is only one class of members. Each member shall share the same relative rights, powers, preferences, limitations, and voting powers.
Fifth.    The name, place of residence, and citizenship of each organizer are as follows:

 

Name

 

Residence

 

Citizenship

George Karfunkel   Brooklyn, NY, USA   USA
Michael Karfunkel   Brooklyn, NY, USA   USA
Cameron Blanks   Cremorne Point, Australia   Australia
Timothy J. Sims   Terrey Hills, Australia   Australia
Paul J. McCullagh   Tamarama, Australia   Ireland
Joseph John O’Brien   Bondi Beach, Australia   USA
Jay F. Krehbiel   Darling Point, Australia   USA

 

Sixth.    The term of existence of the trust company is to be until December 31, 2030, unless the interest holders agree to extend such date.
Seventh.    The number of managers of the company is to be not less than seven nor more than fifteen.
Eighth.    The names of the organizers who shall manage the company until the first annual meeting of members are as follows: George Karfunkel, Michael Karfunkel, Cameron Blanks, Timothy J. Sims, Paul J. McCullagh, Joseph John O’Brien, and Jay F. Krehbiel.
Ninth.    The limited liability trust company is to exercise the powers conferred by Section 100 of the Banking Law. The limited liability trust company shall neither accept deposits nor make loans except for deposits and loans arising directly from the exercise of the fiduciary powers specified in Section 100 of the Banking Law.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, We have made, signed, and acknowledged this certificate in duplicate this day of March 2008.

 

/s/ George Karfunkel

     

 

George Karfunkel

    Paul J. McCullagh

/s/ Michael Karfunkel

   

 

Michael Karfunkel

    Joseph John O’Brien
     

 

Cameron Blanks

    Jay F. Krehbiel

Timothy J. Sims

   

NOTARY:

 

State of    NY    }
      ss.:

County of

   Kings    }

On this 28 th day of March, 2008 personally appeared before me

George Karfunkel

Michael Karfunkel

to me known to be the persons described in and who executed the foregoing certificate, and severally acknowledged that they executed the same.

/s/ Anthony J. Foti

Anthony J. Foti

Notary Public, State of New York

No. 01FO6022425

Qualified in Kings County

Commission Expires March 29, 2011

deposits nor make loans except for deposits and loans arising directly from the exercise of the fiduciary powers specified in Section 100 of the Banking Law.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, We have made, signed, and acknowledged this certificate in duplicate this day of March 2008.

 

 

   

/s/ Paul J. McCullagh

George Karfunkel     Paul J. McCullagh

 

   

 

Michael Karfunkel     Joseph John O’Brien

/s/ Cameron Blanks

   

/s/ Jay F. Krehbiel

Cameron Blanks     Jay F. Krehbiel
/s/ Timothy J. Sims    
Timothy J. Sims    

NOTARY:

 

State of    New South Wales    }   
      ss:   
County of    Australia    }   

On this 27 th day of March, 2008 personally appeared before me

 

Cameron R Blanks

    

Paul J McCullagh

Timothy J Sims     

Jay F Krehbiel

      

to me known to be the persons described in and who executed the foregoing certificate, and severally acknowledged that they executed the same.

 

/s/ Brendan Anthony Bateman

Brendan Anthony Bateman

 

LOGO

deposits nor make loans except for deposits and loans arising directly from the exercise of the fiduciary powers specified in Section 100 of the Banking Law.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, We have made, signed, and acknowledged this certificate in duplicate this day of March 2008.

 

George Karfunkel     

 

Paul J. McCullagh

      

/s/ Joseph John O’Brien

Michael Karfunkel      Joseph John O’Brien
      
Cameron Blanks     

 

Jay F. Krehbiel

Timothy J. Sims

    

 

   Kingdom of Thailand      
NOTARY:    Bangkok Metropolis    }ss   
   Embassy of the United States      
State of    of America    }   
      ss.:   
County of       }   

On this                 day of      Mar 27 2008,                 personally appeared before me

 

* Joseph John O’Brien *      
       

to be the persons described in and who executed the foregoing certificate, and severally acknowledged that they executed the same.

 

/s/ Chamnannuch Scherer
Chamnannuch Scherer
Consular Associate of the

United States of America

 

            Indefinite


EXHIBIT T-1.2

 

LOGO

Whereas, the Articles of Organization of AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC, of New York, New York, have heretofore been duly approved and said AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC has complied with the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Consolidated Laws,

Now Therefore I, David S. Fredsall, as Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, do hereby authorize the said AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC to transact the business of a Limited Liability Trust Company, at 59 Maiden Lane, Borough of Manhattan, City of New York within this State.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the Banking Department, this 30 th day of May in the year two thousand and eight.

 

/s/ David S. Fredsall
Deputy Superintendent of Banks


EXHIBIT T-1.4


AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY TRUST COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY TRUST COMPANY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Company”) dated as of this 14 th day of March, 2011, by Armor Holding II LLC, as the sole member of the Company (the “Member”).

RECITAL

WHEREAS, the Member previously converted the Company into a limited liability trust company under the laws of the State of New York and entered into the original Limited Liability Trust Company Agreement (the "Original LLTC Agreement"), dated May 28, 2008;

WHEREAS, the Member desires to amend and restate its Original LLTC Agreement in its entirety, in accordance with the provisions of the Limited Liability Company Law of the State of New York and any successor statute, as amended from time to time (the “Act”) and the Banking Law of the State of New York and any successor statute, as amended from time to time (the “Banking Law”), governing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business.

ARTICLE 1

The Limited Liability Trust Company

a. Formation . The Member previously converted the Company into a limited liability trust company pursuant to the Act and the Banking Law; such conversion of the Company from a New York trust company into a New York limited liability trust company was approved by the New York Banking Board on April 17, 2008 in conformity with Section 102-a(3) of the Banking Law. The conversion to a limited liability trust company became effective on May 30, 2008, when the New York State Banking Department issued an Authorization Certificate for the converted entity.

b. Name . The name of the Company shall be “American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC” and its business shall be carried on in such name with such variations and changes as the Board (as hereinafter defined) shall determine or deem necessary to comply with requirements of the jurisdictions in which the Company’s operations are conducted.


c. Business Purpose; Powers . The purposes for which the Company is formed are:

(i) to exercise the powers conferred by Section 100 of the Banking Law, including corporate trust powers; personal trust powers; pension trust powers for tax-qualified pension trusts and retirement plans; and common or collective trust powers; provided, however, that the Company shall neither accept deposits nor make loans except for deposits and loans arising directly from the exercise of its fiduciary powers as specified in this Section 1(c); and

(ii) in furtherance of the foregoing, to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability trust companies may be formed under the Banking Law.

d. Registered Office and Agent . The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is 59 Maiden Lane, Plaza Level, New York NY 10038.

e. Term . Subject to the provisions of Article 6 below, the Company shall continue until December 31, 2030, unless the Members agree to extend such date.

ARTICLE 2

The Member

a. The Member . The name and address of the Member is as follows:

 

Name

  

Address

Armor Holding II LLC   

c/o American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

59 Maiden Lane, Plaza Level, New York, NY 10038.

b. Actions by the Member; Meetings . All actions taken by a member must be duly authorized by the board of managers of the Member (the “Member’s Board”) in accordance with the Shareholders Agreement (as hereinafter defined). Subject to the foregoing sentence, the Member may approve a matter or take any action at a meeting or without a meeting by the written consent of the Member. Meetings of the Member may be called at any time by the Member.


c. Liability of the Member . All debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and the Member shall not be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a member, except as otherwise provided for by law.

d. Power to Bind the Company . Except as required by the Act or the Banking Law, the Member (acting in its capacity as such) shall have no authority to bind the Company to any third party with respect to any matter.

e. Admission of Members . New members shall be admitted only upon the prior written approval of the Member.

f. Engagement of Third Parties . The Company, may, from time to time, employ any Person or engage third parties to render services to the Company on such terms and for such compensation as the Member may reasonably determine, including, attorneys, investment consultants, brokers or finders, independent auditors and printers. Such employees and third parties may be affiliates of any Member. Persons retained, engaged or employed by the Company may also be engaged, retained or employed by and act on behalf of one or more Member or any of their respective affiliates.

ARTICLE 3

The Board

a. Management By Board of Managers .

(i) Subject to such matters which are expressly reserved hereunder, under the Act, under the Banking Law or under that certain Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2010 among the Shareholders of Armor Holdco, Inc. and Armor Holdco, Inc. (the “Shareholders Agreement”), to the Member for decision, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by a board of managers (the “Board”), which shall be responsible for policy setting, approving the overall direction of the Company and making all decisions affecting the business and affairs of the Company. In accordance with Section 7002 of the Banking Law, the Board shall consist of seven (7) to fifteen (15) individuals (the "Managers"), such Managers to be determined from time to time by resolution of the Member.


(ii) Each Manager shall be elected by the Member and shall serve until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier removal, resignation, death or disability. Subject to the provisions of clause (iii) below, the Member may remove any Manager from the Board or from any other capacity with the Company at any time, with or without cause. A Manager may resign at any time upon written notice to the Member.

(iii) The Member may take all actions necessary to cause the Board to consist of the same managers that compose the Member’s Board. Accordingly, if any person who is a member of the Members’ Board ceases to be a member of such board for any reason, the Member may take such action as is necessary to remove such person from the Board and elect to the Board the person appointed to the Member’s Board in place of such person.

(iv) Any vacancy occurring on the Board as a result of the resignation, removal, death or disability of a Manager or an increase in the size of the Board shall be filled by the Member. A Manager chosen to fill a vacancy resulting from the resignation, removal, death or disability of a Manager shall serve the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office.

b. Action By the Board .

(i) Meetings of the Board shall be held at least once per quarter. Each Manager may call a meeting of the Board upon two (2) days prior written notice to each Manager. The presence of a majority of the Managers then in office shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board. All actions of the Board shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Managers then in office.

(ii) Meetings of the Board may be conducted in person or by conference telephone facilities. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting if such number of Managers sufficient to approve such action pursuant to the terms of this Agreement consent thereto in writing. Notice of any meeting may be waived by any Manager.

c. Power to Bind Company . None of the Managers (acting in their capacity as such) shall have authority to bind the Company to any third party with respect to any matter unless the Board shall have approved such matter and authorized such Manager(s) to bind the Company with respect thereto.


d. Officers and Related Persons .

(i) The Board shall have the authority to appoint and terminate officers of the Company and retain and terminate employees, agents and consultants of the Company. The Board, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as provided in any resolution of the Board, may, from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion and without limitation, delegate such duties or any or all of its authority, rights and/or obligations, to any one or more officers, employees, agents, consultants or other duly authorized representatives of the Company as the Board deems appropriate, including the power, acting individually or jointly, to represent and bind the Company in all matters in accordance with the scope of their respective duties.

ARTICLE 4

Capital Structure and Contributions

a. Capital Structure . The capital structure of the Company shall consist of one class of common interests, par value $1.00 (the “Common Interests”). Each Common Interest shall entitle its holder to one vote per Common Interest on each matter on which the Member shall be entitled to vote. All Common Interests shall be identical with each other in every respect. The Company shall be authorized to issue 5,000,000 Common Interests. In exchange for all of the outstanding shares of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company held by the Member, the 5,000,000 Common Interests shall be issued to the Member. The Member shall own all of the Common Interests issued and outstanding.

b. Capital Contributions . From time to time, the Board may determine that the Company requires capital and may request the Member to make capital contribution(s) in an amount determined by the Board. A capital account shall be maintained for the Member, to which contributions and profits shall be credited and against which distributions and losses shall be charged.

c. Right to Issue Certificates . The ownership of a Common Interest by a Member shall be evidenced by a certificate (a “Certificate”) issued by the Company.

d. Form of Certificates . Certificates attesting to the ownership of Common Interests in the Company shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto and shall state that the Company is a limited liability trust company formed under the laws of the State of New York, the name of the Member to whom such Certificate is issued and that the Certificate represents limited liability trust company interests within the meaning of the Act and the Banking Law. Each Certificate shall bear the following legend: “This Certificate evidences a Common Interest in the American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Company”) and shall be a


security for purposes of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The Common Interest represented by this Certificate, and any sale, pledge, hypothecation or transfer thereof, are subject to the provisions of the Limited Liability Trust Company Agreement of the Company dated as of May 27, 2008 (as may be amended from time to time, the “LLTC Agreement”) and the Shareholders Agreement dated as of May 27, 2008 among the shareholders of Armor Holdco, Inc. and Armor Holdco, Inc., as may be amended from time to time, (together with the LLTC Agreement, the “Agreements”) which place certain restrictions on the transfer of such Common Interest. Any Person accepting the Common Interest represented by this Certificate shall agree to the provisions of such Agreements. A copy of such Agreements will be furnished to the record holder of this Certificate without charge upon written request to the Company at its principal place of business.”

e. Execution . Each Certificate shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company by either manual or facsimile signature.

f. Registrar . The Company shall maintain an office where Certificates may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange. Unless otherwise designated, the Secretary of the Company shall act as registrar and shall keep a register of the Certificates and of their transfer and exchange.

g. Issuance . The Certificates of the Company shall be numbered and registered in the interest register or transfer books of the Company as they are issued.

h. Common Interest Holder Lists . The Company shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all holders of Common Interests.

i. Transfer and Exchange . When Certificates are presented to the Company with a request to register a transfer, the Company shall register the transfer or make the exchange on the register or transfer books of the Company; provided, that any Certificates presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company duly executed by the holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to register the transfer, or exchange, any Certificate if as a result the transfer of the Common Interest at issue would cause the Company or the Member to violate the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act, or the laws, rules, regulations, orders and other directives of any Governmental Authority or otherwise violate the terms of this Agreement or the Shareholders Agreement.


j. Record Holder . Except to the extent that the Company shall have received written notice of an assignment of Common Interests and such assignment complies with the requirements of Section 7(a) of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to treat the individual or entity in whose name any Certificates issued by the Company stand on the books of the Company as the absolute owner thereof, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Common Interests on the part of any other individual or entity.

k. Replacement Certificates . If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Company, or the Company receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate, the Company shall issue a replacement Certificate if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. If required by the Company, an indemnity and/or the deposit of a bond in such form and in such sum, and with such surety or sureties as the Company may direct, must be supplied by the holder of such lost, destroyed or stolen Certificate that is sufficient in the judgment of the Company to protect the Company from any loss that it may suffer if a Certificate is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses incurred in connection with replacing a Certificate.

ARTICLE 5

Profits, Losses and Distributions

a. Profits and Losses . For financial accounting and tax purposes, the Company’s net profits or net losses shall be determined on an annual basis in accordance with the manner determined by the Board. In each year, profits and losses shall be allocated entirely to the Member.

b. Distributions . The Board shall determine profits available for distribution and the amount, if any, to be distributed to the Member, and shall authorize and distribute on the Common Interests, the determined amount when, as and if declared by the Board. The distributions of the Company shall be allocated entirely to the Member, provided, however, such distributions are in accordance with the Banking Law.

ARTICLE 6

Events of Dissolution

The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs wound up only upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, an “Event of Dissolution”):

a. The Board votes for dissolution; or

b. A dissolution of the Company under Section 102-a(2) of the Banking Law or Section 701 of the Act.


ARTICLE 7

Transfer of Interests in the Company

Except upon the approval of the Member’s Board in accordance with Section 4.2 of the Shareholders Agreement, the Member may not sell, assign, transfer, convey, gift, exchange or otherwise dispose of any or all of its Common Interests; provided, that the Member may sell, assign (as collateral security or otherwise), transfer or otherwise dispose of such Common Interests to the secured parties to the extent required by the Debt Facility and Mezzanine Note Facility (as defined in the Shareholders Agreement) (including any refinancings, replacements, restatements, amendments or other modifications to those agreements), and such secured parties may sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of such Common Interests in connection with the enforcement of such security interest to the extent provided in the Senior Finance Documents (as defined in the Debt Facility) and the Mezzanine Note Finance Documents (as defined in the Mezzanine Note Facility), and the restrictions in Article 3, this Article 7 or any other provision hereunder shall not apply with respect to any such sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article 7, upon receipt by the Company of a written agreement executed by the person or entity to whom such Common Interests are to be transferred agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, such person shall be admitted as a member, provided, however, that transfers of interests to a controlling party shall first be approved by the Banking Board as may be required by section 143-b of the Banking Law.

ARTICLE 8

Exculpation and Indemnification

a. Exculpation . The Member shall not have any liability for the obligations or liabilities of the Company except to the extent provided in the Act or Banking Law. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, whether express or implied, or any obligation or duty at law or in equity, none of the Member, Managers, or any officers, directors, stockholders, partners, employees, affiliates, representatives or agents of any of the foregoing, nor any officer, employee, representative or agent of the Company (individually, a “Covered Person” and, collectively, the “Covered Persons”) shall be liable to the Company or any other person for any act or omission (in relation to the Company, its property or the


conduct of its business or affairs, this Agreement, any related document or any transaction or investment contemplated hereby or thereby) taken or omitted by a Covered Person in the reasonable belief that such act or omission is in or is not contrary to the best interests of the Company and is within the scope of authority granted to such Covered Person by the Agreement, provided such act or omission does not constitute fraud, willful misconduct, bad faith, or gross negligence.

b. Indemnification . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Covered Person from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, liabilities, expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (“Claims”), in which the Covered Person may be involved, or threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its management of the affairs of the Company or which relates to or arises out of the Company or its property, business or affairs. A Covered Person shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Section 8 with respect to (i) any Claim with respect to which such Covered Person has engaged in fraud, willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence or (ii) any Claim initiated by such Covered Person unless such Claim (or part thereof) (A) was brought to enforce such Covered Person’s rights to indemnification hereunder or (B) was authorized or consented to by the Board. Expenses incurred by a Covered Person in defending any Claim shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such Claim upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that such Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized by this Article 8.

c. Insurance . The Board in its discretion shall have the power to cause the Company to purchase and maintain insurance in accordance with, and subject to, the Act and Banking Law.

d. Amendments . Any repeal or modification of this Article 8 by the Member shall not adversely affect any rights of such Covered Person pursuant to this Article 8, including the right to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a Covered Person existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.


ARTICLE 9

Miscellaneous

a. Tax Treatment . Unless otherwise determined by the Member, the Company shall be a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (as well as for any analogous state or local tax purposes), and the Member and the Company shall timely make any and all necessary elections and filings for the Company to be treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (as well as for any analogous state or local tax purposes).

b. Amendments . Amendments to this Agreement and to the Certificate of Formation shall be approved in writing by the Member. An amendment shall become effective as of the date specified in the approval of the Member or if none is specified as of the date of such approval or as otherwise provided in the Act.

c. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability; provided, however, that the remaining provisions will continue in full force without being impaired or invalidated in any way unless such invalid or unenforceable provision or clause shall be so significant as to materially affect the expectations of the Member regarding this Agreement. Otherwise, any invalid or unenforceable provision shall be replaced by the Member with a valid provision which most closely approximates the intent and economic effect of the invalid or unenforceable provision.

d. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

e. Limited Liability Trust Company . The Member intends to form a limited liability trust company and does not intend to form a partnership under the laws of the State of New York or any other laws.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Agreement as of the day first above written.

 

    ARMOR HOLDING II LLC

By:

  /s/ Paul McCullagh
  Name:
  Title:

 

11


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE]

 

Number                 [Common Interest/Units              ]

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

a limited liability trust company formed under the laws of the State of New York

Limited Liability Trust Company Common Interest

[Legend]

THIS CERTIFICATE EVIDENCES A COMMON INTEREST IN THE AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC (THE “COMPANY”) AND SHALL BE A SECURITY FOR PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 8 OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE. THE COMMON INTEREST REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE, AND ANY SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR TRANSFER THEREOF, ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY TRUST COMPANY AGREEMENT OF THE COMPANY DATED AS OF [            ] (AS MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “LLTC AGREEMENT”) AND THE SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 27, 2008 AMONG THE SHAREHOLDERS OF ARMOR HOLDCO, INC. AND ARMOR HOLDCO, INC., AS MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, (TOGETHER WITH THE LLTC AGREEMENT, THE “AGREEMENTS”) WHICH PLACE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF SUCH COMMON INTEREST. ANY PERSON ACCEPTING THE COMMON INTEREST REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE SHALL AGREE TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH AGREEMENTS. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENTS WILL BE FURNISHED TO THE RECORD HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE COMPANY AT ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.

This Certifies that             is the owner of             fully paid and non-assessable Common Interests of the above-named Company and is entitled to the full benefits and privileges of such Common Interest, subject to the duties and obligations, as more fully set forth in the Agreements. This Certificate is transferable on the books of the Company by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed.

In Witness Whereof the said Limited Liability Trust Company has caused this Certificate, and the Common Interest it represents, to be signed by its duly authorized officers this             day of             , 20        .

 

       
[Title of person executing]       [Title of person executing]

 

12


FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY TRUST COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC

This FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY TRUST COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “ Amendment ”) is made and entered into as of May 26, 2011, by ARMOR HOLDING II LLC , a New York limited liability company, as the sole member (the “ Member ”) of AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC , a New York limited liability trust company (the “ Company ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a limited liability trust company pursuant to and in accordance with the New York Limited Liability Company Law and the New York Banking Law, as the same may be amended from time to time;

WHEREAS, the Member is party to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Trust Company Agreement of the Company dated as of March 14, 2011 (the “ LLTC Agreement ”). All initially capitalized terms used without definition herein are as defined in the LLTC Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Member has determined to amend the LLTC Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Member hereby agrees as follows:

1. Amendment to LLTC Agreement .

(a) Section 4c. of the LLTC Agreement is amended and restated as follows:

c. Right to Issue Certificates . The ownership of a Common Interest by a Member shall be evidenced by a certificate (a “Certificate”) issued by the Company. All Common Interests in the Company shall be securities governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in any jurisdiction, including without limitation the State of New York.


(b) Article 4d. of the LLTC Agreement is amended and restated as follows:

d. Form of Certificates . Certificates attesting to the ownership of Common Interests in the Company shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto and shall state that the Company is a limited liability trust company formed under the laws of the State of New York, the name of the Member to whom such Certificate is issued and that the Certificate represents limited liability trust company interests within the meaning of the Act and the Banking Law. Each Certificate shall bear the following legend:

“THIS CERTIFICATE EVIDENCES COMMON INTERESTS IN THE AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC (THE “COMPANY”) AND SHALL BE A SECURITY FOR PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 8 OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE. THE COMMON INTERESTS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY TRUST COMPANY AGREEMENT OF THE COMPANY DATED AS OF MARCH 14, 2011 (AS MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED OR OTHERWISE FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “LLTC AGREEMENT”) AND THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY         , 2011 AMONG THE SHAREHOLDERS OF ARMOR HOLDCO, INC. AND ARMOR HOLDCO, INC., AS MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, (TOGETHER WITH THE LLTC AGREEMENT, THE “AGREEMENTS”). A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENTS WILL BE FURNISHED TO THE RECORD HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE COMPANY AT ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.”

(c) Article 4e. of the LLTC Agreement is amended and restated as follows:

e. Execution . Each Certificate shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or other authorized officer or person of the Company by either manual, facsimile or electronic signature.

(d) Article 7 of the LLTC Agreement is amended and restated as follows:

 

2


ARTICLE 7

Transfer of Interests in the Company

Except upon the approval of the Member’s Board in accordance with Section 4.2 of the Shareholders Agreement, the Member may not sell, assign, transfer, convey, gift, exchange or otherwise dispose of any or all of its Common Interests; provided , that the Member may sell, assign (as collateral security or otherwise), transfer or otherwise dispose of such Common Interests to the secured parties to the extent required by the Senior Facility, the Senior Mezzanine Facility, the Junior Mezzanine Facility and the AST Facility (each as defined in the Shareholders Agreement) (including any refinancings, replacements, restatements, amendments or other modifications to those agreements), and such secured parties may sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of such Common Interests in connection with the enforcement of such security interest to the extent provided in the Senior Finance Documents (as defined in the Senior Facility), the Senior Mezzanine Finance Documents (as defined in the Senior Mezzanine Facility), the Junior Mezzanine Finance Documents (as defined in the Junior Mezzanine Facility) and the AST Finance Documents (as defined in the AST Facility), and the restrictions in Article 3, this Article 7 or any other provision hereunder shall not apply with respect to any such sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article 7, upon receipt by the Company of a written agreement executed by the person or entity to whom such Common Interests are to be transferred agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, such person shall be admitted as a member.

(e) Exhibit A to the LLTC Agreement is amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with Exhibit A hereto.

2. Full Force and Effect; Ratification . The LLTC Agreement, as amended hereby, remains in full force and effect. The Member hereby confirms and ratifies its obligations under the Agreement.

3. Governing Law . This Amendment shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without reference to choice of law rules.

4. Headings . Each of the captions contained in this Amendment are for the convenience of reference only and shall not define or limit the provisions hereof.

 

3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

ARMOR HOLDING II LLC,

a New York limited liability company, as sole member

By:

   

Name:

  Cameron R. Blanks

Title:

  Vice President

[Amendment to AST LLTC Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE]

 

Number                 [Common Interest/Units             ]

Armor Holding II LLC

a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of New York

Limited Liability Company Common Interest

[Legend]

THIS CERTIFICATE EVIDENCES COMMON INTERESTS IN THE AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC (THE “COMPANY”) AND SHALL BE A SECURITY FOR PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 8 OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE. THE COMMON INTERESTS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY TRUST COMPANY AGREEMENT OF THE COMPANY DATED AS OF MARCH 14, 2011 (AS MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED OR OTHERWISE FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “LLTC AGREEMENT”) AND THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY     , 2011 AMONG THE SHAREHOLDERS OF ARMOR HOLDCO, INC. AND ARMOR HOLDCO, INC., AS MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, (TOGETHER WITH THE LLTC AGREEMENT, THE “AGREEMENTS”). A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENTS WILL BE FURNISHED TO THE RECORD HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE COMPANY AT ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.

This Certifies that             is the owner of             fully paid and non-assessable Common Interests of the above-named Company and is entitled to the full benefits and privileges of such Common Interest, subject to the duties and obligations, as more fully set forth in the Agreements. This Certificate is transferable on the books of the Company by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed.

In Witness Whereof the said Limited Liability Company has caused this Certificate, and the Common Interest it represents, to be signed by its duly authorized officer this             day of             , 20    .

 

 

[Title of person executing]


EXHIBIT T-1.6

September 24, 2012

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, DC 20549

Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 321 (b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, and subject to the limitations therein contained, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC hereby consents that reports of examinations of said corporation by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to you upon request therefor.

 

Very truly yours,

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER

& TRUST COMPANY, LLC

By:

  /s/ David H. Brill

Name:

  David H. Brill

Title:

  General Counsel


EXHIBIT T-1.7

Latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law

or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority


Schedule RC 14

Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Banks

and Savings Associations for June 30, 2012

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the quarter.

Schedule RC—Balance Sheet

 

Dollar Amounts in Thousands

        Bil     Mil     Thou       

Assets

              

1. Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC-A):

              

a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin (1)

      RCON0081         265       1.a.

b. Interest-bearing balances ( 2 )

      RCON0071         2,248       1.b.

2. Securities:

              

a. Held-to-maturity securities (from Schedule RC-B, column A)

      RCON1754         0       2.a.

b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)

      RCON1773         0       2.b.

3. Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

              

a. Federal funds sold

      RCONB987         0       3.a.

b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell ( 3 )

      RCONB989         0       3.b.

4. Loans and lease financing receivables (from Schedule RC-C):

              

a. Loans and leases held for sale

      RCON5369         0       4.a.

b. Loans and leases, net of unearned income

   RCONB528             0             4.b.

c. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

   RCON3123             0             4.c.

d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance (item 4.b minus 4.c)

      RCONB529         0       4.d.

5. Trading assets (from Schedule RC-D)

      RCON3545         0       5.

6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

      RCON2145         46,688       6.

7. Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)

      RCON2150         0       7.

8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

      RCON2130         0       8.

9. Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

      RCON3656         0       9.

10. Intangible assets:

              

a. Goodwill

      RCON3163         270,264       10.a.

b. Other intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)

      RCON0426         270,644       10.b.

11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)

      RCON2160         39,661       11.

12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)

      RCON2170         629,770       12.

 

(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.
(3) Includes all securities resale agreements, regardless of maturity.


Schedule RC 15

Schedule RC—Continued

 

Dollar Amounts in Thousands

         Bil     Mil     Thou      

Liabilities

         

13. Deposits:

         

a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C from Schedule RC-E)

      RCON2200     0      13.a.

(1) Noninterest-bearing (1)

     RCON6631             0           13.a.(1)

(2) Interest-bearing

     RCON6636             0           13.a.(2)

b. Not applicable

         

14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

         

a. Federal funds purchased (2)

      RCONB993     0      14.a.

b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (3)

      RCONB995     0      14.b.

15. Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC-D)

      RCON3548     0      15.

16. Other borrow ed money (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases) (from Schedule RC-M)

      RCON3190     2,000      16.

17. Not applicable

         

18. Not applicable

         

19. Subordinated notes and debentures (4)

      RCON3200     0      19.

20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)

      RCON2930     11,588      20.

21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)

      RCON2948     13,588      21.

22. Not applicable

          22.

Equity Capital

         

Bank Equity Capital

         

23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

      RCON3838     0      23.

24. Common stock

      RCON3230     5,000      24.

25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

      RCON3839     1,040,164      25.

26.

          26.

a. Retained earnings

      RCON3632     (428,982   26.a.

b. Accumulated other comprehensive income (5)

      RCONB530     0      26.b.

c. Other equity capital components (6)

      RCONA130     0      26.c.

27.

          27.

a. Total bank equity capital (sum of items 23 through 26.c)

      RCON3210     616,182      27.a.

b. Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

      RCON3000     0      27.b.

28. Total equity capital (sum of items 27.a and 27.b)

      RCONG105     616,182      28.

29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)

      RCON3300     629,770      29.

 

(1) Includes noninterest-bearing demand, time, and savings deposits.
(2) Report overnight Federal Home Loan Bank advances in Schedule RC, item 16, "Other borrow ed money."
(3) Includes all securities repurchase agreements, regardless of maturity.
(4) Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.
(5) Includes net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, accumulated net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, and accumulated defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan adjustments.
(6) Includes treasury stock and unearned Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares.


Schedule RC 16

Schedule RC—Continued

Memoranda

To be reported with the March Report of Condition.

 

            Number  

1. Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 2011

     RCON6724         N/A  M.1. 

 

1 =   Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank

2 =   Independent audit of the bank’s parent holding company conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the bank separately)

3 =   Attestation on bank management’s assertion on the effectiveness of the bank’s internal control over financial reporting by a certified public accounting firm

  

4 =   Directors’ examination of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by state chartering authority)

5 =   Directors’ examination of the bank performed by other external auditors (may be required by state chartering authority)

6 =   Review of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

7 =   Compilation of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

8 =   Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)

9 =   No external audit work

 

            MM/DD  

To be reported with the March Report of Condition.

     

2. Bank’s fiscal year-end date

     RCON8678         N/A  M.2.